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fandomweekly2019-05-05 09:16 pm
[#013] Stepping Up (Miraculous Ladybug)
Theme Prompt: Clear Skies
Title: Stepping Up
Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug
Rating/Warnings: None
Bonus: Yes.
Word Count: 995
Summary: When the heroes ask their friends to go above and beyond what support they've already provided.
Alya and Nino had their partnership as civilian aids to the Paris superhero duo down to a science. They had a rotating list of dozens of excuses for both Marinette and Adrien, they always had Kwami snacks on their person. They had gotten cheap burner phones for the pair, so if they had to make a tactical retreat, and needed Kwami food, they could contact them. Alya and Nino had voice recordings and had the pair film some videos, so they could provide proof of some of their excuses.
Everything was going as well as it possibly could be with a supervillain on the loose.
Marinette was pacing and having a panic attack. She was hyperventilating and mumbling a bunch of stuff Alya couldn't catch. Tikki was attempting to straighten the tossed clothes in the suitcase, but it was slow going with her tiny paws.
“Marinette,” Alya stood and grabbed the other girl by the shoulders. “What is the problem?” Marinette took a deep breath, and pointed to the suitcase.
“I'm finally going to meet my relatives in China...for a month.”
Alya blinked. “Shit.” None of her and Nino's preparations covered either of the heroes leaving Paris.
Tikki zipped up, balancing an octagonal box just a little larger than a ring box on her head. “With Trixx, you can create an illusion Ladybug to help Chat Noir!” Tikki grinned.
“And,” Marinette placed her thin hands on Alya's shoulders, “You need to memorize the following address. You'll have to catch the akumas in glass jars, and drop them off there. I'll purify them when I get back.”
Alya grinned, memorizing the plan and taking the foxtail necklace Miraculous as her own.
It was a simple plan really. Keep Paris from realizing the real Ladybug wasn't in town. Try to keep Chat Noir from finding out, but Mari admitted he would probably see through the ruse on day one. Don't let Chat Noir worry about her too much or find out her identity.
Alya was going to be the best substitute Ladybug Paris wouldn't even know existed!
Nino would have to cover all the behind the scenes support, and she would have to be super careful not to spill either Ladybug's or Chat's real identity, but otherwise, it would be simple.
“A model contest!” Nino grinned. “Are you excited?” Nino glanced up from his phone to see Adrien pulling out a gigantic rolling luggage.
“Nino, I'm not going to be in Paris for at least a month.” Adrien frowned.
Nino couldn't even form words. His hands were trembling and his jaw was a quivering mess.
“Yeah,” Adrien tilted his head at his best friend. “My thoughts exactly.”
Adrien walked over to his wall of windows. Nino knew if he tried to stand up, he'd just end up a puddle on the floor, so he stayed seated on Adrien's bed. “When I leave Ladybug will be vulnerable.” Adrien rested his forehead on the glass. “So...I need a really big favor.”
“Nope.” Nino crossed his arms in front of his chest. “No way am I taking over as Chat Noir.”
The little black Kwami phased through Adrien's mini fridge, half a wheel of camemberet in hand.
“Dude,” the tiny cat had a mouth full of cheese, “You'd make a horrible Chat Noir.”
“Thanks Plagg.” Nino said, relieved he actually agreed with the harsh magical being for once.
“But, Master Fu will find you a Miraculous to wield. To cover for the lovesick kid over there.” Plagg waved a hand at Adrien, who rolled his eyes. Nino shuddered at the thought of basically courting an untimely and painful death for at least a month!
“Please Nino.” Adrien got down on his knees, the famous rich model, and used his best begging eyes that sold nearly half a million of his father's designs. “Somebody has to protect Ladybug while I'm gone.”
“But does it have to be me?”
“Who else can I trust to not only keep my real whereabouts a secret, and be my wing-man for Ladybug?”
Nino placed his head in his hands. It was mostly to hide his eyes from Adrien's. Even if those eyes and Adrien's logic had already, reluctantly, convinced him.
“You owe me big time.” Nino groaned.
“I will totally star in any movie or music video you make for free.” Adrien rubbed Nino's baseball cap. “Thanks Nino!”
Nino had been given an address, which he had to memorize so as not to risk a trail for Hawk Moth to find, and a time.
And now he was sitting cross legged on a small cushion sipping a cup of green tea. Nino was interrogated by an old man, probably of Asian descent, and a green turtle Kwami. Master Fu and Wayzz would ask a few questions, confer with each other in a language Nino didn't know, and then ask more questions.
After a half hour of the weirdest quiz Nino had ever taken, and the most stressful, Master Fu sat across from him on the floor.
“Given your inexperience, general tendencies, preferences, and your mission to protect Ladybug during Chat Noir's absence...” Master Fu stroked his beard. “We agree the best fit for you would be the turtle Miraculous. Wayzz's magic creates the most heavily armored hero, and your Shell Shield ability will be nearly impenetrable to all but the strongest akumatized victims, instant safety for Ladybug to plan.”
“That's...comforting.” Nino's heartbeat returned to normal for the first time since Adrien dropped his bombshell.
Between Ladybug's experience and Alya's civilian backup, it shouldn't be all that hard.
Nino just had to remember not to let Marinette's name slip in the middle of battle or patrol.
It was going to be the most terrifying month in Nino's life.
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It's one thing to help behind the scenes, it is quite another to become the human shield. (Even temporarily.)
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