Archive of Our Own ^beta

The Weight of Regret

Prompt 1:

“Will I spend the rest of my life wishing I could go back?”

Part 1: Loss

Moonlight gleams through the open skylight of Marinette’s loft, illuminating the bare bedroom. Once filled with life and love, the room is now cold and empty. From the open hatch leading down below, Marinette can hear the faint rumblings of her father’s snores and the annoyed murmurings of her mother as they sleep, unaware that the next morning they would wake to a different life.  

Marinette stands in the centre of her childhood bedroom, her tearing eyes lingering on the stripped walls and the chalk outlines drawn in ancient arrays across the floor. The pink walls are faded and show evidence of the posters and designs she had tacked to them over the years, but those are now long gone, eradicated from existence as was most of Marinette’s previous belongings. The bed on the loft, the computer in the corner, the sewing machine on the desk; Anything and everything that would suggest that anyone lived here is no more, either having been sold or destroyed in the last few months. The only things that would be preserved after today would be a large photo album Marinette had spent years making in preparation for today and the set of handmade good-luck charms that have already tucked away in Marinette’s new quarters in the Order’s Temple.

Inwardly, Marinette rebukes herself for her wavering. She had long since abandoned her dreams and aspirations, her hopes for a future and the love of a family. Ruminating on any of this is pointless. She’s known this was coming for years, that the day Hawkmoth was defeated would be both an end and a beginning. 

Marinette’s eyes scour the room again with purpose, searching. She can leave nothing behind; no evidence that Marinette Dupain-Cheng ever existed. After today, no one would remember her; not her family, her friends, teachers, or anyone whom she’s come in contact with. She would become solely Ladybug, Guardian of the Miracle Box and future leader of the Order of the Miraculous. Her name would be relinquished and she’d be titled ‘Ladybug’ from here on out, the permanent holder of the Miraculous of Creation.

However, the majority of Marinette’s pain does not stem from leaving her civilian life behind, as difficult as it is. Marinette is now nineteen and while she loves her family and friends, she has been preparing herself for this day for five years. Since the defeat of Hawkmoth nearly three months ago, she knew her time with her family and loved ones was coming to an end and had accepted it. Even her exploits as Ladybug would be significantly wiped from history, only trace vague records being able to survive this purge of memory and information, and she has accepted this. 

No, what is positively tearing Marinette apart is that she never thought she would be doing this alone. Her partner was supposed to be with her, beginning this next phase of life together. Over the last six years they have made plans, anticipating and dreading the future where they would join the Order as Guardians and bear the responsibility of the miraculous together. They’d spent countless nights on patrol dreaming of the future they would have with one another, despairing at the lives they’d have to leave behind, and anxious about the uncertainty of their new lives. However, they both accepted this because they had one another. Giving up her life for her duty had been manageable with Chat Noir beside her. Compared to Marinette, he had been downright joyful at the idea, which in retrospect Marinette now understands. 

Marinette felt safe going into this journey beside Chat. He was Ladybug’s partner, her best friend, and she loved him. He was the only one left that she trusted to fight alongside her after losing her friendships to Lila in her civilian life. Marinette had long since given up on bringing in Temporary holders in lieu of simply merging their miraculous as needed, and Chat supported her in this. Chat Noir and Ladybug knew and trusted one another deeply and had a near unbreakable bond, even if they hadn’t learned of their identities until it was too late.

And now Marinette was alone, her dreams slipping through her fingers like dust in the wind. She may have the entire Order behind her and the Kwami under her care, but Marinette has never felt so alone. Neither she nor Chat could ever have expected the repercussions of defeating Hawkmoth nor the lengths the corrupted man would go through in order to save his wife.

Neither Marinette nor Adrien could have expected that their reveal would occur just as the world came crashing down around them.

The image of Adrien’s teary, desperate smile flashes across Marinette’s mind and she has to force down the anguish that threatens to overwhelm her. She can still smell the metallic scent of his blood, feel the magic of the feather that emerged from his chest, and hear the strangled tone of his voice as he apologised before whispering that he didn’t want to leave her.

Regret begins to overwhelm Marinette and her breathing grows shallow. Recognising the beginnings of a panic attack, Marinette forces herself to ground herself, something she’s grown well adept in in the last month. The last few months have been hell for the young woman as she spirals with self-hatred, filled with regret that she hadn’t been able to do more, that she has failed the one person she couldn’t afford to fail.

It is these thoughts that have led to the young woman secretly crying herself to sleep nearly every night, working through the trauma of losing the person closest to her, her rock in the storm. While the rest of Paris has been celebrating the defeat of Hawkmoth and the ability to feel again without fear, Marinette has been in a near constant state of despair over the loss of her best friend; the best friend who had turned out to be more special to her than she had ever known, her first love. 

Marinette would give anything to go back to that day and do it differently – do everything differently, find a way so that Adrien could have survived after his Father’s defeat. She wants to go back to the days she and Chat spent nights running across the rooftops of Paris, childlike in their dreams of the future, high on the magic coursing through their veins. She misses his laughter echoing off Notre Dame and the cheesy puns that always seemed to be on the tip of his tongue.  

She wants to go back to see him one last time, to hold him close and return the love he always gave so effortlessly. 

“Are you all right, Marinette?” 

Marinette jumps, pulled from her inner spiral by the Kwami of Creation who has been eyeing her anxiously as the young Guardian prepares the ritual. Marinette knows the worry is justified, especially as she had completed a similar ritual a few months ago in regards to Adrien’s memory and had only just recovered from the magical strain. However, it was time to move on; Marinette couldn’t bring herself to remain in the city that reminded her of him.

Wiping hurriedly at her tears, Marinette swallows the lump in her throat and turns to Tikki, who is hovering beside her. 

“Just a bit emotional,” she admits, giving the kwami a forlorn smile. “I’m almost done.”

“It’s okay to be sad, Marinette,” Tikki reminds her, anxious over her Chosen’s continued insistence to keep her emotions under wraps. It’s a learned behaviour that saved Marinette from being akumatized in the past, but even though it is no longer necessary, the young heroine rarely permits herself to truly feel. At this point, Tikki suspects it’s because once the young woman allows herself to, she will fall apart.

“I know,” Marinette replies as she takes a deep breath, but her tone is anything but convincing. “It’s just a big moment.”

“It is,” Tikki whispers, flying forward to cup Marinette’s cheeks with her paws. “I’m sorry. You were never meant to do this alone.”

Marinette purses her lips and looks away, trying to focus on the task at hand. Suhan and the other Guardians had offered to perform this ritual for her, but she and Chat had assured him that they wanted to do it together. Even in the wake of Adrien’s loss, Marinette couldn’t imagine performing this ritual with anyone but her Chaton. It just felt wrong, and so, Marinette would do this alone, just as she had done for Adrien, even if it felt as though she was ripping her heart out in the process.

“Are you ready, Tikki?” Marinette continues, avoiding Tikki’s large blue eyes.

Ignoring the piercing gaze of the kwami, Marinette steels herself.

“Tikki. . . Spots on.”

A flash of red light envelopes the room, and when it fades, Ladybug stands at the ready, her back straight and her eyes filled with determination. Closing her eyes, Ladybug holds out her hands above the array and calls upon the magic there. The process is intricate and time-consuming, and by the time the last of the magic seeps through the arrays, the early light of dawn is beginning to make itself known. 

Exhaustion seeping through her bones, Ladybug drops her arms and takes a knee, unable to remain standing. With this, Marinette Chienne Rose Dupain-Cheng ceases to exist, leaving Ladybug in her place.

“. . . It’s done,” Ladybug breathes to herself, trembling from the magical strain of the ritual she has performed and the weight of its consequences.

In the distance, Ladybug hears the alarm of the Dupain-Chengs. The bakery is due to be opening in a few hours and there is fresh bread and pastries to be made.

The young heroine’s heart breaks at the thought. She cannot afford to linger. 

With her face flushing hot with unshed tears, Ladybug opens her Yoyo and retrieves the miraculous of Migration. Slipping on the familiar glasses, Marinette gives her room one last look over, recalling the happy times she’s spent here over the years with her parents, friends, and most of all, Adrien, who had taken to sprawling across her chaise in the evenings after patrol, desiring nothing more than Marinette’s company – not Ladybug’s, but Marinette’s, and that fact alone pushes her tears over the edge. 

In a swift motion, Ladybug merges the miraculous and with the faintest whisper, steps through a portal, leaving her civilian life behind for good. 

The next moment, Ladybug appears in a familiar ornate bedroom, one that she has been preparing for the last few months within the Order’s Temple in China. This is to be her permanent home, especially for the next few years as she learns more about the miraculous and her duty as Guardian and Ladybug. The room, despite holding many ancient artefacts and beautiful tapestries, is rather barren aside from the Miracle Box, which sits on a small pedestal in the corner of the room beside what can only be described as a small pantry, filled with small snacks for the Kwami. 

With a whisper, Ladybug drops her transformation. Seeing the young woman’s emotional state, both Tikki and Kaalki give her silent support in the form of a soft nuzzle to the cheek before retrieving snacks and returning to the Miracle Box.

Alone, Ladybug drags herself to the nightstand beside the plush bed in the corner. From within the top drawer, she removes the set of good luck charms she had exchanged with Adrien once upon a time; her last connection to her old self and the boy she loved.  

As the heroine collapses on her bed, she curls in on herself and begins to sob, clutching the good luck charms to her chest as a single desire echoes in her heart:

‘I want to go back.’

Ladybug’s hands sweat from within her suit as she is led through the halls of the Justice League’s Watchtower. Despite the confidence in her abilities that she has acquired after living within the Temple for the last two years, the Justice League still felt intimidating, even if the Order had scoffed upon learning of them. To them, the League was a glorified police force – nothing in comparison to the powers and threats that the Order regularly dealt with. 

Even so, Ladybug had grown up in admiration of the group, even having met with and having come to an agreement in the beginnings of the Miraculous War that all metas and League members would refrain from entering Paris until Hawkmoth’s defeat; the two Parisian heroes did not have the confidence to take down an akumatized League member. Meeting Wonder Woman all those years ago had been a momentous occasion for both her and Chat, but continued correspondence had been fleeting at best as the two young heroes struggled to take down the madman. 

As one of the sole two League Members who had an inkling of understanding of the Order and the Miraculous, Wonder Woman had been an invaluable advocate in the face of the other members who had doubted not only their story, but their reliability – her and Aquaman, who had positively trembled in trepidation at the sight of Chat. Apparently, the Atlantians have not forgotten their debt of guilt to the Kwami of Destruction and had asked Chat to relay their people’s apologies and regrets of the past.    

Today however, Ladybug is alone, here with a request (multiple requests, actually) for the entire League and she can’t help but feel uneasy without Chat beside her. Even after two years, she feels as though she is missing part of herself – the part of her that had always gained confidence from Chat’s faith in her. It doesn’t help the fact that after bonding with and using the Miraculous of Creation for so long without someone to wield the Miraculous of Destruction, Ladybug is feeling out of balance with the world around her, which is one of the reasons she’s here today at all; she needs help to find a wielder for the Black Cat Miraculous, and the League is uniquely qualified to help her search for someone appropriate. Despite the Order’s misgivings, the need to find Chat Noir’s replacement is paramount. 

A pang shoots through Ladybug’s chest; no one could replace Chat Noir. Even so, she can’t deny she needs a new partner; she’s been putting this off for the last two years, but she’s felt stunted using her miraculous without the Cat in rotation. If she wants to be able to do her duty as a Guardian and leader of the Order, she needs a Cat. 

Shaking her spiralling thoughts away, Ladybug refocuses on her task at hand and follows Wonder Woman into what appears to be a very modern and high tech conference room. Large monitors and screens surround the room, all sporting the Justice League symbol as its background. 

The room is surprisingly filled, much more so than Ladybug had expected it to be, primarily due to the fact that Batman appears to have brought his entire brood along with him. From Batman’s side alone, Ladybug counts seven, and that’s not including the actual primary League members and their teams who are seated at the large table in the centre of the room. Wonder Woman had warned Ladybug that she considered this an ‘all hands on deck’ situation save those who are currently off-world, Ladybug just hadn’t realised that meant roughly thirty people would be present.

At the entrance of Wonder Woman and Ladybug, the room grows silent, all attention on them. Ladybug has seen looks like that before; scepticism, wariness, and intrigue are the norm when meeting members of the Order. In the two years she’s trained in China, in the remote villages around the world where she and the other Guardians pilgrimaged to retrieve lost artefacts, she was near always met with roadblocks due to the mysterious nature of the Order and its purpose. Considering this is the Justice League and their allies, allies of Wonder Woman and Aquaman, Ladybug had hoped for a bit less scepticism, but given the glower she is receiving from Batman and Robin as well as the Green Lanterns and a few others, she was not so lucky – despite her reputation for being the embodiment of luck.

Supposedly, the teams have been given a generalised brief in regards to Ladybug and the Order, as well as the purpose of today’s meeting. Official Indoctrination into the Justice League is no quiet event, but with two of the founding JL members sponsoring her, it had been a rather simple endeavour. One of the main events of today would be welcoming Ladybug and the Order as both a member and an allied force. The terms of having the Order in League had been heavily in favour of the Order, something that many of the League had voiced their dissatisfaction with, but with the powers the Order maintained, they had had little choice but to accept what was being offered.   

However, it is not the indoctrination that has Ladybug edging toward catastrophizing. In fact, there really isn’t anything left to be done on that front apart from introductions to the rest of the team. No, what she is proposing is far more terrifying, especially for her. 

With a quiet smile, Wonder Woman urges Ladybug forward to the front of the room where two seats have been left open despite the fact that many others have been left standing around the room. 

“Welcome everyone, it is a pleasure to see you all,” Wonder Woman begins as she takes one of the seats. “I am delighted to see that so many of you were able to be present. I believe this is the first time most of you are officially meeting our newest League member aside from vague correspondance a few years ago. As such, it is my honour to formally introduce Ladybug, heroine of Paris and Guardian of the Order of the Miraculous.” 

“It is an honour to have you here with us today, Lady Guardian,” Aquaman stands from his seat, bowing deeply. “The League is truly blessed to have your guidance and support.”

Smiling in appreciation, if not slight discomfort with the formality, Ladybug returns the bow with one of her own.

“It’s nice to see you again, Aquaman,” Ladybug replies, exuding as much confidence in the gesture, hyper-aware of the many eyes observing their interaction. She can’t afford to allow anyone to take her lightly, least of all the seasoned heroes before her –  not with what she is about to ask of them. 

“Please, take a seat,” Wonder Woman urges when Ladybug continues to stand.

Glancing around the room, the young heroine frowns. The predominant energy in the  room is sceptical and a few expressions express dissatisfaction bordering on hostility; sitting is a vulnerable position and she needs to appear confident and in control if she wants any hope of accomplishing anything in this meeting. 

“I’d prefer to stand,” Ladybug tells her quietly, instead standing behind the chair, her gaze shifting across the room and taking note of exits and the energies of the people around her.

Wonder Woman frowns, perplexed, but nods in understanding. 

“Alright then,” the Amazonian Warrior says before turning to address the table and the people lurking at the back. “Well then, as you all know, this meeting was called at the behest of Ladybug as one of the requirements for the Order’s support, so please, let’s be respectful as they are an invaluable asset and it is a true honour to have her with us. Ladybug, you have the floor.”

From where Ladybug stands, she senses the wave of scepticism flooding many of the persons in attendance. Taking a deep breath, she chooses to ignore it as she holds herself a little bit higher. She is the Grand Guardian of the Order of the Miraculous and Ladybug herself. She is unrivalled in power and authority – but even leaving her past behind has not erased the shy, anxiety-prone young woman she has always been. Even so, this is her duty, and Ladybug does not shy away from duty.

Clearing her throat, Ladybug gazes around the room, exuding as much authority as she can without tapping into magic. She is sure few would be apt to help her if they found out she was influencing them in any way. Although to her surprise, when she does so, many of Batman’s brood nod toward her encouragingly. It throws her a moment, especially considering the dissatisfied scowl Batman himself is sending her way.

“Thank you. It is an honour to be officially recognised as a member of the Justice League and I look forward to our future cooperation,” Ladybug begins, internally cycling through her talking points as she takes another deep breath. “I also thank you all for taking the time to attend this meeting as it is a bit – no, it is about to become an emergency without your help.”

A murmur passes through the group and Marinette grips her hands together to keep them from trembling. This is the part she has been dreading; a reminder of her failure as Ladybug, the Grand Guardian, and Chat Noir’s partner.

“As you all know I. . . I used to have a partner,” Ladybug begins again, faltering only slightly as she continues, “My miraculous is not meant to be active without its counterpart. It can have long term effects on the universe otherwise. I’ve been making due for the last two years but. . . I’m reaching the limit of what is manageable. I need a new partner, someone who has a high compatibility with the Cat miraculous but is also experienced enough to match me. The only ones who could possibly do so are here at the Justice League, you and your allies.”

A beat passes in silence as the weight of what Ladybug has just revealed settles. 

Batman is the first to speak.

“You’re trying to recruit one of us to the Order?”

“Um. . . Only kind of,” Ladybug admits, glancing at Wonder Woman and Aquaman nervously. Out of everyone here, they would be the ones to understand the severity and the requirements of the situation. Given the dark expressions on their faces, she knows her intuition to be correct. 

“There aren’t many of us that would fit the requirements to be your Cat, Lady Guardian,” Aquaman tells her grimly. 

“Most of us with the experience necessary are too old,” Wonder Woman agrees, glancing at the members of Young Justice and Teen Titans in attendance. “And of the ones the correct age, not many have enough experience. They would also need to be promoted to official League members if they take up the mantle.”

At the mention of the two young teams of heroes, the room once more erupts. In the back, the groups in question stand more at attention, quite obviously not having expected to be brought into the conversation. 

“Hold on a moment – I thought that the Order didn’t recruit adult heroes, let alone anyone that belongs to another organisation,” Batman presses as he rises to his feet, his dissatisfaction and distrust of the Order shining through his tone. He had been the most vocal about his disapproval of allying with an organisation so unwilling to share information. Ladybug doesn’t blame him; she had felt the same the entire time she was battling Hawkmoth afterall. The Order had been particularly unhelpful.

“They don’t,” Ladybug replies, observing the way Batman moves to place himself between her and the two younger hero teams. “This is my prerogative and given the situation, the Order really wasn’t given much of a choice but to accept my conditions. Despite their traditions, I need a seasoned hero. I don’t have time to train anyone from scratch and the Ladybug miraculous cannot be active alone much longer.”

“Why not just use a different miraculous?” The Flash asks from where he is fidgeting in his seat with a half-empty take-out container. “Don’t you have a bunch of them? If the problem is overuse of the Ladybug, just use another. No need for a Cat or a recruit and the universe stays in balance, Problem solved!”

“It doesn’t work like that,” Wonder Woman answers, her expression contemplative. “The miraculi are not like the Lantern rings. They are alive and have personalities of their own – literal embodiments of –”

“Wonder Woman,” Ladybug warns in a commanding tone, her eyes narrowing in warning. To everyone’s surprise, Wonder Woman cows, as does Aquaman. While many appear to find issue with this, many of the younger group appear to find this intriguing, especially Batman’s team and the two Superboys for some reason. This gives Ladybug a bit of hope.

“My apologies, My Lady,” Wonder Woman replies, leaving the room especially wary of the young woman in spots.

Sighing, Ladybug frowns and turns back to the group.

“If there was another way to do this, I would, but I’m bonded. I can use the other miraculous in conjunction with my own, but my true connection is with Creation. I’m. . . tied to it. As long as I live, the miraculous will remain active, which is why I need a new partner, because short of me dying there is no other option. I need someone who fulfils certain conditions that can bond with Destruction to balance me out.”

The room erupts in protest and curious conversation, primarily among the primary members of the Justice League, while the members of Young Justice and the Teen Titans whisper amongst themselves, forming their own opinions on the situation. 

Growing irritated, Ladybug lets out a whistle that leaves the room silent.

“Look, I know what I’m asking is not easy, and I don’t ask it lightly,” Ladybug continues, recalling her talking points from the nights she spent preparing for this moment, “That is why I am asking for volunteers to be evaluated, and I am trying to make this as painless as possible. Whoever is chosen and accepts the position will need to join in parts of the Order and I know just how much of a pain that is. Due to the circumstances, I’ve managed to convince the other Guardians to permit certain allowances. Whoever is chosen will be able to keep their civilian lives and would not have to abide by all the regulations and traditions that I do. They won’t even need to live in the Temple full-time, just during specific equinoxes and during the first few months of training. The most important thing right now is having the Black Cat in rotation before the world suffers for it. I wouldn’t be here right now if this wasn’t my last resort.”

A beat passes and Superman gently raises his hand. 

“Why are you not choosing a partner from within the Order? Surely there is someone who meets your standards there,” Superman asks politely, speaking for the first time since the meeting started.

Ladybug gives him a small smile, grateful for the nonhostility.

“Unfortunately, there’s not. Before the incident that led to the Order disappearing for over a hundred years, they were still searching for compatible souls to wield the Ladybug and Cat Miraculi. As the two most powerful, selection is rigorous, especially as the souls need to be compatible with one another as well as their miraculous. It’s normally a significant moment in history when Ladybugs and Cats are chosen – that, or their appearance means that devastation is on the horizon and they were brought out by necessity, like with Chat and me. . . Chat and I got lucky. We were really compatible. . .” A pang shoots through Ladybug’s chest at the memory, at the falseness tangled into the truth of her and Chat’s compatibility – in the lie they had both fallen for.

“And they can’t just recruit someone the way you were?” Superman urges, keeping the young woman focused.

Sighing, Ladybug shakes her head.

“There is a difference because I’m already a bonded Ladybug with extensive battle experience. Now whoever is chosen has to be compatible with me, the miraculous, and be a seasoned fighter. Normally we receive the miraculous at the same time and our souls would grow together, but since Chat. . .” Ladybug trails off, fighting to keep control of her budding tears. She takes a breath before continuing, “The Miraculi of Creation and Destruction are a balance – too much of one or the other can be just as devastating as one working without the other. That’s why they are always found as a pair and why I’m here, asking you all for help. You all have been through nearly as much or just as many battles as I have. I am here because I need someone who can match me and continue to grow with me. I need someone to help me keep the world from spinning out of control due to imbalance.” 

The end of Ladybug’s speech is met with the grating of a chair as the closest Green Lantern rises to his feet with a scowl.

“Right – I’ve had enough! Listen here girlie, I don’t know what sort of leverage you’ve got over Wonder Woman and Aquaman that makes you think that you’re good enough to join the league, let alone sit here bossing us around like this, but you’ve got some nerve to be suggesting that some of us don’t have the chops to ‘match’ you,” he drawls, hostility dripping from his tone.

“Lantern!” Wonder Woman admonishes, jumping to her feet in her anger. “Your hostile discourse is unwarranted and out of bounds! You have no idea what this young woman has been through, let alone the power she wields! Your cheap imitation jewellery could never –”

“You should be lucky that the Cat is not here to witness this blatant disrespect!” Aquaman barrels over Wonder Woman’s admonishments, unaware of the flinch that Ladybug attempts to suppress at the mention of her former partner – a flinch that both Batman and his Team catch. “Do you know why Atlantians revere the Cat? It is because it was the will of him and his holder that sank Atlantis so many –”

“Aquaman! Wonder Woman!” Ladybug calls out again in her commanding voice, her emotions getting to her as she stares at the two in disapproval. Their fury on her behalf aside, she can’t have them revealing too many of the Order’s secrets – like the existence of the kwami, for one. 

“You see?! That! There!” Lantern continues, his irritation growing. “She just waltzes in here and starts ordering everyone around and you two just take it! You’re supposed to be founding members and you’re just –”

Green Lantern is cut off as the monitors surrounding the room light up in a frenzy, the JL screensavers being replaced with what Ladybug recognises as the Ladyblog – something that had been unpublished and had its archives erased following the defeat of Hawkmoth at Ladybug’s request.

“Maybe this is why,” Red Robin hums from where he’s leaning against the main computer in the back of the room, snark dripping from his tone.

Before Ladybug can fully comprehend what she is seeing, she pales as she is met with video upon video of Ladybug and Chat Noir’s battle history of five years, her and Chat’s voices overlapping from the many files being simultaneously played. Upon each screen are at least three videos per monitor showing different akuma battles – videos that should have been officially deleted two years ago along with the record of Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

A blanket seems to fall over Ladybug, muffling her surroundings as she watches her partner fight alongside her on the screen while her once best friend captures it. A longing chokes her, as does a sense of shame as all of her trauma is shoved in her face. She sees the happiness in hers and Chat’s eyes, the determination, the hope, the confidence. . . the freedom. On the screen, she sees the similarities between Chat Noir and Adrien Agreste, similarities that are so obvious in hindsight. She also sees the peace, the naivety that had plagued them both as young heroes.

Meanwhile, the rest of the heroes assembled are shocked into silence at the battles raging around them. Some are nearly comical in nature, as are a few of the horribly dressed villains (akumas, as the reporter on screen calls them), but a majority of the conflicts are terrifying even by the League’s standards. In many frames, Ladybug and Chat Noir are beaten and bloody fighting literal horrors, monsters that if the devastation behind the heroes is any evidence of, had killed thousands, if not millions. Some engagements appear to be literal apocalypses, and not only one or two, but dozens.

It is in this way that the group of heroes are faced with the full extent of Ladybug and Chat Noir’s war in Paris. For many, it is the first evidence of the war that they are seeing; Aquaman and Master Fu had immediately put a magical barrier over Paris when the war first broke out that prevented the rest of the world from finding out about the miraculous and the situation in Paris. It was only through Aquaman and Wonder Woman that the League was made aware there was even a problem in the first place and that the issue was being handled – and that all metas were banned for the foreseeable future. During that time, not even Batman or his Team had been able to find evidence of what was happening in the City of Lights – nor had they apparently shared what they had found after the war had ended.

In some frames, Ladybug and Chat Noir seem to have help from others, most likely other miraculous holders given what they know of the Order, but in the images where Chat Noir and Ladybug appear older, they are alone, often appearing to wield more than one miraculous at a time. On a few occasions, they even see Ladybug splitting into six clones, each wearing a different miraculous while fighting beside a similarly merged Chat Noir. 

What is even more apparent from the files being shown is that the two heroes had been amateurs when they started out; they had been learning on the job since day one. Over the years, the records show how Ladybug and Chat Noir grew into their mantles, their efficiency and battle prowess growing with each fight. At some point, it appears as though the two had picked up a few different styles of martial arts apiece and had learned to read one another without thinking, running purely on instinct and trust of the other. The compatibility of the two heroes is undeniable, nor is their capabilities in battle.

The evidence playing out around the room is a wake up call to all in attendance that being able to keep up with the red and black-spotted heroine would not be an easy task. Wonder Woman and Aquaman had been right to be worried that not many would be able to match her in ability, let alone reach the same level of compatibility as her former partner.

“. . . Turn them off,” Ladybug manages to eventually whisper, her arms wrapped around herself as she stares at the screen closest to her. “Please.”

Batman shares a look with Red Robin, who nods and silently returns the monitors to standby.

“Does anyone have any complaints about her abilities?” Wonder Woman asks sternly, daring the room to speak. 

“. . . You are quite a warrior,” Starfire comments appreciatively. “I would be honoured to fight alongside you.”

“She’s definitely got chops,” Arsenal adds from her other side. “And that healing ability sure is something.”

“Wait, so whoever becomes her partner has to become a knockoff Catwoman?” Spoiler comments, seemingly holding back a giggle as Chat Noir poses comically on the nearest screen.

“Hey, who says that’s a bad thing?” Beast Boy chimes in. “Cats are awesome!” And with that, transforms into a large panther before turning into a kitten and then back to himself.

“Personally, I think I’d look great in a leather suit,” the elder Superboy smirks.

Ladybug, however, remains silent, her eyes fixated on the now-blank screens around her, uncaring of the commotion unfolding around her. It’s all too much; too much of the good, the great, the bad, and the heart wrenching. 

“. . . How do you have this. . ?” Ladybug breathes after a moment, her throat thick with emotion. 

“You may have managed to erase your records on earth, but we’ve put a lot of effort into making sure the magical barriers of the Tower could prevent media blockage after what happened in Paris,” Batman tells her. “We managed to collect these after the block on Paris fell but before your Order managed to erase the records.”

“What? Can’t handle watching yourself?” Lantern quips, obviously still miffed at being proven wrong. “Or is your former partner? What exactly happened to him anyway? Before any of us go signin’ up to be your partner, shouldn’t we know how you lost your last one?”

Silence follows and to everyone’s surprise, Ladybug flinches, her confident exterior cracking, but she says nothing.

Almost immediately, a figure breaks through the crowd at the back, encroaching on Green Lantern with determination. Ladybug is vaguely aware that she’s seen the man before in her JL briefings – Nightwing, she recalls. 

“Back off, Lantern,” Nightwing states with a frighteningly accurate portrayal of the BatGlare™, gripping the man’s shoulder and shoving him back down into his seat. “You know as well as any of us how hard it is to lose someone. Don’t be an ass.”

“I’m just saying if she is supposed to be recruiting a bunch of other kids to be her partner, she better be telling us the risks involved before we go letting you all attend tryouts,” Lantern insists with a smirk, seemingly unfazed by Nightwings glowering figure above him.

“Yeah well, this decision isn’t up to you, asswipe. The Lady is asking for volunteers, not drafting soldiers,” Red Hood adds, his autotuned voice echoing. “It’s up to us to decide what we’re willing to risk.”

“It’s not like any of us took up the hero biz ‘cause it was the safe option,” Cyborg adds, glaring at Lantern pointedly.

“Definitely not for the benefit package either,” Blue Beetle grunts, shaking his head in solidarity.

“And from the sound of things, you Justice League lot are all too old anyway,” the older Superboy chimes in with a wicked smirk, lowering his sunglasses to wink at Ladybug. “She needs someone who can actually keep up with her.”

“Dude – really?” Red Robin sighs as Miss Martian and Raven groan beside him.

“What, she’s hot! And I’ve always liked the idea of an older woman,” the super adds with a wink in Ladybug’s direction.

“That’s enough, Superboy,” Superman sighs, rubbing his temple in agitation as the other, younger Superboy gags at the elder’s flirtatious words.

“I’m surrounded by promiscuous heathens,” Robin mutters to a similarly mortified younger Superboy, who is red in the face staring at the elder.

Meanwhile, Ladybug manages to compose herself and turns to the Green Lantern in question, however when she speaks, she addresses the entire room, primarily the younger members who had come to her defence.

“You’re right. I’m here because I lost my partner and I owe it to those who may volunteer exactly why he. . .” Ladybug falters, closing her eyes as she struggles for the words. 

“Hey, no,” Nightwing interjects when he sees her tremble again. “You don’t have to –”

“No, no,” Ladybug stops him, giving him an appreciative smile as she opens her eyes and straightens her back purposefully. “I’m fine. It’s just. . . his death was inevitable. He had a. . . magical pre-existing condition that none of us knew about, not even him. Even if he hadn’t been Chat Noir, he would have. . . he would have died as soon as Hawkmoth was defeated. The fate he met will not be the fate of whoever becomes my partner. It’s impossible.”

A few curious glances are exchanged at the revelation. There had been no video evidence of the final battle, so most assumed that the young hero had died in battle. Apparently their assumptions had been wrong.

“And how exactly are you sure it’s impossible?” Lantern presses, earning furious mutterings from the other heroes in the room.

“Because it has to do with miraculous magic that isn’t relevant anymore,” Ladybug insists, trying to remain as vague as possible. “His parents messed with magic they didn’t understand and they ended up cursed. . . and Chat paid the price. Please leave it at that.”

“No – give it to us straigh–” Lantern begins again, only to be cut off by the last person he expects.

“Enough!” Batman’s voice echoes, silencing the room. “I know how you feel, Lantern, but this is not the place. She has given us enough of an explanation for today.” He admonishes before turning to Ladybug. “Going back to what you were saying before, what does that mean, imbalance? What exactly would happen if you were to remain without a partner for much longer? What are the explicit consequences?”

Ladybug purses her lips gravely, inwardly grateful for the change in subject.

“It would play out in one of two ways. If we’re lucky, the world becomes cursed with bad luck to counter my good luck. A lot of society would collapse due to things like food shortages, faulty building foundations, natural disasters, low birth rates, declining medical. . . everything. Disease would break out, anarchy would rule, World War III – that kind of stuff.”  

“And if we aren’t lucky?” Nightwing asks, glancing nervously at Batman.

“If we aren't. . . that’s a worse case scenario,” Ladybug explains tightly, recalling having to purge another timeline for one such eventuality. “Creation runs rampant like a cancer across the earth, throwing things into excess and mutation, corrupting the genetic make-up of most living things. . . After a month, we’d all be wishing we were dead. You don’t want to know what that looks like, because I have seen it and it’s not pretty.”

“How do you know this?” Batman presses yet again, his expression growing darker as the severity of the situation begins to dawn on him.

“I’ve been through a few apocalypses in other timelines,” Ladybug admits, unfazed by the man’s prying. “I have an ally who exists. . . Outside of time and in multiple time streams. They come to me whenever I need to fix or prevent an apocalypse.”

“The Rabbit Miraculous,” Wonder Woman nods, her eyes alight with intrigue. “My mother spoke of a wielder often when I was a child. They would pop in and out as they pleased and particularly enjoyed challenging my sisters in battle.”

Ladybug falters and turns to Wonder Woman warily.

“. . . The name they went by wouldn’t happen to be Bunnix , would it?”

Wonder Woman beams at the question as Ladybug deflates in exasperation, sensing the answer.

“It was! I only met them once, but they –”

“So this is real, then?” The Flash asks, intrigued. “You have a way to manipulate time.”

Ladybug frowns, considering how best to explain her situation with Alix, whose present self is currently finishing college in Prague while her future self hops through the multidimensional time stream. 

“Technically yes, but I’m not – I don’t use it. Not by myself at least. See, I currently have the Rabbit miraculous, but apparently I will give it to Bunnix in the future. I just haven’t gotten there yet, but even so, they come and get me as needed so . . . It's a paradox I try not to think about.”

“So wait, do you work with only this dimension or the others –”

“We’re getting off track,” Batman steers the conversation back, shooting Flash a pointed look, who shrugs nonchalantly. 

“Look, I’m not trying to force anyone into this position. Out of anyone, I understand how unfair that would be; no one should be forced into this sort of sacrifice like Chat and I were. That’s why I’m asking for volunteers and have managed to convince the Order to waive certain requirements and traditions becoming the welder of the Cat Miraculous usually demands. The importance of keeping the world’s central powers in balance far outweighs the Order’s traditions. The only thing I’m looking for is compatibility and someone seasoned enough to meet at least roughly seventy-five percent of my experience, which I believe a good number of you meet. The biggest problem is finding someone who fits my age range.”

“And exactly what age are you looking for?” Flash asks, appearing to grow more intrigued at the revelation Ladybug works with time; with how often he’s messing with it, she’d be a good ally to have in a pinch.

“I’m twenty-one,” Ladybug replies with a small smile, grateful that things seem to be moving forward. “Technically anyone within a seven year gap on each side is suitable, but I’d rather err on the higher side. I don’t want any kids being brought into this.”

“That’d be a first for this place,” Red Hood mutters in a disgruntled tone. 

“So basically anyone between the ages of fourteen and twenty-eight is fair game?” Nightwing asks, seeming to brighten up at the revelation. 

“Superboy, you’re out. You’re only a few years old, right?” Tigress quips in amusement.

“Excuse me! Just because I was technically born in a tube doesn’t mean that I can’t match her experience! Besides, I have all the knowledge appropriate for an eighteen year old. That has to count for something!” The boy in question retorts.

“How about you let the magic decide that,” Artemis replies with a smirk.

“Awe, look at that – Nightwing is still young enough to try out!” Wonder Girl laughs, smirking at the man in question, who gives her a flat look from where he is still looming over Lantern.

“I’m twenty-five! Just because I graduated from Young Justice doesn’t mean that I’m old !” Nightwing protests. 

“‘Pretty sure that’s exactly what it means, Wonder Bird,” Roy smirks from his chair, a wicked gleam evident from behind his domino mask.

In the middle of this, Martian Manhunter, who had been sitting quietly at the table, rises to his feet.

“I believe we need time to convene separately and decide if it is in the best interest to have our youngest be tested or if we should help you find some other way to correct the universal imbalance. Earth is not the only planet after all,” Martian states as he moves to leave, glancing back at his daughter in summons.

From the other side of the room, Zatanna steps forward, blocking Miss Martian from following him.

“What makes you think any of us need your approval to volunteer?” The young woman asks, her eyes narrowing at Martian.

“Tt. We are more than capable of making an intelligent decision without your intervention,” Robin adds, glaring deeply at the alien as he fingers the katana at his waist.

“My kids can do what they want,” Green Arrow interjects as he too rises to his feet and makes to leave. “It’s not like they ever listen to me anyway.”

“Who the fuck are you callin’ your kid, asshole?” Arsenal scowls. 

“Many of you are still underage,” Batman stars as he refocused the conversation and turns to his team. “There are too many unknowns. We need time to weigh all our options before –”

“All of Young Justice is willing to be tested,” Red Robin suddenly pipes up, shooting Batman a challenging look.

“As are the Outlaws!” Starfire chimes.

“And the Titans,” Cyborg adds, fist bumping Beastboy.

“Me too, for what it’s worth,” Nightwing adds with a wink. “Not sure anyone can stop me now that I’m a full-fledged League member”

“No one is getting tested – at least not yet,” Batman declares loudly, turning to Ladybug. “The situation is severe, but we need to take a moment to think this through. By your own admission, what you’re asking for is for one of us to basically join you and the Order, which you know to be a life-changing decision, and you’re not really giving us a choice either. We should at least be able to put together approved candidates for you to test. How much time do we have until you need an answer?”

Ladybug pauses, considering. She had somewhat expected this, but at the very least, the ones who are actually potential candidates seem willing to at least try. It’s better than being shut down completely.

“Bunnix has informed me that we have three months before the first symptoms of imbalance will begin to show up, but we won’t know in which direction luck will swing until six months from now. My partner also needs to at the very least have two months experience with the miraculous to prevent universal imbalance.”

“Three weeks, then,” Batman offers with a nod. “Give us three weeks to do our due diligence. As candidates are cleared, we will send them your way. That will give you a week to test them however you see fit before any issues arise.”

Ladybug frowns and gives a reluctant nod. 

“My test doesn’t take that long, maybe about fifteen minutes or so per person, and just so you know, I can’t always be here. The Order needs me to check in and handle certain tasks every so often, but will try to make sure to check in here at the Tower every couple days and anyone willing can just come find me.”

Unfortunately, as these words leave Ladybug’s lips, an alarm blares, signalling the need for the Justice League and an abrupt end to the meeting.

“We can continue this conversation later. Everyone, let's go!” Batman calls out, and with a few sympathetic smiles and wary glares sent her way, the entire assembly rushes from the room. 

Before leaving, Nightwing hangs back, pausing before he exits the room.

“Don’t let B get to you,” he tells her, flashing Ladybug a rather beguiling grin. “I for one would be honoured to be your partner if it works out. See ya’ soon, Milady.”

With a flirtatious wink, Nightwing turns on his heel, following the rest of the group. 

Meanwhile, Ladybug is frozen, her heart beating rapidly as the wind feels as though it has been knocked out of her. She feels dizzy and flattered and flustered and cold. 

She hasn’t been called ‘Milady’ in over two years.

Sensing the young heroine’s strange mood, Wonder Woman places a hand on Ladybug’s shoulder.

“You do not have to accompany us if you do not wish,” she informs her with a gentle expression. “Considering the hesitation that still surrounds you, no one would blame you for waiting until more trust is built up, especially after such a draining conversation.”

The young heroine sighs.

“I’m already here – might as well gear up for my first Justice League mission while I am,” Ladybug states with a forced smile. “Plus, what better way to earn that trust than from helping out? Who knows, maybe I’ll be able to convince the others that I actually know what I’m doing.”

“. . . We are truly lucky to have you, Ladybug,” Wonder Woman offers, giving her a sympathetic smile as the two turn to sprint after the rest of the teams.

As they do, Ladybug wipes away a stray tear, the stress of the earlier conversations slipping through.

“That’s me. . . Lady Luck herself.”

Ladybug sits in a chair in the darkened conference room of the Justice League Watchtower, her eyes trained on the screen in front of her. Her eyes are red and puffy and her cheeks are blotchy with dried tears. She isn’t sure how long she’s sat here, processing her past in a way she had never had the courage to do, but she knows that the lights of the Tower have been dim for hours and her eyes have become bleary with exhaustion. The teams had all returned after a rather gruelling battle against some alien race that had managed to merge themselves with water molecules and were attempting to take over Earth’s water supplies, which had caused a bit of an issue with Aquaman and Aqualad’s powers. Luckily, because all the teams had been brought together because of Ladybug’s meeting, they had all hands on deck and had been able to deal with the threat within a few hours. It would have ended sooner if not for the sheer number of aliens that needed rounding up. All in all, it had been a useful evaluation tool for Ladybug, as well as for the team in her regard. Everyone had been blown away at the reversal of damage from the fight due to Ladybug’s power. It was one thing to see it on a screen and another witnessing it in person.  

Superman had been particularly grateful and asked that she visit Metropolis often. Apparently, the damage his usual battles cause is severe enough that the local government has started giving him fines that Bruce Wayne, the philanthropist that he is, has been having to cover. 

Through the battle, Ladybug had been able to get a feel for which heroes could match her level of experience. Of the younger heroes that would be suitable given a general age range, there were a decent few. All of Batman’s team had actually drawn her interest, as well as the elder Superboy and a few of the other, more impulsive heroes like Arsenal and Starfire. Robin had been surprising to watch and probably would have been a good candidate if he wasn’t so young. The fact that at ten years old his own experience matches her own is concerning on many levels, but she has no right to judge, not when she’s allied with the Order.

Nightwing in particular had been both heart wrenching and exciting to watch. His technique and finesse in battle was impressive and easily matched her own acrobatic flair, however he reminded her so much of Chat Noir in his punny quips and self sacrificing actions that she often found herself staring at him in shock, unsure exactly who she was watching. It left her feeling somewhat jarred, especially when he had called her ‘Milady’ again in the middle of fighting one of the strange water creatures. It had startled her and had caused her to take a hit in the leg. She recovered quickly, but the familiar banter and awful puns left her feeling raw.

It is because of this that Ladybug cannot bring herself to move from her spot at the desk, watching a very much alive Chat Noir full of life and determination as he fights alongside her younger self. Objectively, she recognises that this might not be the healthiest course of action, especially in the wake of attempting to find a new partner, but all video evidence of her and Chat Noir’s exploits had been erased from Earth’s history two years ago. This is the first time since the Final Battle that she has been able to see her beloved partner outside of the handful of photos and articles in her scrapbook.

Ladybug stares at the screen, trying to find the similarities between her fun-loving, uninhibited partner whom she loved and trusted with her life and the often hesitant and sheltered yet kind and caring boy she had fallen in love with and considered a good friend. It was jarring in retrospect, however she could occasionally see the same light and mischievous nature in his eyes, the same tender nature in his actions, the same kindness that she had fallen in love with in one boy and the reason she trusted the other with her life. The realisation made her feel horrid; horrid for having rejected one side of the boy for the other, dirty for having only seen one side of his personality and not the whole, and failure for not trusting him with her identity after becoming Guardian, holding him to a promise of revelation when their battle with Hawkmoth was over and they officially stripped their civilian identities and joined the Order. What’s worse is that even now with the evidence right in front of her face, she had a hard time accepting that they were the same person. Aside from their kind natures and similar features, she could not for the life of her find a resemblance between the two boys. 

How could she have spent so many years denying Adrien an ally in and out of the mask? How could she have not seen the similarities between the two boys, few as they were? How could she still not comprehend the face that the two boys who were the most important people in her life were the same person? 

How could she have been so naive to think that they both would have made it out of the fight alive?

Guilt eats at Ladybug, knowing the most likely answer for her inability to connect the two, but refusing to acknowledge it. She has so many other reasons to feel guilty in regards to her former partner and friend.

At some point, Ladybug becomes aware of a presence entering the room, sticking to the shadows and observing her quietly. Pushing out her magic, she recognises Batman’s energy. It was a heavy presence, filled with a damaged chaos that matches her own energy well. If he had been fifteen-twenty years younger, he’d be a prime candidate for the Cat. 

After fifteen minutes of the man hovering silently, Ladybug’s patience runs thin and she speaks, her eyes never leaving the screen.

“Is there something you need, Batman?” She manages, her voice thick and strained from her tears. “Or do you plan to lurk there all night?” Ladybug knows she is being unnecessarily harsh, but she can’t help it. She’s drained.

Perturbed at being called out, Batman approaches where Ladybug is curled up in the desk chair.

“. . . Why are you still here and not back at your Order’s Temple,” he begins, his tone edged with disapproval. “According to your own stipulations, you would not be spending excess time within the Tower.”

Ladybug is quiet for a moment, watching Chat Noir beam at her through the screen, filled with mirth at a particularly amusing pun that had managed to make her younger self laugh. It’s odd, considering that she can feel Batman’s irritation and disapproval of her, but Ladybug can’t help but trust the man, set at ease by his presence. His energy is too appealing to her own, and it comes off almost fatherly in its comfort. It loosens her lips, yet she can’t bring herself to care with how emotionally raw she feels. She’s tired of bottling everything up.

“. . . Did you know that Guardians traditionally sever all ties to civilian life at the beginning of their training?” Ladybug begins quietly, hardly acknowledging the vigilante as he looms over her. “It’s supposedly a form of magical protection as well as a way to ensure that a Guardian’s duty is not taken lightly. The magic makes us completely anonymous – unable to track or identify through any means unless we want it. . . By entering the Temple and accepting Guardianship, you put the Order and the protection of the balance of the universe before your own wants and needs. . . You can’t be tempted to leave if you don’t have anywhere to go back to.”

The brooding vigilante’s frown deepens, his irritation spiking. So magic is why he and his team had been unable to find any information on Ladybug or the Order. 

Batman really hates magic.

“I don’t see how that has anything to do with why you are still here despite the meeting ending seven hours ago,” Batman points out, the edge to his voice growing sharper as his gaze flickers between the young heroine and the screen depicting snippets of  her past.

Ladybug sighs deeply, ignoring him as she continues.

“Part of the process is wiping the existence of your civilian identity. The day I officially joined the Temple, the name and identity I was born with was erased from history. I have no other name now but Ladybug or Grand Guardian. No one from the first nineteen years of my life remembers me, not even my parents.”   

Batman falters in his brewing anger, taken off guard by this revelation. The act of being forgotten is not an easy one, and the young woman before him is hardly older than twenty if her requirements for a partner are any indication. She’s roughly around the same age as Jason and had apparently given up everything in order to save Paris. Her sudden candour is not only suspicious, but also worrying, as is her distraught state. 

However, Batman is hesitant to stop Ladybug from speaking. While not an answer to Batman’s question, these seemingly random snippets of information about the Order are secrets that the young woman had originally refused to share. It also hints at the answer to another, substantially larger question that not even Wonder Woman had been willing to explain. 

Unaware of the seasoned vigilante’s growing series of questions, Ladybug continues, seemingly talking to herself with her apparent indifference to Batman’s presence.

“When Chat Noir and I first became heroes. . . Our civilian identities weren’t erased. The only Guardian at the time was. . . untrained. . . and a bit of a coward, if I’m being honest,” Ladybug sighs, her tired form deflating at the admission. “He panicked when Hawkmoth first appeared and just. . . made us heroes. Didn’t think about the consequences, didn’t ask what we wanted, didn’t give us a real chance to refuse. . . He didn’t even talk to us himself until months after we had been battling Hawkmoth, and even then it was only me. It took another few months until he revealed himself to Chat, and Chat was seriously hurt by that. We had to learn how to be heroes on the job, balancing our civilian lives with our hero ones – and we did so pretty good, all things considered. We actually managed to throw off each other a few times when we began to suspect one another. . .” 

Silent tears fall from Ladybug’s face as she curls in on herself, her voice growing wet.

“I – I think he was trying to spare us a Guardian’s Fate, but. . . but he didn’t understand why the traditions were in place and. . . he just made it so much worse ,” the young heroine chokes. “All the secrecy, the half–truths, all the rules he made up while ignoring the kwami. . . it just made everything harder, which just prolonged the fight and –”

A sob chokes the young woman and she falters. Clearing her throat she tries again, turning her attention on Batman for the first time. Her gaze is distraught and filled with trauma and heartache and loss. It’s an expression Batman knows well; he often finds it when he looks in the mirror or in the eyes of his children.

Trembling, the young heroine appears to force the next words from her lips.

“When Fu passed on Guardianship to me, Chat and I had already bonded with the miraculous,” Ladybug explains as her voice breaks, her tone losing its monotonous tone completely. “And then the Order reappeared and – and they told us the truth. ”

Ladybug pauses, her eyes far away despite being trained on Batman’s stiff form above her as she continues.

“Not only would Chat and I be obligated to join the Order as bonded holders of the two most powerful objects in the universe, but because of Master Fu’s disregard for tradition, we’d lose our civilian lives and loved ones as well as our history and exploits as Ladybug and Chat Noir,” Ladybug’s voice grows suddenly quiet, her words cutting as she reveals the severity of her situation. “All evidence of both sides of our lives would be wiped from all records on earth and gradually be forgotten.”

Batman stiffens, horror piercing him.

That was it; the question that has been plaguing him for two years that no one had been willing to comment on nor explain.

It had been irking Batman and his entire team; they were not used to being out of the know, especially when such a large issue had arisen in Paris that not only prevented Justice League members from intervening, but took nearly five years to resolve. And then, out of nowhere, the situation was over; no explanation other than an email stating that the situation was neutralised and the miraculous had been returned: metas and Justice League members were allowed back in Paris.

Batman had waited for the Order to clarify what exactly happened, but they had all but vanished from the face of the earth along with nearly every mention of Ladybug and Chat Noir. The only evidence that truly existed was what Oracle had managed to grab before everything disappeared – archives from a local blog that had followed the heroic duo from the beginning.

“It wasn’t supposed to happen like that. We were supposed to be able to build up a new life without having to worry about our identities. The magic is supposed to make it so that once our civilian identity is erased, no one would be able to identify us in or out of the mask unless we wanted them to. . . And we were okay with it. It seemed like proof that it really was us against the world. It made us even more dependent on one another, trust one another that much more implicitly. We were each other’s partner for life and because of that. . . nothing else mattered.”

“But then. . . but then we managed to corner Hawkmoth and Mayura. We beat them . We fought tooth and nail and took their miraculous and we were so relieved for like two seconds despite being beaten and bloody. . . but – but then we realised who they really were and – and they held one last weapon that none of us could have seen coming, not even the Order. If – if we set everything right the way things were supposed to be, if we did what we have been preparing for for the last five years for. . . Chat would die.”

“I couldn’t stop him,” Ladybug admits through her free-flowing tears, gripping her arms so tightly she is sure to have bruises despite the protective layer Tikki has given her. “He knew I wouldn’t let him go – that I’d always do everything for him. . . But he was faster than me and so he – he –”

A sob chokes the young heroine and she shuts her eyes, forcing herself silent despite the strangled wail that was on the tip of her lips. She trembles, the memory of Adrien’s last breath vivid in her mind’s eye, the way he had removed his miraculous and placed it into her hand after breaking his father’s ring. The way his wounds from the battle remained and how despite trying to stay positive until the end, he broke down and cried, not wanting to leave her despite already signing his own death warrant.

After a moment, Ladybug manages to compose herself just enough to glare up at Batman in a challenge despite how raw and broken she truly is.

“You asked why I’m still here?” Ladybug begins, the last remnants of her confident and controlled persona falling to reveal the broken, traumatised child underneath. “I’m here because this is the only place in the universe that still has a true record of my life – of the ‘Miraculous Adventures of Ladybug and Chat Noir’ that have been erased from existence. This is the only place where I can see my partner again alive and free and – and –”

Ladybug is cut off as she is overwhelmed with sorrow and longing, her sobs getting the better of her as she collapses against the table, jostling the keyboard and mouse and pausing the video playing on the screen. 

When she finally manages to catch her breath, she turns her frustrated, tear-ridden gaze on Batman with a familiar determination.

“I know you don’t like me, Batman,” she tells him with a fire in her eyes, her irritation with him that has built up over their years of correspondence bubbling over as she rises to her feet and glares up at the towering man. “You hate magic and things you can’t understand or control, and you want to keep that away from the people you care about. I get that, I really do. You’re just trying to protect the ones you love. Kwami, I hate magic half the time. It’s taken everything from me. . . But whether or not you and I like it, the magic chose me and I’m here to stay. We don’t have a choice . I’m a bonafide member of the Justice League and have a right to be here just as much as you do, so if I want to spend a few hours reminiscing over my dead partner in a place where the Order can’t tell me what to do, I am going to do just that!” 

When Ladybug finishes her rant, her breathing is heavy and ragged and her back is stiff. Despite radiating power as she always does, Batman is not wary. In fact, for the first time since he’s met the young woman, he sees her what she truly is: a young girl who’s had to grow up too fast fighting the battles of adults who have failed her, a young girl who has experienced far too much trauma and death and loss and has had to keep moving forward without so much as a breath of reprieve. In Ladybug, Batman sees his own children, who have endured similar experiences, often because of his own mistakes.

In a staggered motion, Batman brings his hand up and awkwardly places it on Ladybug’s shoulder. At the action, Ladybug flinches, seemingly expecting a blow, which only causes Batman to feel another stab at his conscience. He’s been too hard on the young woman.

“. . . I apologise, Ladybug. I may have been too quick to pass judgement on you,” Batman admits solemnly. “What you have had to endure. . . you should not have had to do so, not at your age. It was unfair of me, especially in the wake of the loss of your partner.” 

At his apology, Ladybug slumps forward and throws herself into the man’s arms. Taken by surprise, Batman catches the young woman, unsure exactly what is happening as she digs her  hands into the kevlar at his chest and the edges of his cape. Almost instantly, the young woman begins to sob

“It’s not fair,” she breathes, growing hysterical as she clings to him. “None of this has been fair. I feel so broken and lost and – and he wasn’t – he wasn’t even real .”

Batman stiffens in her grasp, unsure if he’d heard the girl correctly.

“. . . What did you just say?”

“He wasn’t real!” Ladybug repeats, her voice cracking. “Everything about him was a lie! Chat Noir – Adrien, he – he was magic . . . He was born from a miraculous, one of the miraculous that Hawkmoth had stolen – he was a – a sentimonster, but he also wasn’t. He was human and so caring and courageous and filled with life and – and – and I loved him so much! In and out of the mask, he was the most important person to me and – and he ended up being the only reason we were in this mess in the first place. . . He’s the reason I’m Ladybug. . .”

Batman remains silent, trying to make sense of the young woman’s words as she continues to ramble. From the extent of her reaction and her earlier words, this is most likely the first time she has allowed herself to properly process these facts. 

“Hawkmoth – Hawkmoth was his dad ,” she breathes in a high-pitched voice, her distress evident. “He and his wife couldn’t have kids so – so they abused the miraculous to create an artificial soul to – to – make a sentimonster that could age and grow and live just like anyone else. . . so then when he became Chat he –” Ladybug falters, a hiccup catching her off guard. “Ac–according to the Order, there we–were side effects because of his origins an–and who he was as Chat was wh–who I needed as a partner, not who he–he actually was! Because he was ba–born from a miraculous, the Cat miraculous influenced him in–in wa–ays I’ll never know! I’ll never know how much of Adrien was himself or the damn ma–agic changing him to match me! To match some theore–retical perfect complimen–mentary partner that may or may not even exist! ”

Ladybug dissolves into another fit of tears, gasping on the brink of a panic attack as she grows even more distressed than she had been beforehand. On edge, Batman hurriedly pats her back, encouraging her to take deep breaths. This isn’t the first panic attack he’s had to help manage.

After a few minutes of laboured breathing, Ladybug calms down enough to continue, needing to get her grievances that have been festering for years off her chest.

“The entire war on Paris was because of Hawkmoth’s selfishness and abusing things he knew nothing about!” Ladybug spits as her distress flips to anger. “His wife – his wife fell into a coma because of what they did! They damaged the miraculous, pushing past the bounds of magic and nature and it backfired! And what did he do? Instead of searching out the Order or anyone else for that matter who might actually be able to help him, he decided to terrorise Paris for five years to try to wish her back, even if it meant throwing the universe out of balance!”

The young heroine begins to tremble violently in Batman’s arms as her nails dig into his vest.

“And what’s worse ?! He completely abandoned Adrien in the process! The person Emilie had sacrificed herself for, Gabriel abused and abandoned in the pursuit of healing his wife!” Ladybug cries, wiping her tears angrily on Batman’s chest. “I – I knew Adrien outside of the mask and he – he was so lonely and hurt all the fricken time, but he was so kind in spite of it all. . . He was so amazing and I just. . . I loved him so much . . . I don't care if he wasn't technically real or considered human by traditional standards because – because he was my best friend and he was real to me. . . He’ll always be real to me, no matter what the Order says!”

As those words leave her lips, Ladybug’s strength leaves her and she collapses into Batman, who is left supporting her as she cries. 

“They want me to just forget him,” she sobs into his chest, clutching at him desperately. “They keep reminding me he was just an imitation. . . but he was all I had. How can I just forget him?”

Left at a loss and horrified by the young woman’s revelations, Batman awkwardly manoeuvres them both into a nearby couch and he pulls her into his side, which she doesn’t protest to. Given just how petite she is in comparison to his large frame, he can’t help but make the comparison to holding a crying child.

As he sits there, Batman tries to formulate a response, completely taken aback by the turn of events. For a young woman who had been so tightlipped for the last seven years, he is dumbstruck at the amount of supposedly classified information she has just revealed to him. 

The defeat of Hawkmoth nor his identity had ever been revealed to the public. Ladybug had taken care of the situation quietly with a simple announcement to Paris that Hawkmoth had been defeated and that she had dealt with him appropriately. The people of Paris hadn’t questioned this quiet resolution, too overwhelmed with the emotional freedom they were finally able to embrace. Ladybug hadn’t even disclosed the truth to the League – not even Diana, who had simply stated that if Ladybug deemed it necessary to reveal the details, she would, but that she would not press her on the subject. 

Despite always portraying herself as someone always in control and in the know, Ladybug has allowed herself to be vulnerable with a man she hardly knows aside from the fact that he distrusts her. She’d not only shared basically her tragic backstory with Batman, but also the secrets that directly affected her deepest traumas. He’s unsure Diana or Arthur even know exactly what had happened to her partner, nor the true identity of Hawkmoth, which is why he can’t help but be concerned; she is quite literally having a breakdown in his arms and he can’t fathom why she feels the need to do so with him.

“Why are you telling me all of this?” Batman eventually asks, unable to help himself. “I know your Order forbids it.”

Ladybug is quiet for a moment.

Embarrassment floods her when she realises that she had just had a complete meltdown in front of Batman of all people. Even so, she can’t bring herself to regret it. For the first time in forever, she feels relieved . She’d been able to share her heartache and loss with someone who understands and isn’t ‘it was your duty’ about it like everyone in the Order. 

For a moment, Ladybug considers his question. When she finds her answer, she can’t help but smile weakly. 

“. . . because you feel safe,” she admits, not looking up from her lap. “My instincts are. . . usually right. After bonding with my miraculous, I've become a bit intuitive when it comes to people. I can sense compatibility and trustworthiness most of the time. You’d actually make a pretty good Cat if you weren’t so much older than me. . .” The young woman pauses a moment, seemingly growing smaller in Batman’s arms. “And. . . sometimes I hate them. . . all of them. The entire Order. Your wariness around them is justified and. . . comforting . I understand better than anyone why you’re so careful around magic. . . why you dislike it. It’s nice knowing that I’m not the only one. ”

Batman frowns, surprised by this revelation. He pauses a moment, processing this information and finding that his favour of the young woman has increased substantially.

“. . . You are very. . . courageous for doing what you do despite your dislike for magic,” Batman tells her. “Your sense of responsibility is admirable. I can see why you were chosen to wield such power. Many in your place would abuse it.”

At this, Ladybug lets out a half hysterical laugh.

“Do you know why I was really chosen for this?” She asks with fresh tears. “It was chance –  pure dumb luck. It was because I was kind to an old man who had fallen in the street. It had been a test. I helped him up and he tested my compatibility and – and the earrings showed up in my room that afternoon. No explanation, no anything . . I was just told to go out and fight someone who had been a classmate who had been hurt because of a bully’s mean words. Chat went through something similar, but at least he was happy to do it. His dad was a control freak long before he became Hawkmoth. Being Chat was his escape. The only reason I stayed was because. . . because Chat believed in me. He had my back from day one.”

Batman’s abhorrence with the Order grows at the young woman’s admission.

“And this is how you were chosen. Because of an emergency,” Batman clarifies, his tone growing dark with anger. "They just dropped one of the most powerful objects on your lap to figure out on your own as a child ?”

“Basically,” Ladybug affirms in a calmer tone, touched by his reaction; the Order sure hadn’t been as sympathetic. “But in the Order’s defence, that wasn’t how it was supposed to be done. Fu was not a great Guardian, if you can’t tell; not even the Order liked him.”

“How is it supposed to be done then?” Batman asks as the young woman wipes at the tears on her cheeks, seemingly finally calming down.

Ladybug sighs and frowns, her disapproval evident in the furrow of her brow.

“Traditionally, children with high compatibility are found and brought to the Temple at four or five years old to train with their most compatible miraculous in order to prepare for bonding as an adult. It’s one of the reasons why. . . why Chat and I were chosen at such a young age to battle Hawkmoth. With the Ladybug and Cat miraculous, compatible children are usually chosen as a pair and grow together. We were the youngest that Master Fu could get away with at the time, and now. . . without Chat, the world is imbalanced until I can find someone who is compatible with the Miraculous of Destruction and can match me.” 

Ladybug sighs and runs a hand through her pigtail.

“That’s why I’m so desperate to make sure that this new recruitment is done right . I never want to put anyone else through what I’ve been through, but the consequences are just too big. . .” Ladybug trails off, her eyes pricking with tears again. “And I. . . I don’t know if I’m ready to have another partner. I’ve already lost my family, my friends, my life . . . I don’t know if I can handle it if anything happens to whoever ends up being the new Cat. I’m barely coping as it is.”

As Ladybug falls quiet, Batman remains silent a moment longer, processing, before feeling his heart thaw in regards to this girl. Perhaps he is growing soft in his old age, or perhaps Alfred is right and he has a problem collecting traumatised children, especially those with dark hair and blue eyes, but he’ll be damned if he lets this young woman bear the weight of the world alone.

“. . . Well, I can’t guarantee that it will be of any help, but you are welcome to test any member of my team who is willing,” Batman concedes, patting the young woman’s shoulder comfortingly before continuing. “You are also welcome to come train with my team in Gotham whenever you feel the need to get away from the Order, or just magic in general. I can have a room made up for you and I’m sure the rest of the team would enjoy someone new to spar with.”

Jerking back, Ladybug stares up at Batman in shock, obviously not having expected such an offer. Hope and relief fill her, but so does confusion and wariness. The bat team is the most likely to be compatible with her, but with Batman’s reputation with magic, she had gone into this with the full expectation that she’s be lucky if even one of them allowed themselves to be tested,

“But – but I thought that – but you’re no meta rule for Gotham is – I might as well be one, and at the every least I use magic, so –”

“I’ve made allowances in the past,” Batman cuts her off, his tense expression softening. “My own instincts rarely lead me wrong. And I believe that having a proper support system is important, even if my family nags me for not exactly using my own. I may not be the most sensitive, but if there is one thing me and my family understand, it’s trauma and the struggle to move past it. I think we could be good for you. Although I recommend sparring Robin first to establish. . . dominance . He’s still a bit. . . well, Red Robin would say feral but I prefer to use the term ‘socially inexperienced.’”

When Ladybug continues to blink up at the vigilante in confusion, he sighs and rises to ihs feet.

“What I’m saying is, I can offer you a. . . home of sorts. A civilian life away from all the magic and responsibilities. It may not be tradition in the Order, but most of the Justice League members have lives outside of the League, civilian covers and the like. It’s good to have a place to step away from. . . everything. And I think you may need it more than most.”

Ladybug’s eyes fill with tears as she tries to comprehend what is being offered: a home, a family, and a civilian life – everything she had given up in order to fulfil her duty to the universe. 

“I – I can’t – I mean, secret identities aside, I don’t have a civilian identity anymore and – I am nearly always on call for the Order, which is why it makes sense for me to stay there –” Ladybug begins, but Batman is already one step ahead of her.

“I can get you a new identity,” he tells her, brushing past the excuse with ease. “As you’ll come to find out, my resources are. . . plenty. In regards to the identity of mine and the team, you knowing our civilian identities is to be expected while living together, but between the secrecy of the Order and especially after your war in Paris, I think you of all people understand the importance of keeping our identities to yourself. 

“And as for the Order. . . well, I’m sure we can figure out an arrangement. We could set up a Zeta Tube in your Temple if needed, or maybe work out some sort of communication that could notify you if there is an emergency. What’s important right now is that you have a support system and somewhere to. . . not bottle up your emotions.” Batman pauses, thinking over the words he’s just uttered. “God. . . I’m such a hypocrite,” he mutters under his breath, earning a strangled laugh from Ladybug, who has begun to cry once more.

“Why are you doing this for me? You don’t even know me,” Ladybug breathes, staring up at the man in awe. She doesn’t think anyone has ever been so kind or caring toward her in years, even while she had still been Marinette. 

“. . . Because I’ve been in your shoes,” Batman admits, turning his gaze away at the thought. “Not exactly your situation, obviously, but. . . I lost my parents when I was young, and it set me on the path of being a vigilante. I trained for years, pretty much gave up my childhood in the process. I’ve lost a good number of friends and loved ones. . . I had Agent A, who practically raised me after the death of my parents but. . . I know what it’s like to be filled with regret. The only reason I got through it is because I had a support system – someone to pull me out of a spiral when I got too deep.”

The older man’s compassion causes something to break inside Ladybug. She isn’t sure if it;s his wisdom, his fatherly demeanour, or simply the fact that he is being so dang generous with her, but the next thing Ladybug knows, she is throwing her arms around his shoulders, mumbling incoherently through her tears. 

Once more caught off guard by the young heroine’s affection, Batman stiffens and hesitantly pats her head, wary of making her uncomfortable.

After a few minutes, Ladybug pulls back, but she doesn’t let go. She struggles a moment, the question that has haunted her for over two years lingering on the tip of her tongue until she manages to force it past her lips. 

“. . . Does it ever get easier?” Ladybug whispers through her tears, clutching Batman’s cape as though it were a life line. “Will I ever stop missing him? Will I. . . Will I spend the rest of my life wishing I could go back?”

Batman is silent a moment before holding her a bit closer, considering her question carefully. Unlike his boys or Cass, Ladybug seems to need more physical comfort and he is simply not equipped to handle this other than his memories of Dick or Jason when they were younger.

Even so, Ladybug’s question resonates with him. He’s had his fair share of moments asking himself the same question. Regret is a constant companion in his life.

After a moment, Batman lets out a deep breath.

“No. But you will find new reasons for wanting to move forward,” he tells her, tightening his grip on her as she lets out a quiet sob in response. “Hope for the future does a lot to quell the pain of the past. Plus, even if we could go back. . . it would mean abandoning the present. That’s too much of a risk for a ‘what if.’. . And even if I could go back, there’s no guarantee that we’d be able to change anything. It’s okay to miss what once was, but not letting go can destroy a person. . . I’ve learned that the hard way. You don’t have to forget about Chat Noir and it’s unfair for the Order to ask you to, but you shouldn’t let his memory hold you back either. I don’t think he’d want it to.”

“. . . No, he wouldn’t,” Ladybug admits, knowing how Chat would have been upset with her for wallowing over his memory, “but how do you keep going? How do you move on when it hurts so much? How do you keep hope?” She presses, her heart faltering at the truth in Batman’s words. It’s not the first time she’s heard such advice, but coming from Batman, a veteran hero. . . it resonates with her far more than the stuffy Guardians who admonish her for being so fixated on the past in the same breath.

Batman’s frown deepens.

“. . . Sometimes it’s just focusing on the present. Being grateful for what you have and just. . . trying to be better. . . making the world a better place where you can,” he tries to explain, thinking about why he had become a vigilante in the first place. “Honestly, I’m not great at it. I’ve made a lot of mistakes over the years, but I’m always trying. We all are. My kids. . . they give me a reason to keep going.”

“Your kids?” Ladybug asks, not having expected the dark and brooding Batman to have actual kids. . . Unless. . .

“. . . Yeah, my kids. The team,” Batman confirms Ladybug’s suspicions. “Not all of them are technically mine, but most of them are. A few have somehow unofficially claimed my family as their own, and as for the others. . . I’ve been told I have a bit of an adoption problem. Only one of them is biologically mine.”

A beat passes as Ladybug processes this surprising piece of information.

“I – Batman are you trying to adopt me?” Ladybug asks in confusion, staring up at the vigilant in shock. “You do know I’m an adult, right? I’m pretty sure I mentioned that earlier.”

This causes Batman’s lip to twitch in amusement before letting out a deep sigh.

“Not officially, but my kids may beg to differ,” Batman states as he rubs at his temple through his cowl, appearing to age in the low light at the thought of his kid’s reactions – especially Damian’s. “I just want to give you back some of what you lost. My kids might be. . . a lot, but they are loyal. They take care of and protect one another. And who knows? Maybe you’re just what Gotham needs. God knows we could use a little luck on our side.”

“I – I don’t know what to say,” Ladybug replies, a hopeful smile pulling at her lips.

“You don’t have to say anything,” Batman assures her before glancing at the clock. “Is the Order expecting you back tonight?”

Ladybug shakes her head.

“Until a new Cat is found, I’m pretty free. I have to check in every couple days, but my only task right now is finding a suitable partner.”

“Perfect. Why don’t you follow me?” He tells her as he rises and offers her his hand to help her to her feet.

Ladybug blinks her red-rimmed eyes at the appendage in confusion before taking it by habit.

“What – are we going to Gotham now?” She asks as she stands and Batman moves his hand to her lower back, guiding her through the halls of the Tower to the appropriate Zeta tubes. 

“We need to sleep, don’t we?” Batman tells her matter-of-factly. “Might as well do it in comfort. The Watchtower’s dorms aren’t exactly the nicest living quarters.”

Dumbstruck, Ladybug is too exhausted and worn out to protest as Batman doesn’t wait for her response and ushers her into the nearest Z-tube with him, and before Ladybug can blink, they are stepping out into what has to be the infamous BatCave™.  

To Ladybug’s surprise, Batman’s ‘lair’ is exactly as it sounds; a literal cave with actual bats if the fluttering shadows in the stalactites are any indication. However the main area of the literal Cave is a computer that is at least three times taller than Batman himself and the walls are lined with gadgets, weapons, uniforms of each of his team members, vehicles, and what looks to be trophies from past vigilantism feats.

To be frank, it looks straight out of a comic book, and Ladybug is impressed by the man’s dedication to the bit.

As Ladybug is marvelling at their surroundings, Batman suddenly turns to her and removes his cowl, revealing the highly recognisable face of Bruce Wayne. Almost instantly, Ladybug’s jaw just about falls through the floor in shock, not having expected to be met with the man’s civilian identity so quickly.

Sensing the young woman’s bewilderment, Bruce gives the girl a small shrug.

“If you’re going to be staying here, secret identities are pretty useless,” Bruce explains as he runs a hand through his faintly grey-speckled locks. 

Ladybug pauses unsure what to say, but before she can, an older, balding gentleman in a suit appears beside her, sending her jumping back defensively in her exhausted state – and rightfully so; despite being able to sense energies of the people around her, she hadn’t noticed the man’s arrival. The man’s presence is faint, but upon closer inspection is very mellow and. . . efficient somehow. Ladybug isn’t sure how to put it into words, but she likes him. She likes him even more when he hands her a hot towel for her eyes. How he knew she needed one, she isn’t sure, but considering he had one ready for Batman (Bruce Wayne?!), she decides not to read too much into it.

“Good morning, Master Bruce. I see you have brought home company,” the man greets the two formally as Ladybug relaxes with the reassurance that the man is not a threat.

Nodding in appreciation, Bruce turns to Ladybug.

“Ladybug, this is Alfred Pennyworth, or Agent A when out in the field,” Bruce explains. “He is the one who raised me after my parents passed.”

“Pleasure to meet you, young miss,” Alfred greets her, bowing genially. “I am the Wayne family butler. I have heard a lot about you – all good things, of course.”

“Alfred is family,” Bruce corrects, giving the man an affectionate glance as he removes his cape from his back and hands it to the grandfatherly man. “He’s the one who actually manages to keep our family together after all these years. Alfred, this young lady is going to need a room and any and all necessities. She’s our newest team member and is going to be living here moving forward.”

“How delightful,” Alfred replies, giving the young woman a pleased nod. “I have a room ready now and can have toiletries and a change of clothes ready forthwith. Everything else will need to be acquired later today after you both have had some rest. It is far too late to be up and about, after all.” 

Ladybug gives the older man a warm smile and waves shyly.

“Hi, I’m Ladybug,” she introduces herself cheerily, blushing with the knowledge that she is probably a mess after spending the last hour having a breakdown. “It’s nice to me–”

“No – That’s your hero identity. What was your name before you were Ladybug?” Bruce insists as he begins to remove his leather gauntlets. 

Ladybug pauses, her heart in her throat as she gives the man a warm, teary smile. 

Only somewhat hesitantly, Ladybug drops her transformation.

“Tikki. . . spots off.”

In a flash of light, Ladybug as the Justice League knows vanishes to reveal a young woman in the Order’s traditional red xunlian fu (training uniform). Outside of the mask, Bruce learns that Ladybug is a rather cute, petite, and vaguely Chinese young woman with startling blue eyes, long dark hair pulled back into braids, and freckles. As expected, his family is going to be giving him grief about attempting to adopt yet another blue-eyed, dark-haired, traumatised child, even if she technically isn’t a child any longer.

Meanwhile, Ladybug gives Bruce and Alfred an endearing, wary smile.

“Marinette. My name was. . . is Marinette. . .And this is Tikki.”

The kwami in question’s eyes grow wide at the rushed nature of the detransformation before seeming to resign herself to the situation, curling up in the crook of her bug’s neck.

“Hello, it’s nice to meet you!” The kwami chirps tiredly as Ladybug gives the small creature a cookie from her pocket. “Thank you for extending this kindness to my bonded.” 

Both Alfred and Bruce stare at Tikki a moment before Alfred gives the kwami a short bow.

“It is our honour, Miss Tikki,” Alfred informs her. “Please let me know if there is anything I can do to make your stay more comfortable.” 

“. . . It’s my pleasure to be of help. . .” Bruce manages, only somewhat taken aback by the strange creature that had appeared out of nowhere before he shakes his head and turns,  placing his hand firmly on the young woman’s shoulder.

“Welcome to Wayne Manor, Marinette.”

Alfred nods warmly in approval before correcting,

“Welcome home .”

Part 2: Hope

Marinette stands in the middle of the Batcave, uncostumed and in the red and black workout gear that Alfred had picked up for her. Beside her at the giant computer sits Bruce Wayne in similar attire, his eyes glued to the large screen as they wait for Batman's team to arrive. As of yet, the group is unaware that they have gained a new team member. They are also unaware that in addition to revealing his own identity, Bruce had subsequently revealed the identities of his entire family. Processing the fact that the infamous billionaire playboy philanthropist is in fact the brilliant, brooding vigilante of Gotham had been a lot to take on its own, let alone the similarly famous identities of his team. 

None of this is helping Marinette’s anxiety. In less than twenty four hours she has gone from being alone, isolated, and anxious in the face of recruiting a partner and fearful of the Justice League’s refusal to help her, to being taken in by the most anti-magic member of the League and supposedly gaining a family and new team – and somehow reclaiming her name.  

After the events of last night, Ladybug – Marinette is reeling, still vaguely unsure if this is all some hyper-realistic dream. For the first time in what feels like forever, she had been able to fall asleep without dreaming. In addition, it had been in a bed so plush she could have kept sleeping for ages if Alfred hadn’t woken her at two o’clock with a new wardrobe and just about any necessity she could think of (menstrual and otherwise). She feels as though she should be concerned with how accurately the older man had guessed her sizes, but considering he seems to be oddly intuitive on most things, she’s decided to not question it.

Marinette knows her soothed heart is thanks to her conversation with Batman. It had been cathartic finally having someone to share everything with, if not extremely embarrassing, but at the end of things, she feels liberated and seen. Batman had been patient with her and had strangely reminded her of her father in a strange way. Despite having completely different demeanours, both men have large builds and when Marinette needed to talk, they both allowed her to ramble while they simply accompanied her in silence. 

And he had called her ‘Marinette.’

It feels strange to be referred to by a name she had all but abandoned over two years ago, but it also makes her feel warm, as though the baker’s daughter with dreams of being a fashion designer is still somewhere inside her even if the world around her doesn’t remember her. It’s jarring, in a way, but she likes it. It gives her hope of moving forward and not being boxed into the destiny that someone else had chosen for her.

However, Marinette had not been expecting Bruce to make good on his promises so soon – certainly not the same day that he had welcomed her into his home.

After allowing Marinette to sleep most of the day away, Bruce had had Alfred lead her back down to the Cave and had given her a brief containing everything she would need to know about Gotham, the Rogues who operate here, their allies, the Sirens, and the Bat team themselves. He had gone into detail about their strengths and weaknesses as well as suggestions on who might be most appropriate as a partner for herself, compatibility notwithstanding. 

In addition, Bruce had taken the time to get to know Marinette – or at least, Marinette who she was before becoming Ladybug. It had been nostalgic talking about her childhood; the bakery where she had grown up, her love of video games, her dreams of being a fashion designer, the small label she had created before having to give it all up. Bruce had been quite impressed when she admitted to doing some design work for Jagged Stone and Clara Nightingale before erasing her former identity. 

However, what has completely taken Marinette off guard is the fact that Bruce had chosen after explaining his team’s dynamics for over four hours that he had called them all for a family meeting this evening to meet her – and to have her evaluate them for her future partner.

Wonder Woman had told her that Batman is efficient; Marinette just hadn’t realised to what extent.  

Inwardly, Marinette begins to wonder if any of this is the best way to approach this subject. She had technically only met them all the night prior and had only been with them in the field once. It was hardly enough time to build up a foundation of trust, even if Batman had been surprisingly quick to do so.  

Before Marinette can suggest moving this abrupt meeting to another time, idle chatter echoes through the cave and from the stairs emerges a group of four vaguely familiar persons. 

Immediately, Marinette stiffens and her palms begin to sweat. She’s not ready for this; she needs to get out of here, maybe come back another time when she has had enough time to mentally prepare.

“Uh, Bruce. Am I hallucinating, or is there a strange woman in the cave?” The teen asks, rubbing at his eyes blearily as he clutches a coffee mug to his chest. Marinette gives him a cursory look over, recalling the brief Bruce had just given her on the team’s identities and specialities. 

Timothy Jackson Drake, 17, Red Robin.  

Okay. So Bruce hadn’t told them why they were meeting.

Super.

“No, no, I see her too,” the blonde girl beside him assures him, looking Marinette up and down sceptically. 

Stephanie Lyla Brown, aka Spoiler. Also 17.  

“Father, I believe an explanation is required as to why you have allowed persons unknown into our home,” the small boy declares with a glare. Marinette doesn’t even have to guess on the boy’s identity; the similarities between him and the young vigilante she had met the night before are too blatant for him to be anyone else. 

Damian al Ghul Wayne, 10, Robin, heir to the League of Assassins.

The pretty Asian girl beside them remains silent, observing Marinette silently, before recognition flashes in her eyes and she beams and waves happily, taking Marinette off guard at her open fondness. Turning to Bruce, the young woman shoots the man a proud thumbs up, earning a nod from the man in turn before he turns back to the computer. 

Cassandra Martha Cain, 19, BlackBat. 

“Cass, do you know her?” Stephanie asks in surprise, to which Cassandra nods happily and begins to sign that they all do. 

“Well at least we know she’s not a threat, then,” a pretty redhead in a wheelchair declares as she is wheeled into the room by Alfred, coming from where Marinette had been informed an elevator was hidden. 

Barbara Joan Kathleen Gordan, 29, Oracle.  

“Oh, I dare say she is,” Alfred declares, his eyes sparkling in amusement as he gives the young woman in question a warm smile. “Although not to us.” 

“Wait, what is that supposed to mean?” Tim asks, his brow furrowed as he studies Marinette with a bit more awareness. 

The next moment, the revving of a motorcycle is heard and Red Hood rides into the garage bay where the rest of the vehicles are parked. In one fluid motion, he parks the bike and hops off, turning to the group in annoyance.

“Right, I’m here, so what’s with the emergency family meeting ‘cause I was in the middle of –” Red Hood’s auto-tuned voice falters when he sees Marinette hovering awkwardly beside Bruce, who’s focus remains on the computer. “. . . Okay, who the fuck is the pixie and why the hell is she in the Cave?”

Jason Peter Todd, 19, Red Hood.

“We’re asking the same thing,” Tim informs him, still staring at Marinette as though trying to place her.

At this, Bruce finally looks up from the screen, a tired expression on his face. 

“Everyone, this is Marinette. She's the new member of our team,” Bruce replies with a cursory glance back at the group as he finishes whatever he’s been working on. “I’ve already briefed her on everyone’s identities and gotten her up to speed on the current happenings in Gotham so there’s no need to be on edge.”

A beat passes as the group stares between Marinette and Bruce, the man’s declaration dawning on them. 

Tim is the first to react.

“. . . When did you find time to adopt another traumatised orphan?” He accuses as he runs a hand through his hair, jostling his coffee in the process. “She's not even a kid this time, Bruce! I mean really, you have got to recognise that you have a problem at this point–”

“I didn't adopt anyone,” Bruce sighs, abandoning his work at the computer and turning in his chair to face Tim. “I recruited her. She's already a hero in her own right, but she needs somewhere safe to decompress and train. She's going to be living here on and off from now on and will be joining us on patrol when she can.”

“She's already a hero?” Barbara asks in surprise, turning to the young woman calculatively.

Marinette shuffles awkwardly, a blush heavy on her cheeks at the attention.  

“Oh, um. . . I'm Ladybug,” Marinette admits with an awkward smile, waving hesitantly. “It’s nice to see you all again. I uh, look forward to getting to know you all better?”

This time, nearly everyone begins speaking at once, all taken aback by the revelation.

“What the fuck?” Red Hood asks, looking Marinette up and down in shock. “You’re like – no offence but you’re fuckin’ small, Pixie Pop. How the hell are you able to fight like that?”

“Holy shit – how in the fuck did you manage to get Bruce to take you in?” Stephanie cries before running forward excitedly. “Like I mean, babe, you’re awesome and a total badass but like – Bruce has the biggest stick up his ass! This is like – so unheard of! Oh my god, this is going to be so fricken awesome!”

“Did you coerce my Father in some way?” Damian asks, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. “Or is this some sort of magical mental manipulation?”

“Is Bruce threatening you in some way?” Tim asks, glancing at Bruce warily. “Look, just because he’s Batman doesn’t mean he’s entitled to your secrets or the secrets of your Order. You don’t need to pander to him to get us to try out for your partner or whatever either – we can all make that decision on our own –”

The sudden onslaught causes Marinette to flinch back and Bruce sighs, abandoning the computer as he rises to his feet and places a comforting hand on the young woman’s shoulders. The contact instantly soothes her, visibly setting her at ease. The sight shocks the group, because the last time they had seen Batman and Ladybug together, the two had both been wary of the other, and now, not even twenty four hours later, they are acting like a father and daughter. In addition, out of the mask, Ladybug is no longer this daunting, all-powerful presence; she is a pretty, delicate-looking young woman who appears prone to being easily startled – traumatised, as Tim had so eloquently put it. 

“Everyone, calm down,” Bruce tells the group, his voice taking on his Batman timber as he glares at his team. “I am not being coerced and neither is Marinette –”

A door slamming in the distance cuts the man off.

“I’m here! I’m here!” A particularly attractive man in Bludhaven PD dress-blues cries as he races down the stairs, his hair tostled and his tie loose around his neck. “Sorry I’m late! The joint meeting with Gotham PD ran long and. . .”

The man trails off when he comes face to face with the strange scene playing out in the middle of the cave. Realising who this must be, Marinette can’t help the blush on her cheeks when his gaze falls on her and remains there, the deep blue colour of his eyes startling her with their intensity.

Richard ‘Dick’ John Grayson, 25, Nightwing.

For a moment, Dick  seems to study Marinette, most likely wary of the fact that there is a strange person inside the cave. However after seeing the group’s relaxed stances and the oddly protective, almost fatherly stance Bruce has at her side, he relaxes, instead giving her a different kind of once over. 

Dick’s first instinct is that Bruce had just discovered yet another secret child that he never knew of. Considering her dark hair and blue eyes and the fact that they had technically only found out about Damian nine months ago, he wouldn't be surprised if there were a few others Bruce didn’t know about. His second instinct is that the young woman is the most beautiful person to ever grace his eyes next to Ladybug herself, whom he’d been enamoured with ever since Bruce had sat down the team to review everything the Bab’s had managed to secure before all the information in her regard had been wiped.   

“. . . Hi there, beautiful,” Dick smiles after a moment, his hand falling from his tie, unable to help himself. “Who are you?”

Flushing at the compliment, Marintte returns the gesture, giving the man a small wave.

“H–hi,” she stutters, which only causes her to turn an even deeper shade of red. Inwardly, she curses her long standing habit of stuttering in the presence of extremely handsome and forward men. Chat had really managed to give her a type and she is kind of furious about it, especially right now. “Um I–I’m Ma–”

However before Marinette can introduce herself, there is a collective groan from the rest of the group.

“Dude, seriously?” Jason asks as he removes his helmet, levelling his older brother with a deadpan expression. “You’ve been here two seconds and the first thing you do is hit on the new girl? I know she’s cute, but really? She literally just got here. Give her a chance to kick your ass before you hit on her.”

“I wasn’t – hold on, new girl?” Dick breaks his gaze from Marinette and turns to Jason in confusion, but his words are lost amongst his sibling’s grumblings.

“Come on, man,” Tim groans, shaking his head. “Can you not for like, five minutes?”

“Tt. I don’t see what the issue here is. Did Grayson say something inappropriate?” Damian asks in an irritated lilt, not understanding the other’s reactions.

“Nah, just Dick thinking with his –” 

“Master Jason, please refrain from using foul language in my presence, if you please,” Alfred cuts him off with a disapproving frown.

“Sorry, Alfred.”

“Really though, are any of us really surprised?” Barbara laughs at the expense of her ex-boyfriend, rolling her eyes.

“Come on, I wasn’t –” Dick tries to argue as his cheeks flush, only to be drowned out yet again by his very vocal younger siblings’ teasings. 

Why did he love them again? 

Stephanie lets out a low whistle, grinning impishly.

“I don’t blame him – that’s Ladybug . She’s an absolute badass and hot . I’d hit on her too if I wasn’t already in a loving relationship with another drop dead gorgeous badass,” she declares, winking at a pleased looking Cassandra who smiles warmly in response.

Dick’s head whips around in shock, his jaw dropping.

“Hold on – Ladybug?! ” He asks in shock, his cheeks flushing and his gaze growing somehow more heavy as he reevaluates the tiny, flustered young woman in a new light. It’s contradictory; the sweet, almost innocent looking woman at Bruce’s side is also somehow the powerful, confident, and downright magical heroine he had met the night prior, the same young woman who had impressed him and just about everyone else with her accomplishments and battle prowess.

She is also the same woman whom Batman had declared untrustworthy just eighteen hours earlier due to the secretive nature of her magical Order. The man had gone so far as to forbid any of them from reaching out to Ladybug on their own until he could do his own research into the truth of her claims. Yet now, Bruce appears oddly chummy with the young woman – fatherly, even.

Again, Dick can’t help but suspect Bruce had done a DNA test or something and found out that Ladybug is actually his long lost daughter – which would be a real drag if Dick is being completely honest with himself.

Meanwhile, Marinette is trying not to completely combust from the amount of attention and flattery being poured on her. After living with the magical equivalent to monks for the last two years, her social aptitude had taken a bit of a hit and her ability to get flustered has apparently increased exponentially.  

“Oh, um, yeah, uh – hi Nightwing?” Marinette greets the man, struggling to make sure she doesn’t stutter.  “Or um – do you prefer ‘Dick?’”

In response, Dick just stares at her, his own cheeks aflame as he pieces his thoughts together, struggling to find his words as he recalls the woman he had been fighting alongside the evening prior is not in front of him. Her magical suit did not leave much to the imagination and the young woman is even more attractive than he imagined.

God, does Dick hope that this girl isn’t actually related to Bruce. Then again, his track record with dating within the team isn’t the greatest either.

“. . . Um hi. . . uh, ‘Dick’ is fine. . . but wait, you’re joining our team?” He somehow manages before immediately backtracking when he realises just how bad it sounds. “Not that you’re not welcome! It’s actually so awesome that you are and I’m stoked that we get to team up with you on our home turf, but after last night and the meeting and you know, all the magic , it’s kind of surprising so . . uh, Bruce?” Dick turns to his adoptive father, looking for help.

The man in question sighs. 

“Dick, this is Marinette,” Bruce begins, making a point to first introduce her by her name and not her mantle. “She is also Ladybug and is going to be moving into the manor and joining our team whether or not any of you end up being her partner. She won’t be here all the time, but whenever she has down time or needs a reprieve from the Temple.”

“Marinette. . .” Wow that’s – that’s awesome!” Dick declares, sending Marinette a blinding smile before turning back to Bruce. “But uh, care to explain the change in perspective? ‘Cause last I heard, you were still pretty suspicious of our magical friend here.”  

“Yeah, we’re lost on that too,” Jason chimes in sceptically. 

“No offence Bruce, but like – this is really unlike you,” Tim agrees, glancing at Barbara who is making herself comfortable at the BatComputer ™, eyeing whatever Bruce had been working on. “If any of us did something like this, you’d have shoved us in isolation and taken blood samples by now.”

Marinette’s eyes grow wide as her gaze turns on Bruce.

“I’m sorry, what –”  

“Now that we’re all here, I guess this is as good as time as any to explain a couple things,” Bruce quickly interjects, clearing his throat as he glares at Tim reproachfully.

“Well, we’re all ears!” Steph says as she sling’s her arm over Cass’ shoulder, jostling Tim in the process and sending him and his coffee mug stumbling.

“Oi – watch it!” Tim scowls, turning to Steph with a look of outrage. “This is the last of the pot Alfred is allowing m–”

“Ever think that maybe you should watch where you’re lurking?” Steph cuts him off with a roll of her eyes.

From there, the two dissolve into bickering, leaving Marinette to watch in surprise, Damian to huff in annoyance. Dick is still stealing glances back at Marinette, even more drawn to the heroine out of the mask than he had been with her in it – which is saying something, because he had been damn enamoured by the woman before hand.

Tired, Bruce sighs, inwardly wondering why his family is so chaotic.

Shaking these thoughts away, the man turns to the group with a serious expression, leveling the group with a tepid version of the Batglare™. 

“After the battle last night, Marinette and I had a long conversation where she explained her past in more detail and revealed certain. . . relevant secrets of the Order,” Bruce begins, his grip on her shoulder tightening comfortingly when she leans into him at the reminder of their talk. “Because of this, we have come to an understanding. In addition to a partner, she is in need of an actual support system away from the Order and I believe that we are the most qualified to give her that.”

“More than the League?” Tim asks, giving Bruce a strange look.

“She doesn’t need another organisation. She needs an actual team. . . a family,” the man replies, a conflicted expression on his face.

“And our family is somehow functional in your eyes?” Tim asks incredulously, shooting Bruce an ‘are you shitting me’ expression as Jason snorts beside him.

“And you’re suddenly all sunshine and rainbows with a magic user being active in Gotham?” Jason asks sceptically, sharing a look with Barbara, who shrugs.

At this, Damian steps forward, his arms crossed defensively.

“While Ladybug is indeed a valuable ally for the Justice League, I must caution you against blindly trusting those who use magic, Father,” he states, still regarding Marinette with suspicion. “Need I remind you of the magical tactics used by both Mother and Grandfather?”

“The situation is different, Damian,” Bruce replies, understanding his children’s confusion with his actions but exhausted by it all the same. “I’ve come to the conclusion that Marinette is responsible enough to not abuse magic, unlike Talia or Ra’s. She understands the consequences far better than they do.”  

“And you came to this conclusion after one little heart-to-heart?” Tim asks, giving Marinette another once over. 

“Damn girl, what did you say?” Steph asks, eyeing Marinette with a starry look.

“Enough for me to understand her motivations and intentions,” Bruce responds vaguely, giving his team a flat glare. “As well as enough for me to realise that she needs an actual support system that isn’t the Order.”

“Is that why you’re also making her a civilian cover?” Barbara asks from the computer, her brow raised curiously as she nods at the screen, where the evidence of what Bruce has been working on the past hour or so is flashing across the monitor.

“Partly,” Bruce admits, his lips pursed. “The Order erased her civilian identity so I had to start from scratch if she is going to be seen hanging around Gotham – especially around us.”  

“So you chose ‘free-lance designer for WE?” Barbara interjects, swivelling around in her chair with a curious lift of her brow as she reveals the screen behind her, which consists of a resume being submitted to Lucius Fox for immediate hiring.

At Babs’ question, Marinette’s head whips around to stare at Bruce in shock.

“No, what?” The young woman nearly gasps, her heart thudding irregularly in her chest

“She needs some kind of civilian job and a reason to be connected to us,” Bruce brushes off, pointedly ignoring the awed and conflicted look Marinette is sending him. “Officially adopting her is out of the question as she is an adult and as she has been recognized in the past for her aptitude for design work. Given this and her tight schedule, I concluded this to be the best solut–.”

“You design?” Dick suddenly interjects, oddly desperate to know more about the young woman.

Marinette flushes at the question and waves her hands in front of herself, flustered.

“No! Yes! I–I mean, I used to but it’s been forever since I actually did any design work and – and Bruce, you really don’t need to do so much for me! I mean, I still will need to go back and forth between the Temple and here and I don’t want to abuse your kindness and I’m not even sure if I’ll have time to design like I used to and –”

“It’s the least we can do,” Bruce tells her. “With the amount of power you wield, it’s in everyone’s best interest that you remain emotionally stable. Having a purpose outside of the mask can help with that. Designing was a big part of your life before you became Ladybug and if you still love it, you should embrace that. ”

“Are you implying that I’m lacking in some way?” Jason asks, crossing his arms in a huff. “Just ‘cause I don’t have an ‘official’ job outside of the mask doesn’t mean that I don’t keep busy!”

Stephanie snorts and gives him a flat look.

“Are you implying that you’re emotionally stable?”

Jason frowns, considering, before shrugging.

“Point taken.”

Shaking his head, Bruce crosses his arms.

“Now, if there are no more questions, I’ve permitted Marinette to test any of you who are interested in becoming her partner. We can do that now since we’ve got you all here.”

“No shit, really?” Jason asks in mock surprise, his voice dripping in sarcasm. “‘Cause I was totally gonna ask for your permission.”

“Yeah, no offence Bruce, but we were all gonna get tested before you ever had this weird change of heart,” Tim tells him as he drains the last of his coffee and sets the mug aside.

Bruce sighs and rubs at his temple.

“Um, how about we just get started?” Marinette suggests, taking pity on the man who is being so generous with her. She has also begun to get anxious – this could be the moment where she finds a partner after so long. She can’t tell if she’s excited or terrified. Either way, she kind of feels like she’s going to throw up.

“I am traught, whelmed, and feeling the aster!” Dick declares as he steps forward confidently. “Let’s do this!”

“Yeah, yeah, calm your freakin’ aster, Dickiebird,” Jason quips as he moves to stand beside the overexcited detective. 

“Whenever you’re ready, Marinette,” Bruce tells Marinette, relieved at the change in subject.   

“Right, okay, um – Tikki, Spots on!” Marinette cries, and in a flash of light, the young woman is transformed into Ladybug.

At the performance, the whole ensemble ‘ooh’s and ‘ah’s and cheers, marvelled at the magical display as well as the change in demeanour of the young woman when in costume. It’s almost like a switch has flipped and her somewhat shy demeanour is replaced with unbending confidence. Batman quickly recognises this as a coping mechanism, a way to compartmentalise her responsibility. He inwardly wonders if there is a way he can help her with that. Maybe Harley would be of some help. He’s pretty sure her licence was technically never revoked. He’d have to ask Selina.

Once she is transformed, Ladybug takes her yoyo and after doing a strange motion above it, reveals what appears to be a pocket storage dimension and removes a black ring with a toxic green paw print on its face from the device. When she does, a strange black blob materialises next to it, but almost immediately it vanishes, appearing to disappear into Ladybug’s pigtails as she slips the ring onto her finger. 

“All right, so here’s how this is gonna go,” Ladybug commands the group cheerfully as she clutches the ring in her hand, her bubbly attitude shining like a damn sun in the gloomy darkness of the BatCave™. “I’m going to go around to each of you and cycle my own energy through you. It won’t hurt, but I do have to place my hands on your chest and depending on what resonates with you, the magic may make you feel a little ticklish. You all really don’t have to do anything but stand there.”

“How will you know which of us are compatible?”

“We’ll all be able to tell, actually. Since this is a test focused on compatibility with the Cat, I’m using myself as a sensor; I am the one most oriented with its other half, after all. Because of this, once I push my magic through you all, those compatible with both me and the Cat Miraculous will sort of. . . glow. The intensity should show who is best suited.”

“And if none of us are?” Barbara asks as she wheels beside Cass.

“That’s unlikely, actually,” Marinette admits, glancing at Batman guiltily. “I can kinda naturally sense these things and out of everyone else that I’ve met, you all definitely stand out when it comes to chaos energy. I had a feeling from the get go that someone from your team is going to be the most compatible, I just don’t know who. Most of the other qualified members at the Tower were too closely compatible with some of the other miraculous. Although, I still fully plan to test everyone I can. Arsenal and Starfire have a lot, as does BeastBoy. If they’re willing, I’d like to check with them sometime this week.”

“Kon is gonna wanna be tested like, immediately,” Tim informs her.

“Oh – um, that’s the older Superboy, right?” Ladybug asks, recalling one of Bruce’s notes from earlier. “He uh – he’s got good energy, but, uh, when he was fighting I could tell that he’s got a lot more Dog energy than Cat energy. I don’t think we’re a good match.”

“Oh, he’s a dog all right,” Steph snorts, sharing a look with Cass that has both girls laughing.

“This is priceless – Kon is gonna be so upset!” Tim laughs heartily into his coffee. “He’s desperate to be your partner. Not for the right reasons, though, I’m pretty sure he just thinks you’re hot.”

Ladybug turns a bit pink, unsure what to say to that.

“So how many times have you done this before?” Dick asks pointedly, saving her from responding.

“Might as well be a veteran at it,” Ladybug laughs, giving him a grateful smile. “I’ve already performed this on nearly everyone in the Order as well as a few people from the League who stayed behind after the fight last night. Wonder Woman had been first in line, and then Aqualad and Wonder Girl. Aquaman had been reluctant, but had gone through with the test anyway. Although, considering how petrified he is of Pl– the Cat Miraculous, I doubt he ever would have made a good match for it. Wonder Woman and Aquaman proved to be too old and Aqualad and Wonder Girl were not good matches – hardly any Cat energy between them. I’m also trying to stay away from people who use magic like Zatanna and Constantine. Mixing magicks is never a good idea, even if you know what you’re doing. Metas and aliens are a different story, but I have to be careful with them as well. It’s another reason why I’ve been more inclined toward your team. I’m only human outside of the mask, and you’re all more likely to match me because of it.”

“Is there anyone else that isn’t suited to a miraculous?” Bruce asks curiously, not having considered these points. In his mind, Marinette’s thorough qualifications just proves his trust in her. 

“Speedsters are out of the question,” Ladybug replies almost instantly. “Way too much Rabbit energy.”

“Rabbit energy?” Barbara asks.

“Time energy. Speedsters are practically doused in it. It would overpower any Cat energy they have,” she explains as she begins making strange movements around herself.

After a moment, Ladybug breathes out and her body begins to glow a soft red, silencing everyone as they stare back at her in awe.

“Okay, I’m ready,” Ladybug informs the group, a determined air about her as she turns her subtly glowing blues eyes on them all. “Who wants to go first?”

To everyone’s surprise, Bruce steps forward.

“I think it’s best if you test me first,” he suggests, moving to stand in front of his children.

“No offence B, but I’m pretty sure you don’t fit the age requirements. You either, Demon Brat,” Jason comments, levelling a smirk at Damian, who scowls as his hand twitches to his side where a katana usually sits at his hip as Robin.

“True, but it might be a good demonstration,” Ladybug nods, moving to stand in front of Bruce. “I can explain what we are looking at a bit better, too. There will be different effects that mean different things.”

Raising her hands, Ladybug places one above Bruce’s heart and the other in the centre of his brow line. Considering the height difference, Ladybug has to stand on her toes and Bruce needs to bend down slightly in order to accomplish this, but they make it work. 

Taking a deep breath, Ladybug closes her eyes. As she exhales, a subtle green glow begins to shine in Bruce’s chest, expanding until it envelopes him. It’s eye-wateringly bright, however the edges are a dark grey colour, nearly black, as though the green light is being sucked into a black hole.

Opening her eyes, Ladybug studies the glow before humming.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought. Your compatibility with the Cat miraculous is extremely high, but you’re unable to match me due to your age. See that black light there?” Ladybug explains, motioning to the edges of the glow. “That means that while you’re a good match for the miraculous, you’re not a good match for me .”  

“Is it like that for everyone who doesn’t match your compatibility?” Tim asks, circling Bruce curiously.

“Pretty much, although. . . This is kind of upsetting,” Ladybug admits. “Bruce, you really would be a great match for the Cat miraculous. Your energy is really refined.”

“I’m not one for magic,” Bruce tells her, shaking his head. “Plus, I doubt Selina would ever let me live it down if I ended up in a Cat suit, magical or not.”

Ladybug can’t help but giggle at the image, recalling Bruce’s apparent relationship with Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman, one of the reformed Sirens of Gotham.

“No, perhaps not,” she admits as she takes her hands from the man and his glow dies down, leaving only Ladybug glowing brightly in the dim cave.

“Is it the same colour for someone who is younger than you?” Damian suddenly interjects, his brow furrowed.

Ladybug turns to the boy in surprise, not having expected him to have an interest in the matter. While he had been adverse to being told whether or not he could be tested, he had been wary and distrusting of her until this point.

Tilting her head in consideration, Ladybug frowns.

“I’ve never tested anyone so much younger than me,” she admits. “I’ve been avoiding it because I didn’t want anyone to be torn from a normal childhood like I was.”

“. . . I would like to be tested,” the boy states, his back rigid as he steps forward confidently. “Strictly for informational purposes. I do not suppose to become your partner, but as you are to be joining our patrols, it is best to know if we are compatible in the field.”

Ladybug glances back at Bruce, hesitant, but to her surprise, he simply nods.

“Oh, um. . . okay then,” Ladybug replies and steps forward and places her hands on his head and heart. After a moment, Ladybug’s glow deepens as she passes her energy through the young boy.

To everyone’s surprise, Damian’s toxic green glow is highly vivid, expressing a high compatibility with the miraculous of destruction, and at the edges of the green is dark bronze colour that shimmers softly.

Ladybug’s brows furrow contemplatively.

“You’re a good match, but still too young. That bronze colour should be gold to signal a good compatibility.”

“So whoever is the brightest green with gold edges is the best partner for you?” Dick asks, stepping forward.

Ladybug nods.

“Theoretically. It doesn’t have to be perfect either – I’m just looking for the most compatible at this point. There will be time for whoever ends up being chosen to grow with me once they bond with the miraculous.”

“Is there a perfect match out there?” Tim asks.

Ladybug hesitates, considering her words carefully as a pang shoots through her heart. 

“. . . Technically there could be, but it’s unlikely. It’s rare to find a perfect match out of the gate. Chat and I were highly compatible and grew together once we bonded with our miraculous. That’s usually how Bugs and Cats are chosen and it’s rare that a Cat or Bug loses their partner. The magic is too. . . protective to let it happen.” 

Silence follows as the group picks up on Ladybug’s shift in mood.

“Well, then, let’s not waste all night going over details,” Steph suddenly declares with a loud clap of her hands. “I want to see how awesome of a magic user I might be!”

“I’m pretty curious too,” Babs adds as Cass signs her eagerness to proceed.

Ladybug smiles at the girls, relieved to see their eagerness.

“Alright then, um, girls first then?” Ladybug stammars as the group quickly shuffles into a line, circling her. 

In this way, Ladybug goes around the room, placing her hands over everyone’s hearts in turn. 

As expected, every single member that Ladybug tests has at least some compatible energy with the Cat miraculous. Stephanie has a decent sized green glow, signalling a significant amount of chaos energy, but instinct tells Ladybug that she’d also do well with the Fox miraculous, not that she’d be able to check that compatibility at the moment; she’d need the specific miraculous and a conduit to check the specifics. 

Cassandra has more Cat energy than Steph but not nearly as much as Bruce, although Ladybug suspects that Cass has some compatibility with the Peacock, which Ladybug figures could have something to do with her ability to read others so well, something Bruce had vaguely explained to her earlier. Bab’s Cat energy is surprisingly low even if the golden glow at the edges had been a decent strength, however Ladybug’s intuition is telling her that the older woman may have extremely strong Horse energy, which had her considering if there is some connection between technological aptitude and teleportation.  

Tim has a unique reaction, showing that he is filled with the same energy as Ladybug: Creation energy. The red light that had surrounded him had been an interesting sight; it wasn’t nearly as big as Ladybug’s but the gold at the edges was larger than any one else's' glow had been, showcasing his compatibility with Ladybug. Even though he isn’t a good match for the Cat miraculous, Ladybug knows that they will work well together.     

When Ladybug gets to Red Hood, she begins to push energy through him only to abruptly stop when she is met with a heavy corrupted energy that pushes back against her. Taken aback, her eyes fly open and she stares up at him in concern, her expression somewhat green from the contact with the strange energy. 

“Kwami. . . You’ve been tainted by a Lazarus Pit,” Ladybug tells him in shock, her eyes searching his face before landing on the streak of white in the hair at his crown. “How are you even – no, that’s not important; I need to cleanse the madness before we go any further.”

The room goes still, all eyes looking between Jason and Ladybug in shock.

“You need to what?!” Jason asks, inadvertently taking a step back. Instantly, his jovial demeanour turns wary, almost like a cat who’s been beaten and is preparing itself to be hit again.

“Cleanse? What do you mean cleanse?” Bruce asks, stunned by the multiple facets of her claim. “You know about the Pits?”

“You can help him?” Dick breathes, his gaze turning soft and hopeful at the prospect.

“Of course!” Ladybug tells them all, mentally going through the process. “The pits are the result of an imbalance between creation and destruction. Those tend to be a side effect of a Cat not working in conjunction with a Ladybug, although I didn’t know any still existed. The Order is going to want to deal with this. . .”  

“Wait – are you tellin’ me you can cure Pit Madness?!” Jason asks incredulously, his anxious demeanour lifting to reveal a hopeful gleam in his eye.

Ladybug beams at the man, her heart aching for him. She can only imagine the pain and anxiety that he's suffered at the hands of that awful, corrupted magic.

“I can do it right now actually, if you want to just take a seat and hold still for a sec–”

“Whoa, hold on – What exactly are you going to do?” Jason’s guard is back up again, his large, normally domineering figure shirking back.

“It won’t hurt a bit. . . Although you might feel a bit nauseous afterwards,” Ladybug admits, wincing a bit at the thought. “Actually, does someone have a bucket?”

“Here you are, Miss,” Alfred suddenly appears at her side with a pail and what looks like a hot towel.

Ladybug blinks at the man and the supplies laid out upon a silver tray.

“. . . Huh. Alfred, I think you have a lot of Snake energy. You are very intuitive.” 

“I shall take that as a compliment,” Alfred replies with a small smile.

“Oh, it definitely is. Snake’s are always very competent and composed,” she explains before turning back to Jason, who had been wrestled into a chair by Dick and Steph. “Right then, this should only take a few minutes. Um, you might want to give him the bucket now.”

Grinning a bit too eagerly, Tim shoves the bucket into Jason’s lap, earning him a scowl from the man in question.

As soon as he is settled, Ladybug moves to stand behind him and gently places her hands over Red Hood’s forehead, adjusting them until they settle on his temple.  

The room falls silent as Ladybug closes her eyes. While there is no visible indication of the magic, the room fills with a strange, charged energy that raises gooseflesh on the arms of the group watching, chills running down each of their spines. Sweat begins to bead on Ladybug’s head at the intensity of the work, her brow furrowing in concentration. 

Ten minutes pass as the group observes Ladybug continuing to work, forcing the purifying energy of her miraculous through the man’s soul. It’s a bit draining, but worth it as Jason’s energy slowly begins to brighten, freed from the corruption that had been infecting it. Eventually, the last traces of the Lazarus Pit are erased and Ladybug lets out a sigh, letting up on her energy and smiling in content. At that same moment, Jason lets out a low groan, appearing to turn a bit green and clammy, and the next moment, he lurches forward out of Ladybug’s grasp and vomits into the bucket.

“It’s done,” Ladybug breathes, magic-exhaustion prickling at the edges of her senses as she buzzes with the excess magic still present within her.

“Done?” Bruce asks, eyeing his son who is still hunched over and emptying his stomach into a pail.

“Done,” Ladybug repeats, smiling softly. “All traces of the Pit have been wiped from his soul. How do you feel, Jason?”

The man in question grunts and slowly raises his head from the pail and sets it aside, sweaty but with a healthy glow. He blinks a moment, considering in silence. A minute passes, then two, and then he takes in a deep breath, something connecting in his eyes. Slowly, a smile begins to work its way across his lips as tears well in his eyes. 

Everyone watches anxiously as Jason processes whatever Ladybug has just done to him, but before anyone can begin to truly worry, he lets out a barking, almost strangled laugh.

“Holy fucking shit – Pixie, you’re a miracle worker!” He declares as he jumps up and envelopes Ladybug in a bone crushing hug.

Not even Alfred has the heart to correct his language in the moment, too touched by the glee and relief radiating off the young man.

“Oof!” Ladybug exhales as the air is squeezed from her lungs, grinning happily as she wheezes, “Glad to be of help!”

“Wait so it worked?!” Steph asks excitedly, practically bouncing in place.

“Are we sure he’s not just high off magic or something?” Tim asks warily, his hands fidgeting with his sleeve as he eyes Jason for any sign he might snap.

“Jaylad, tell us how you feel,” Bruce encourages hopefully, stepping forward and hovering beside the young man.

Spinning Ladybug around, Jason drops her before turning to Bruce in awe.

“Bruce – the voices are gone!” He all but cries, the familiar ease in his eyes from his childhood reflecting back at his adoptive father. “The edge on everything, the paranoia – it’s all gone! And I can remember!” He declares, turning to Damian with an affectionate smirk.

“You – kid! You were a fuckin’ adorable toddler!” He declares, a warmness in his turquoise eyes as he gives the boy a once over.

Damian’s eyes grow wide as he stares up at Jason in shock. To everyone’s surprise, the young boy’s normally frigid scowl falters, hesitation and hope flickering in his emerald eyes as he studies Jason’s tender expression. After a moment, Damian’s stoic demeanour melts away and he rushes forward and wraps his arms around Jason’s waist, trembling slightly. Without hesitating, Jason returns the hug and leans down to whisper to the young boy in Arabic.

When Damian pulls away, his eyes are red and his cheeks blotchy. For the first time since Ladybug has met him, he seems like an actual ten year old. However, when he sees everyone’s eyes on him, his face quickly screws up in a proud scowl and he turns his face away, his embarrassment evident in the pink tips of his ears. Even so, he doesn’t move away from 

The sight has the entire group tearing up, touched by the care in the two’s embrace. It was easy for most of them to forget that Jason had helped raise Damian while under Talia’s control in the League of Assassins. Not having Jason recognise him must have been hurting the young boy, whether he admitted to it or not.  

Once Jason releases Damian, he turns to Tim.

“Shit, Timmers,” Jason breathes, remorse flickering across his expression. “I’m sorry man, for everything. I really wasn’t in my right mind. I shouldn’t have been taking anything out on you.”

Tim stiffens, shocked by the apology.

“I. . . yeah,” he mutters, unsure what to think. “I mean, I get it. Not that it was okay, but. . . yeah.”

Jason nods at Tim’s words, recognising the awkwardness that they would probably have to navigate yet again as they adjust to working together with Jason’s new awareness. Even so, it’s hopeful at the very least.

In turn, Steph, Cass, and Barbara embrace Jason, offering their congratulations and love.

When they are done, Dick steps forward hopefully, if not a bit sheepishly. He had regrets when it came to his first younger brother. He had never been the brother Jason had deserved when he needed it and he’s been working to make up for it for years, trying in every way to be there for him and help him manage the rage that always seemed to simmer under Jason’s skin.

Could it really be that in less than fifteen minutes, this amazing, spectacular woman had managed to put an end to his Little Wing’s suffering?

“You’re really okay?” Dick asks, tears in his eyes when he sees a glimpse of the old Jason’s lighthearted smile, the smile he wore when he had just become Robin. “You’re serious?”

“As serious as a crowbar!” Jason laughs, giving Dick a knowing smile while shocking everyone with his verbiage. 

Ignoring the incredulous and taken aback expressions of his family, Jason turns to Ladybug again with a beaming grin. 

“Listen Pixie Pop, whatever you need going forward, you’ve got me in your corner,” he tells her, his expression soft. “Whether I end up as your partner or not, I’m your guy – I mean, fuckin’ hell, I feel like I can breathe again!”

Ladybug can’t help but be affected by the absolute glee radiating off the man.

“I’m glad to hear it!” She giggles, her cheeks pink.

Jason opens his mouth to say something but is cut off as Dick lurches forward and envelopes him in a tight hug, openly crying as he attempts to crush the larger younger man. At the exuberant show of affection, Jason smiles wryly and hugs his big brother back.  

Seeing the care in everyone’s expressions, Ladybug smiles. Bruce had been right; they really all care for one another deeply, even if they do tease one another more often than not.

At that moment, Bruce steps forward and places his hand on Ladybug’s shoulder, pulling her attention from the heartfelt moment.

“Marinette, thank you,” Bruce offers, his gaze heavy with the weight of his feelings. “This means more to me than you could imagine. Out of all the mistakes I have made since becoming Batman, letting Jason down has been one of my biggest regrets. I can’t tell you how much this means to me – to all of us.”

Ladybug reaches out and pulls Bruce into a hug, surprising him.

“It’s my job to fix imbalances like this, and even if it wasn’t, it’s the least I could do,” she tells him, once more comforted by his fatherly presence. “You’re literally taking me in and trying to help me find an appropriate partner even though you hate magic. You even got me a job. Besides, there is no reason to let him suffer like that when it’s such an easy fix.”

Bruce hums, awkwardly patting her back. However, before he can respond, Jason clears his throat pointedly.

“Not to break up this touching moment, but now that I’m not magically corrupted, I’d like to find out if I get to be Pixie Pop’s magical partner,” he states, a rakish grin on his lips as he grins at Ladybug.

The heroine in question can’t help but laugh at the young man’s burst of enthusiasm. 

“Of course, let me just. . .” She trails off as she takes a step back and repeats the motions she had done before beginning evaluating the others. Not a minute later, she is once more encased in a subtle yet bright red glow. “Right! Can you bend down just a bit?”

Doing as he is told, Jason steps forward and leans down until Ladybug can place one hand on his temple and the other on his chest. Closing her eyes, Ladybug begins to press her energy through Jason, only to be met with a light green glow with vivid gold edges.

“Another Cat energy?” Barbara asks, glancing at Ladybug for confirmation.

Ladybug frowns, considering. As she pressed her energy through Jason’s freshly cleansed soul, she was met with a vivid feeling of intuition that Jason has an overwhelming compatibility with the Turtle Miraculous. The feeling is intense and shocks her for a moment, but it's enough that she realises that it’s her Guardian instinct. It makes sense, now that she thinks about it; he’s instincts seem pretty focused on the protection and defence of others.

“. . . Your Cat compatibility is pretty low, but your compatibility with me is high,” Ladybug admits before hesitantly continuing. “Actually. . . I’m pretty sure Jason is a perfect candidate for a different miraculous. Your protective instincts are really strong.”

The group pauses, looking between Ladybug and Jason curiously, all of them recognising the truth in her words. Out of everyone, Jason is the most sensitive to protecting others, especially the women and children of Crime Alley – or really, anyone who can’t defend themselves. The fact that Ladybug had been able to pick up on this despite only knowing him for less than a day is impressive.

“. . . Guess that means I’m not your Cat person,” Jason sighs after a moment, giving the young woman a wry smile before reaching out and ruffling her hair. “Can’t say I’m not disappointed, but either way, you got me in your corner, Pix. If that gold glow thing is any indication, we’d make a good team. Gotta say though, I’m still surprised you’re able to kick so much ass when you’re as small as a sprite.”

Ladybug scrunches her nose and half-heartedly tries to dodge his hand.  

“. . . You do remember that I’m older than you, right?” She checks, glaring up at him playfully. “Just because I’m small doesn’t mean I’m young.”

Jason’s smirk only grows as he steps aside.

“Whatever you say, Pix.”

At that moment, Dick steps forward, taking the place of Jason – albeit a bit closer than strictly necessary if Ladybug is being completely honest. It manages to throw her a bit off as she is suddenly met with the pretty blue of Dick’s eyes less than a foot from her own.

“Saving the best for last?” Dick teases with a smirk as he leans into her, but his gaze is blatantly affectionate and soft.

Pushing down a blush that threatens, Ladybug ignores the pleasant leap in her heart and gives the man a nervous smile.

“Oh, um – yeah, uh –” She stumbles, flustered by his close proximity, which only seems to spur the man on.

“Don’t go buggin’ out, Bug,” Dick tells her with a wink, the mischievous gleam in his startling blue, slightly red-rimmed eyes achingly familiar as he grins down at her. “There’s no pressure. Either way, you got us as backup moving forward. After all that with Little Wing, you’re stuck with us, whether you find a partner in any of us or not. You’re one of us now.” He pauses a moment before levelling her with a soft smile. “Really, thank you. I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you were able to help Jason the way you did.”

Struck by his awful puns, encouragingly tender words, and the flirtatious twinkle in his eyes, Ladybug stares at the man a moment, her cheeks darkening as something unfamiliar stirs within her – something both heavy and light that gives her a burst of adrenaline.

“I – I nothing was it! I mean – was it nothing? No – um, it was nothing! Yeah, um, I’m helpful to be happy! Wait no –uh –” 

Horror shoots through Ladybug when she realises just how badly she is stumbling over her words. She hasn’t done anything this bad since she was fourteen, so what in the kwami is happening to her now? Just because the objectively most handsome man with stunning eyes and an endearing smile and soft looking hair and an ass that –

Nope – nope she cannot go there. She cannot afford to go there. She’s got a job to do right now and she can’t sit here fantasising about Nightwing’s ass when she’s trying to evaluate the man as a potential partner.

She can fantasise later.

No, she doesn't need to fantasise at all!

Inwardly panicking, Ladybug shakes her head, trying to push her flush away. She needs to focus.

Taking a deep breath, Ladybug tries again, purposefully ignoring the befuddled and somewhat amused grin on Dick’s face.

“I’m happy that I was able to help,” she manages to get out, smiling at the man gently before holding up her hands. “Are you ready?”

Dick grins widely and lowers his head to within her reach.

“It’s meow or never,” he replies, earning a groan from the onlookers. On the contrary, the pun sets something in Ladybug at ease and she manages to calm down. . . mostly.

“Okay, um, here we go,” Ladybug mutters as she brings her hand to Dick’s temple and the other to just above his heart. Closing her eyes she goes to push her energy through Dick, only as soon as she does, a warmth moves through her hands, growing hotter and hotter until a flash of light envelopes them both. 

Gasps echo through the room, the atmosphere changing from anticipatory to concern and surprise.

Opening her eyes in shock, Ladybug is shocked to find that instead of glowing green or even red, Dick is glowing a solid gold that is so bright and encompassing that she has a hard time looking at him. However what is even more bewildering is that she is no longer glowing red with her Ladybug energy – no, she is now glowing gold as well, just as vivid and brilliant as the surrounding Dick.

Ladybug’s eyes grow wide in shock, not believing what she is seeing.

She knows this glow. She knows what it means. She’d seen it when the Guardians were still teaching her how to read energy compatibility and to check her and Chat’s bonding. She had seen it for the first time when she was barely seventeen years old; after they had been partners for over three years.

She also knows that this reaction shouldn’t be possible with someone she’s only known a day. 

“How – ?!” Ladybug exclaims, her face flushed red as she tries to come to grip with this piece of information. “You’re – but – the Order said that –”

A sudden thought hits her and her eyes grow wide.

Ladybug had spent countless hours wondering about the differences between who Adrien had been prior to becoming Chat Noir and after. According to most everyone who had known him, Adrien had been excessively passive in his home life. He had moments of quiet rebellion, but he had never been outspoken or outwardly flirtatious like he was as Chat Noir. He hadn’t been so amused with wordplay or puns, nor had he been particularly loud or prone to dramatics. 

It was only after becoming Chat Noir that he changed – and now she knows why; upon gaining his miraculous and meeting Marinette as Ladybug, Adrien had picked up traits that would most suit her in a partner. All the little things that had endeared Chat to Marinette were Dick’s habits; the little bits of his personality that Marinette as Ladybug would inevitably be drawn to in her most compatible partner. 

Adrien Agreste had been a quiet, kind young man, but Chat Noir. . . There is a reason why she had never noticed the similarities between the two boys. The traits that had made Chat Noir so different from Adrien Agreste were what she needed in a partner – even if they were the same traits that often drove her up a wall.

Ladybug’s heart lurches at the realisation, but oddly enough, she is also filled with relief. The discrepancies in her heart, the guilt that has been eating her alive at failing to recognise her partner easing. 

Overwhelmed with emotion, Ladybug lets out a small laugh that eventually transforms into a fit of giggles that has her eyes tearing from the intensity.

She really should have realised it sooner. She should have seen it in the flirty demeanour, in the brazen confidence, in the nicknames, in the god awful puns!

Kwami, she had noticed the similarities beforehand, but this?! 

This is like a cosmic joke because apparently, Marinette, the Ladybug of the generation, has a compatibility type – and her magic knows it. No, the magic is practically screaming at her to wake up and smell the coffee.

Meanwhile, the rest of the room erupts in excited clamours, not understanding the significance of the golden light.

“What the fuck?! Why was his light solid gold?!” Jason cries, stepping in front of Damian protectively. “Is he sick or something?”  

“I wanna know why her light turned gold,” Tim states, staring between the two in calculative awe.

“Did you guys see how bright that was?” Babs asks, still a bit dazed by the intensity of the light.

Meanwhile, Dick is beginning to grow anxious, not understanding why his glow is different and why Ladybug is in hysterics. 

“Um. . . should I be concerned right now?” Dick asks warily, glancing back at Bruce for help at Ladybug’s uncontrolable giggles, only to be met with a similarly concerned look.

“I – Dick, you’re a perfect match,” Ladybug squeaks breathlessly, failing to control her laughter in her relieved and giddy state. “That – that glow was–was the same as Chat’s. . . I – it’s only supposed to be there after – after bonding – but – but – I’m already used to him! It’s always been him! He was based on him the whole time!”

“Who was based on who now?” Dick asks, his head flopping to the side in his confusion (yet another similar habit that Chat had apparently picked up somehow) as he turns to Cass. “Is it really that funny?”

In response, the mute vigilante shrugs, signing that she seems shocked more than anything. She suggests it may be a coping mechanism for something.

Dick frowns, unsure if he should be offended by Ladybug’s reaction, but before he can say anything, the back blob that had disappeared into her hair at the beginning of the testing appears in front of her with a loud cackle, causing the group of bats to flinch back at the sight of the strange creature.

“Pigtails, you sure know how to pick ‘em!” The kwami of destruction chortles mischievously before flying in front of Dick’s face. “So do you have any cheese? Pigtails has been holdin’ out on the good stuff.”

The man in question stiffens at the sight of the small creature before furrowing his brow. It looks like a strange cat fairy. . . with really bad breath. 

Meanwhile, the rest of the team is on edge, a few pulling weapons from who knows where.

“What the fuck is that?!” Jason cries, jumping back and shoving Tim in front of him and Damian, who has materialised a batarang out of thin air and is holding out in front of him defensively.

“Dude, seriously?!” Tim objects in outrage at being used as a human shield.

At the sight of the kwami, Ladybug sobers, her pallour paling.

“Plagg, what are you doing?!” The heroine shrieks, staring at him in horror.

“What’s the issue? You don’t think you could keep me and Sugarcube hidden from this lot for long, could you?” Plagg turns, zooming in front of Ladybug. “If you’re gonna be spendin’ all your down time here, I don’t wanna have to be hindin’ left and right again. It’s exhausting. Besides, we’re all heroes here! What’s the harm?”

“That’s not the point!” Ladybug screeches, beginning to panic. The other Guardians are going to kill her if they find out that people outside the Order know about the kwami.

Meanwhile, the bats are trying to come to terms with the sight before them.

“Um, can someone explain why Pixie Pop has a pet fairy?” Jason gathers the courage to interject from where he remains behind Tim. 

Plagg turns to Jason with a scowl.

“How dare you! Fairies are awful greedy creatures! They refuse to share their cheese!” 

Mortified for many reasons, Ladybug lets out a low groan and buries her face in her hands, muttering incoherently about the kwami having one job.

Meanwhile, the rest of the group devolves into chaos once more, only broken by Bruce calling out for them to quiet down.

Instantly, the room falls silent and Bruce turns to Ladybug.

“Marinette, would you care to explain what exactly that. . . creature is?” He asks, his lips pursed distrustfully as he tracks the fluttery creature as it zooms around the room curiously.

Ladybug sighs, realising that the damage has been done.

“This is a kwami, specifically the kwami of the black cat miraculous of destruction and chaos,” she begins, shooting a glare Plagg’s way. “He is what gives power to the Cat miraculous. Bruce, you and Alfred met my kwami, Tikki, last night.”

The room grows silent, stunned by the young heroine’s explanation.

“Um. . . come again?” Tim asks, staring at Ladybug as though she’s gone insane.

Shoulders slumping, Ladybug lets out another sigh as she continues. 

“A kwami is basically the embodiment of one of the conceptual powers that govern the universe, the source of all life and magic in the universe, similar to the idea of gods,” she explains, shooting the kwami inspecting what appears to be a model dinosaur a glare. “To not reveal too much that would have the other Guardians breathing down my neck, they are basically the physical manifestations of the powers that support the fabric of reality. In short, they allowed themselves to be tethered to certain accessories in order to experience the reality they created. The Order’s purpose is to maintain these artefacts and use them when needed to keep reality in balance.”

At this moment, the cat kwami flies past, chattering about the cave being dark and gloomy with no place for a poor kitten to lay out.  

“Everyone, meet Plagg. He’s the kwami tied to the ring,” Ladybug sighs, ignoring Plagg's whining. 

“So to sum it up. . . your miraculous are so powerful and secretive because they essentially manage the powers of literal gods?” Bruce asks, staring down the creature that has stopped to study the giant penny in the corner of the cave.

“Basically,” Ladybug affirms, grateful that the man isn’t freaking out about this – at least not outwardly. “They are more like the concepts that govern all of reality, but ‘gods’ are really the best comparison.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, I’m the living embodiment of chaos and destruction, a god, deity, half of the bang of the big bang if you will,” Plagg drones in exasperation as he whizzes down from the rafters. “Now would somebody get me some cheese?! ”

“Do you have a preference, sir?” Alfred asks, stepping forward with a plate of carefully arranged cheeses.

Plagg turns to the butler and practically squeals with joy.

“Now this is what I call service!” He exclaims before jumping onto the tray and snuggling with the cheeses before diving in.

Ladybug stares at the kwami a moment, inwardly reminding herself that this is her job and she doesn’t have to like it but she does have to deal with the kwami currently giving her a headache.

Clearing his throat, Dick steps forward and grins awkwardly.

“Not to change the subject, but uh, what does this mean for me exactly?”

Ladybug turns to Dick guiltily, horror eating at her when she recalls her reaction to finding out that Dick is her perfect match.

“Oh kwami, I’m so sorry! I totally shouldn’t have reacted like that! It was just such a surprise because really, that kind of reaction almost never shows up and it had been a surprise that Chat and I had managed it after a few years and seeing that just right out of the gate totally threw me for a loop and it has nothing to do with you, even if it’s bene kind of rushed and I’m still kinda processing everything and the fact that I’m about to get a new partner in the first place I’m actually really happy that it’s you, ‘cause I mean, why wouldn’t I be? You’re awesome and kind and funny I really liked how you handled yourself last night with the weird water aliens – not that everyone else didn’t also do a great job! They did, but just I really did think that your style really suits me so I was kind of hoping for a chance to get to test you and you’re also really kind and I really like your eyes and your smile and oh kwami what did I just say that?! You didn’t need to know that and now I’m going to totally weird you out and they you’re not going to want to be my partner and then I’ll be all alone and the world is going to literally end because the world will be out of balance and it’s going to be all my fault and oh my kwami, I didn’t even have a chance to ask you if you even wanted to–”

“Whoa, slow down there, Bug,” Dick eventually interjects as he steps forward and grips Ladybug’s arms firmly. From there, he begins to rub them up and down comfortingly, an amused and pleased lopsided smile playing on his lips as he stares down at the flushing and (only somewhat) hyperventilating heroine, a certain hope flickering in his chest. “Everything’s fine, everything’s okay – I’m not weirded out and I’m not gonna leave you and the world’s not going to end, okay?”

Slowly, Ladybug’s laboured breathing gets under control and she flushes in embarrassment. When she appears to have calmed down, Dick gives her shoulders a squeeze.

“There we are, deep breaths. No need to catastrophize,” he laughs, watching with growing confidence as the young woman allows herself to relax at his touch.

Clearing her throat, Ladybug gives Dick an embarrassed smile, hyper aware of the curious onlookers that just watched her spiral.

“Yeah, um. . . thank you. I uh, do that sometimes,” she admits, her heart aching. She hadn’t had such word vomit since right before Hawkmoth’s defeat, and Chat had had to calm her down in a similar way.

“Jesus Christ, no wonder you need a support system,” Jason frowns. “No offence, Pix, but you’re kinda a ball of anxiety – and that’s coming from me .”

Ladybug lets out a half strangled laugh.

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s why your dad took pity on me and basically took me in.”

“Considering that you’re apparently the one in charge of managing the central powers of the universe, I’d like to think that that’s a good enough reason,” Bruce comments, giving her a pointed look that softens as he continues. “Although I do think that it’s already worked out in our benefit. We’re lucky to have you with us.”

Blinking back tears, Ladybug gives the man a hesitant smile, her emotions thrashing around in her chest.

Clearing her throat, Ladybug turns back to Dick, who’s still hovering over her in concern, his hands absently rubbing her arms as he studies her expression. The sight sends a surge of affection through her chest and she can’t help but smile.

She feels safe, and not just with Bruce, but his whole team – his whole family.  

She feels safe with Dick.

And the guilt is eating at her.

Even so, she cannot leave herself to mourn Chat and Adrien forever, not when the literal fate of the universe is at stake.

With this reminder filling her heart, Ladybug removes the ring from her finger and ceremonially holds it out to Dick, determination in her eyes as she stares up at the man that the magic of the universe had shown to be a perfect complimentary match to balance her. 

“Richard John Grayson. . . you are the soul most compatible with the Miraculous of the Cat, my tenured experience as Ladybug, and – and my own soul,” she breathes, smiling up at him hopefully as her request flows unhindered from her lips. “Would you do the honour of wielding the power of destruction and bonding with chaos? Will you take up the responsibility of helping me maintain the conceptual powers of the universe and keeping the balance. . . as my partner?” 

At the sudden formal request, Dick stares at Marinette in awe, his cheeks flushing red as his heart races so aggressively he can feel it in his throat. Meanwhile, the rest of his family watches on with mixtures of amusement and pride. Jason in particular can be heard snickering and whispering with a similarly gleeful Stephanie, but Dick ignores them, too focused on the woman he’s admired for two years offering him the position of partner.  

Swallowing, the first Robin releases his comforting grasp on Marinette’s arms and takes the ring from her outstretched palm. 

“I would be honoured, Marinette,” Dick replies, his hand lingering over hers a moment longer than necessary as he gazes into her bluebell eyes.   

Biting back the high pitched whine that threatens, Ladybug smiles and nods. 

“I guess this means that you’re not gonna need to continue interviewing candidates?” Dick grins as he slips the ring onto his finger.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Ladybug teases, smirking at the brief flicker of shock that flashes across his face before calming when he sees the mirth in her eyes. “Maybe we should see how you do in the field first. You’re also going to need to come up with a new name to go by. ‘Nightwing’ isn’t exactly the best name for a Cat.”  

Dick raises a challenging brow at Ladybug, his lips quirking up in a smirk as he goes to respond, however before he can, Plagg gets in his face once again.

“Listen, pretty boy – I need sustenance. Where do you keep your cheese?! I’m going to need to be kept well fed if you wanna keep up with the Lady here. ” 

Ladybug lets out a sigh, and turns to Dick apologetically.

“Yeah. . . he’s gonna be your responsibility moving forward. He’s a glutton, so good luck.”  

Dick gives her a wary look as the rest of his family comes over and begins to congratulate him. 

“Way to go, Dickiebird,” Jason cheers as he claps him on the back. “‘Gotta say, if it can’t be me, I’m glad it’s you.”

“Good on you, Wonder Boy,” Babs offers, smiling at her ex-boyfriend fondly, truly happy for him. 

“Congratulations, Grayson,” Damian offers, still lingering near Jason’s shadow.

“Cheers!” Steph and Tim call out together as Cass claps excitedly, conveying her happiness for the two.

“I’m proud of you, son,” Bruce adds, his gaze warm and full of approval. “I know you’ll make a wonderful partner. I have first hand experience, after all.” 

Dick blinks in surprise, not having expected such a sentiment from the man who had been so against any of them involving themselves with magic, let alone partnering and becoming a human conduit for magic. Half of him fully believed that Bruce was simply taking pity on the young woman who was bearing the weight of the world on her shoulders, but seeing the genuine pride in his adoptive father’s expression leaves the young man breathless and emotional. How many years had he and his brothers striven for this exact look. 

Clearing the emotional lump that has formed in his throat, Dick nods, trying not to cry for a second time that evening. 

“Thanks, B. I’ll definitely do my best to not let anyone down.”

Bruce shakes his head. 

“You could never let anyone down,” he tells him, only sort of awkward as he pulls his oldest son in for a hug. “Marinette is lucky to have you.”

And there goes Dick’s efforts to not cry.

Off to the side, Dick’s siblings continue to chatter away, teasing their overemotional eldest brother.

“I gotta say, it fits – Dick would be the most compatible with a magical girl,” Babs laughs, smirking.

“Not just compatible – the dude is gonna be a magical girl!” Tim adds, grinning at Dick with mirth.

“Oh man, this is priceless! Dickiebird is gonna have fuckin’ cat ears!” Jason cackles as he swipes a confused Damian under his arm.

“Grayson will be a more than adequate partner. I don’t see why you are all teasing him for–”

“You’ll understand when you’re older, kid,” Jason stops him, still smiling gleefully. “Oh god, just wait ‘till Selina finds out!”

Wiping at the tears on his face, Dick eventually pulls back from Bruce and turns to Ladybug, who is watching him with a warm eyes despite the serious set of her lips.

“I do need to warn you, Destruction is a difficult concept to wield,” Ladybug admits uncomfortably. “My kwami is Tikki, who governs Creation and Purification. She’s very calm and while a bit stubborn, she’s generous and careful – at least most of the time. Even so, her power is can be difficult to control at times. On the other hand, Destruction is naturally unruly. If you haven’t noticed, Plagg is a bit. . . uncontrollable . His power is like that too; You’ll need to be careful, especially in the beginning when you’re just starting out. The Guardians are going to want to train you how to control it, but until you have a good grip on Plagg’s stubbornness, you’ll need to be careful.” 

Dick nods, the weight of the responsibility he is taking up beginning to fully register. It’s daunting and more than a little intimidating, but somewhere in his heart he knows this is the path he is meant to take. He’s known for a long time that he didn’t want to take after Bruce, that the mantle of ‘Batman’ was not for him, and so he attempted to forge his own path as Nightwing in a different city. 

But now. . . now Dick realises that his place is beside this young woman’s side, protecting the world on a much larger scale than he ever thought he was capable of.

“I promise I will do everything I can to be ,” Dick assures Ladybug, placing his hand on her shoulder in assurance. “And you don’t need to worry – I know how to be cautious.” 

He tells here with a grin, only when he does, he is overcome with the urge to pull her into a hug and nuzzle her neck like a cat. For a brief moment, the thought of her scratching him behind the ears has him near elated – until he notices the direction his thoughts have turned.

The realisation has Dick stiffening warily, wondering just how much the Cat side of the miraculous might affect him moving forward, especially considering he’s only just acquired the ring; he hasn’t even transformed yet.

Before Dick can really consider the implications of the strange urge, Barbara shoots him a flat look.

“This from the guy who blew up an entire shipyard taking down a bunch of drug dealers?”

Too engrossed in his other thoughts, Dick slowly blinks at the woman, attempting to figure out what she means. When he does, he gapes at the woman in offence.

“For the last time, how was I supposed to know that the heroin was that flammable?!”

“Um, by paying attention in chemistry class?” Tim offers, shooting Dick a smirk.

“By listening to the briefing?” Bruce adds with a quirk of his brow.

“How about not being a dumbass?” Jason quips with a snort.

Dick pouts and crosses his arms, preparing to retort. However before he can, Plagg zooms in and gets in his new Kitten’s face.

“So, you gonna try me out or are you just gonna bicker with your brood?” The kwami pesters. “My Sugarcube has been working without me for too long and needs to be balanced!”

Hesitantly, Dick looks between Plagg and Ladybug.

“Oh, um, sure – is that allowed? Can I just do that already?” He asks nervously, Ladybug’s words of caution playing through his head. “I don’t need any training or anything?

To his surprise, Ladybug smiles at him encouragingly.

“As long as you don’t cataclysm anything, you should be fine,” she assures him, a nostalgic, forlorn smile pulling at her lips. “I can fix anything you do, but without knowing your strength off the bat, I’d rather not test it.”

“Cool! So uh. . . what do I do?” Dick asks awkwardly, holding up the hand with the miraculous on his finger.

“All you have to say is ‘Plagg, claws out!’ and you’re good to go,” Ladybug replies eagerly.

Dick nods, giving her a small smile before turning to Plagg.

“So uh, Plagg, Claws out!”

In a flash of green light, Dick is transformed and Ladybug is left trying not to gape at the man in front of her, inwardly cursing Plagg in every language the Order had forced her to learn.

The new Cat in front of her, the partner that she is supposed to work with near inseparably until she dies, is a walking heart attack in his new suit. Ladybug isn’t sure if this is Plagg messing with her, Dick’s preference, or just inspiration taken from Chat and Catwoman put together, but Ladybug is concerned that she won’t be able to handle ever looking at her partner in the suit – not that he’s not terrible for her heart out of it either. 

The suit has the traditional black leather-like appearance and is coated in magical armour, but like his Nightwing suit, the material clings to every muscle, defining each curve and contour in near explicit detail. Like Chat’s, Dick’s version of the suit has a belt that wraps around his waist, but the length is shorter and appears to be more utility in nature, containing many pouches as well as a place to store his baton, Plagg’s standard weapon. Unlike Chat’s suit, the upper torso of the suit has no zipper, and instead of the bell that Ladybug had grown to associate with the Cat miraculous, there is a green paw print where his Nightwing symbol usually rests. 

As expected, Dick’s physical appearance has changed slightly as well. His eyes, normally a vivid blue, are electric green with slit irises and his sclera is a slightly softer shade of the same green; it’s an effect that compliments his Romani skin-tone nicely, making the colour pop from behind the mask that sits on his face like a second skin. On the top of his head, nearly hidden in his dark wavy locks are two black leather-like Cat ears that twitch every so often, picking up a great deal more than his human ears normally do. In addition, his incisors seem to have sharpened – not a lot, but enough that Dick is able to feel the slight pricks in his lip. 

All in all, Dick as the Wielder of the Miraculous of the Black Cat is a sight and Ladybug knows she is going to have to work on not staring at her handsome partner.

“What is that made of?” Tim asks, his eyes calculative as he lifts Dick’s arm, being careful of the clawed tips at the ends of his fingers.

“Dude, you have a tail ,” Steph cackles alongside a giggling Cass, who signs that Dick’s ears are very cute, earning laughter and more teasings. 

“Selina’s going to have a field day with this,” Bruce mutters, giving his eldest son a once over before stepping away.

While the group is distracted by Dick’s new suit, Bruce comes to stand by Ladybug, following her gaze to where the man in question is smiling like a child on Christmasn morning as he looks through the gadgets on his belt.  

“To be honest, I was hoping that Dick would end up being the one who suited you,” Bruce admits, watching his children critique the design.

Ladybug turns to Bruce in surprise. 

“Really? Why is that?”

Bruce sighs, a forlorn and almost wistful gleam in his eyes. 

“. . . Because he’s who I always wanted Batman to be.”

Ladybug stares up at Bruce in bewilderment as he continues. 

“Dick understands the personal aspect of why we do what we do better than I ever have. I tend to focus too much on the mission, but Dick. . . he knows where the limits lie and where people need to come before the mission. He knows how to balance his duty to his family and friends with his duty to the city and the League and not crack under the pressure. Out of everyone on the team. . . he’d know how to help you the most, both emotionally and in your duty. I’m honestly happy for you both.”

Bruce turns to Ladybug and places his hand on her shoulder.

“I truly am glad that you have joined our team, Marinette, and our family. Despite my previous assumptions about you and your magic, I think your presence here will be good for all of us. It’s only been one day and you’ve already given us so much. This is the most I’ve seen Damian relax since he cam e

 I just hope we will be able to return the favour.” 

“. . . Do you still wish that you could go back?” Bruce asks in the midst of the chaos surrounding the group as Dick swings around his baton, his eyes alight when he realises that it separates into two escrima sticks. With mirthful glee, he twirls the sticks in his hands, only to let out a gleeful shout when they light up and let off green sparks; the escrima sticks are tasers.

Ladybug considers Bruce’s question as she stares at the group before her, so filled with child-like joy and mischief despite the horrible traumas they have endured, in spite of the heartache and pain that she now knows they live with.

Today is so different from just yesterday.

“. . . I think you are right,” Ladybug eventually admits, a small smile on her lips as she watches the group in wonder. “I think the urge will always be there, but. . . this hope isn’t something I want to give up on. So much has changed in such a short time and. . . I haven’t felt this. . . I haven’t felt this safe or complete in a long time. Thank you, Bruce, really. I don’t know when I’ll be able to heal completely, but I want to try.”

“I’m glad to be of help. Although I do expect you in the office Monday. I have a meeting with Lex Luther in a few months and I was hoping to commission a suit that will shut him up on my not having a sense of style despite being so ‘glitterati,’ whatever that means.”

Ladybug lets out a laugh.

“I’ll be sure to do that.”

At that moment, Dick turns her way, his now electric green eyes alight with amusement.

“I got it! The perfect name! Meow-wing! Get it?! It’s like Nightwing, but instead it’s the ' cat’s meow!'”

The smile slips from Ladybug’s lips as Bruce sighs, his tired demeanour returning.

“I can’t escape it,” the heroine groans as she buries her face in her hands. “Horrible, horrible puns. That’s my life apparently.”

Bruce lets out a humourless laugh and pats her on the back.

“He’s your problem now. I’ve been dealing with his wordplay for the last fifteen years. He’ll be a good partner though, if you can manage not to strangle him. I definitely had my moments but he’s still alive.”

Ladybug considers this, a small smile growing on her lips as she watches Dick pout at his siblings, who are not holding back in the critiques of his proposed identity.

“Yeah. . . my partner’s definitely a piece of work,” she replies, her heart warm. “But he’s mine, for better or worse.”

“What’s for worse?” Dick asks, appearing at Ladybug’s side as though summoned out of thin air.

Acting on instinct, Ladybug throws him over her shoulder, not realising he’d snuck up on her.    Similarly not having expected Ladybug’s reaction, Dick crashes into the nearest table with a strangled yelp, completely crushing it.

Horrified, Ladybug quickly rushes toward him, her anxiety spiking as guilt eats at her.

“Dick?! Dick, are you okay?!” She cries as she kneels beside him, worried she’s just made him hate her after only having the miraculous for literally five minutes.

To her relief, Dick grins up at her. 

“I’m purrrfect . . .” He manages to wheeze, shooting Ladybug an only somewhat disoriented smirk. “Although I gotta say – this suit can take a wallop. That hardly hurt – although it still took the wind outta me.”

Without meaning to, Ladybug lets out a strangled sound stuck between a laugh and a groan.

“Oh kwami. . . you’re incorrigible.”

“At least I’m cute,” Dick replies with a wink as he leans his face closer, causing Ladybug to flush and push him back by the nose with the tip of her finger as she rolls her eyes, the familiar gesture coming back to her with only a slight pang to the heart.

“You keep telling yourself that, Kitten,” she replies on reflex as she steps back, leaving a stunned and wide-eyed Dick staring after her shock.

Blushing faintly, Dick eventually recovers and throws himself back on the floor pitifully.

“Wow, abandoning your partner so soon? I’m hurt, Bug.”

“You’ll get over it,” Ladybug deadpans, trying to keep a smile from pulling at her lips. She’s only had a partner for twenty minutes and she can already feel herself balancing out – as well as many of her old habits returning, banter included.  

Meanwhile, Babs wheels up beside the two.

“I thought cats always land on their feet,” she cackles from her chair, her lips curved up in a smirk.

“Excuse me, I am a professionally trained acrobat,” Dick wheezes from where he lays on the floor, making no move to get up from his prone state. “I meant to do that.”

Ladybug rolls her eyes and helps Dick up.

“Come on, Acro-Cat,” she teases only somewhat hesitantly. “I need to take you to meet the Guardians. They are gonna want to start training with the miraculous. We should talk to Bruce about when the best time will be to head out there.” 

“Wow, so I get to see the infamous Temple that no one’s ever actual–” Dick abruptly cuts off, his eyes alight when he registers what she’s just said. “Hold on, that’s not a bad –” 

“Nope, that was a joke,” she informs him playfully, shutting down the name before he can finish his sentence. “I will not be partnered with someone named ‘Acro-Cat.’ Keep trying. Unlike me, you have time to actually come up with a good name before we reintroduce you to the world.” 

Dick frowns as his family laughs at his expense, but the expression doesn’t last long. However, when he turns his gaze on Ladybug, he sees the tension in her shoulders and the furrow of her brow. Despite everything that’s happened, she is still anxious.

The sight sets Dick on edge. 

Seeing that his family is distracted reliving his Discowing era, Dick steps aside, urging Ladybug along with him.

Whether they initially realise it or not, this is an important moment for both of them; the first time that they are really seeing one another as partners, as wielders of the most powerful powers in existence, complimentary in every way. As soon as they are out of earshot from the others, however, the significance is not lost on them and they simply stare at one another for a brief moment, simply taking the other in.

Eventually, Dick breaks the silence, recalling the young woman’s anxious ramblings and her speech the night before, when she had been requesting the League’s help. It had been on his mind ever since and after this whirlwind of events and the new responsibility he is about to undertake. . . he feels the need to say something.

“Marinette, I. . . I just wanted to let you know that I’m in this all the way,” Dick tells her in earnest, gently reaching out to take her hands in his as he struggles with his own emotions. “I know how hard this must be for you. . . I know what it’s like to lose a partner in the line of duty. . . I lost my best friend Wally when I was seventeen. He sacrificed himself in order to save the world from an alien threat.”

At Dick’s admission, Ladybug’s eyes grow wide, not having expected his admission, but he continues before she can muster up a response, gripping her hands a bit more tightly in his own.

“The loss hit me hard. It felt like I had lost such a huge part of myself that I hadn’t realised was so integral to my life,” Dick tries to explain, his eyes welling up at the memory. “Wally had been so full of life and always just there and then when I was without him. . . I began to spiral. I tried to keep it together on the outside, but. . . I had my moments. I only got through them because of the people around me who wouldn’t let me suffer in silence. It may sound like crap coming from me right now, but. . . I really want to be there for you. If we’re really as compatible as your magic says we are, I want us to really be partners. I want to be able to support you when you’re having a rough day or if you’re pissed off or even if you’re just missing your old partner. I want you to be able to come to me if you have a problem and not to be worried about what I’ll think, and I’d like to be able to come to you for the same things.”

Dick pauses, a wry smile on his lips as he studies Ladybug’s stunned expression.

“I also kinda know what it’s like to lose your family and friends,” he continues. “I know that you said last night that I won’t have to do that and that the Order made a bunch of exceptions for any League associate that ends up partnering with you, but. . . See, I lost my parents when I was young and Bruce ended up adopting me. I grew up in a circus so I ended up leaving everyone I knew and loved behind to start over again here. It may not be a perfect comparison and I can’t pretend that I ever will fully understand, but I can at least try to help you where I can.

“Sorry. . . I know that this is a lot but before we get real deep into this partnership, I just wanted to. . . lay all my cards on the table, I guess,” he admits with as much sincerity as he can muster. “You’re amazing, Marinette. I’m serious. I mean, you’re really talented and have been managing all this responsibility since you were just a kid. Everything that’s happening right now. . . It’s all kinda freaky, but I’m not scared ‘cause I know I’ve got a seriously awesome partner to help me through it.  

“So I guess what I’m trying to say is just. . . I want you to remember that I’m going to be here for you. I can’t promise I won’t mess up or that we won’t ever argue and you’re probably going to want to rip my head off at some point because apparently I can have that effect on people, but I just. .  I want you to know I’m with you, for better or worse,” Dick conveys with as much sincerity as he can muster before giving into a mischievous smile and continuing, “And personally I think we’re gonna make a paw -fect team, Bug. I don’t think there’s anything that could stop us as long as we’re in it together.”

When he finishes speaking, Ladybug stares at Dick, something inside of her shifting at the surety and sincerity in his words. Out of everything – from the nicknames, the puns, the mannerisms – it is in this where she really finds the aspect of Chat that had kept her going for so many years when they were being terrorised by Hawkmoth and warned by the Order that once everything was over, they would need to abandon their civilian lives and devote themselves to their duties as the Guardians of the two most powerful artefacts in the known universe:

Unwavering confidence in her.

That had been it – the one thing that gave Marinette the courage to be Ladybug the first day and every day after that, to do what is right instead of what is easy, to give up everything that made her her for the responsibility of keeping the balance of the universe.

And somehow, Dick has that in her, enough to want to stand by her, come what may.

Awed and somewhat guilty at having made DIck feel the need to share his own trauma so early into their partnership, Ladybug is initially unsure how to respond, especially to such a heartfelt speech. However, at that moment, Marinette recalls Bruce’s reassurances and some of the guilt ebbs away to hope and a desire to move forward.

It is okay to love and miss Adrien and Chat Noir, his vague existence notwithstanding, but Ladybug – no, Marinette shouldn’t spend all her time wishing to go back – to him or the life she had with him – when she has such a promising future right in front of her. She can honour the boy who had been her partner for so many years by honouring the man who held the same qualities that had, through the intuitive magic of the miraculous, influenced him in the first place.

And Marinette can do that by being the best partner to Dick that she can be.

Taking a deep breath, Ladybug smiles warmly at the young man who had just bared his heart to her.

“. . . You and me against the world,” she offers, hoping he understands the meaning of her words as she holds out her fist.

To her relief, Dick’s eyes widen momentarily before he all but beams at her, relief evident even from behind his mask. The next moment, Dick returns the gesture, knocking his fist against hers.

“You and me against the world,” he repeats, giving her a tender, grateful smile that turns her insides into jelly and sparks joy through her. 

Enchanted, Marinette can’t help but sigh in relief, her heart feeling complete for the first time in years. 

Yes, she might always miss Adrien and the life that she had when defending Paris at his side, but the future she is working to build is just as beautiful and worth experiencing.