Stormy Weather

The show on Marinette's computer blared as she chased a little girl around her room. Every time she got her phone back, she lost the derby hat Adrian was to wear. "Come on, Manon! Give it back," Marinette whined. The little girl jumped away from her babysitter and put the hat on. "But I wanna be a fashion designer too!" she declared. "Manon, please, it's not finished! You're gonna ruin it!" she pleaded. Marinette managed to grab the hat. As she inspected it for any damage, the child snatched her phone and sat in front of the computer. "...and find out who will be our new weather girl!" the presenter announced. Marinette turned and saw the girl. "I'm gonna vote for Mirelle! She's the best!" the little girl said. Marinette took her phone away before the girl could vote. "Just, sit still," she ordered. The bell rang and the little girl was once again excited. "Mummy!" she shouted. Marinette sat her down again. "No. Your mummy is still at work," she explained. Alya walked in and sat on the trapdoor, her feet dangling to the stairs. Marinette waved at her, one hand holding the little girl in place. All this running around was exhausting. Why did she agree to babysit again? "Hey, girl. I got a scoop for you. Guess who's in the park," Alya teased. She let the little girl go and crawled over to her friend. "Now? Adrian's in the park now?" she asked. Alya nodded. "Yes! Wait. What do I say?" she asked. Alya pushed her glasses back and answered, adding hand actions to emphasise the performance, "I-I, um, uh, hehe, uh. The same thing you always say." Marinette smiled sheepishly as her cheeks burned red. "Who is she?" Manon asked, pulling Marinette's arm. "Oh, almost forgot about this little detail," she said, "This is Manon, one of my mom's friends' daughters. I'm watching her all afternoon. I can't go out." Alya folded her arms and raised her eyebrows. "Another favour you couldn't say no to?" Marinette nodded. "Look, no problem! I'll look after your little detail for you," Alya offered. Manon stood up and grabbed the hat again, putting it on. "Thanks, but I'm responsible for her... Besides, I couldn't do that to you. She's... an absolute angel!" Marinette said, aware the girl was listening. She turned to find her wearing the incomplete hat again. "Manon! Put that down!" Alya smiled. "I look after my sisters all the time. I'm an expert in dealing with angels. Watch and learn," she told her friend. "Hey, Manon, you wanna know something about me?" Alya asked the child. She put the hat down and walked over to the two teens. Once Alya had her attention, she said, "I'm a mythical unicorn from the world of Reespa, disguised as a totally fabulous human girl! I grant magical wishes, but only to little monkeys who behave!" She poked Manon's nose, causing her to laugh. "No, you're not! ...Are you?" the little girl asked. Alya winked at her. Marinette had been convinced. Alya clearly could handle Manon better than she could. "Okay, let's all go to the park!"

Adrian had been posing for a few hours now. He was being watched carefully by his bodyguard during this photoshoot so there was no chance of sneaking away. It was worth it. The race was fun and Ladybug wouldn't have been able to save the day without him. "Smile!" the photographer ordered. He did as he was told. How could it be so long? He had thought he would get to hang out with his friends today. He hated just sitting there and smiling. What a useless waste of time. He turned a little spotted Marinette and Alya walking past behind him. He giggled at Marinette's strange walk, so stiff and unnatural. She looked his way and straightened herself up, a huge grin appearing on her face. He waved to the two girls. Marinette waved back and Alya nodded, acknowledging his presence. The photographer cleared his throat and Adrian turned his attention back to the camera. On the bright side, he could talk to them during the break, if he ever got one. Marinette will be able to make him less bored. he found her awkwardness funny and cute. "Bravo! That's it! Give me the smile when your mum brings in spaghetti!" the photographer requested. A strange thing to say but okay. He forced a smile to hide his slight frown. Why did he have to mention his mother? He thought back to those warm, home-cooked meals his mother made. The delicious smells and the laughter. It was the last time he can remember his father laughing. It was the last time he could remember his father eating with him. "Okay! And now, Oh no! Mama dropped the spaghetti!" Adrian openly showed his frown. "Please, can you use an analogy that doesn't involve my mother?" he asked. The photographer ignored him. "And now, you have to eat the spaghetti off the floor! Oh yes, you're angry! Show me angry, yes, yes, yes!" Just as he was ready to burst into tears, memories he had tried to lock away and let out in small doses flooding through his mind, he heard the scream of a child. He turned and saw Marinette kneeling next to a little girl. When did she get here? Was she with Marinette? "I want a balloon with Mireille on it! Can I? Can I!?" she cried. Adrian picked himself off the fountain and went to comfort the girl who was desperately pulling on his friend's arm. "Ehem! Silenzio!" the photographer ordered, "Sit!" Adrian hesitated for a moment before finding himself posing once more. He looked sympathetically at the child. He couldn't ignore a crying child.

Marinette knelt to Manon. "You need to be quiet," she told the little girl. Manon stomped her foot. "I want a balloon," she said. Alya stood up and took Manon's hand. "I'll take her," she told Marinette. The little girl wrapped her other arm around Marinette's leg. "I want Marinette to take me!" she stated. Marinette sighed. "She is my responsibility," she said. Marinette walked towards the balloon vendor, Manon still attached to her leg. Once she bought the balloon, Manon spotted the merry-go-round. She pointed to it and said, "You promised we could go on the merry-go-round," she said. Marinette looked at the little girl's eyes. They were so huge and cute. She understood sitting around watching some boy was boring for her. If Adrian was more than just some boy to Marinette, she would be bored out of her mind too. He was just too dreamy, though. She could watch that cute smile of his for hours. "Fine. Come on," Marinette reluctantly agreed. The sooner she did this, the sooner she could return to Adrian. He ought to be taking a break soon if not finishing up.

Adrian couldn't keep from yawning. Another photo ruined. He couldn't stop the frown from appearing on his face. He was done with all this. He just wanted to go talk with Alya and Marinette. He wanted to just sit and talk and laugh. Not silently stare at a camera as a strange man spouted nonsense at him. This yawn was the last straw for the photographer. "The boy has eaten too much spaghetti! Ugh, we need more energy! More romance! We need...a girl!" the photographer said. This was his chance! "How about Marinette, the one with the black hair in bunches," he suggested. She always managed to cheer him up and they could chat a little too. Well, try. It at least would mean she and Alya would wait until the end for him. The photographer beamed. "Yes! You there, can you go get your friend?" he asked Alya. She looked at Adrian and nodded. Yes! This was going to be fun! His smile was revived. He could only imagine what nonsense would escape her mouth and the silly faces she would pull. How could the photographer complain when he can take candid shots of them both laughing and having fun in real-time? It would be a win-win.

Marinette had just paid to get on the merry-go-round when Alya came running to her. She placed her hands on her knees as she caught her breath. One hand lifted itself and a finger pointed to the photoshoot. "Adrian...Wants you...model...with," she panted. It was a short distance she ran but she had put all her energy into doing so as fast as possible. Marinette let go of Manon's hand and took her friend by the shoulders. "What! really!" she questioned excitedly. She must be dreaming! Or it is a trick. She looked around for any sign of Chloe but the blonde was nowhere to be seen. "Marinette!" Manon cried. She looked down at the little girl. "I said I'd take her on the merry-go-round," Marinette told her friend. Alya lifted the little girl and placed her on the horse, hopping on herself. "You take care of Prince Charming, and I'll take care of Miss Unicorn here," Alya told her. The little girl looked Marinette up and down. "Are you a princess? I want princess Marinette to ride with me!" she said. Alya leaned down to the little girl. "Come on. Unicorns unite! Let's go to Rispa and find us some sad little village kids and grant those wishes! Yee-haw!" she exclaimed. Manon was quickly bought over and shouted, "Yee-haw!" As the merry-go-round began to spin, Marinette took a step back, then another. She wanted to be sure it was okay to leave Alya with Manon. She had proven herself to be a handful. She suddenly heard screams. Marinette looked up and saw a flying girl with an umbrella in hand. She pointed it at the merry-go-round and an icy wind suddenly blew all around them. Marinette lifted her arm to shield her eyes. When she lowered it, the sight shocked her. She shouldn't have let Alya take Manon! She was her responsibility! Marinette was the one meant to be looking after her. She ran over to the merry-go-round. Her fists slammed into the wall of ice that encased the scared little girl and the equally terrified Alya. "Alya! Manon! I'll get you out! I'll-Ugh! I'll get you..." she cried. Each his only served to hurt her hand. It was hopeless.

Adrian turned sharply in the direction of the screams. In the sky above his friends was a girl, obviously vilified, with an umbrella in her hand. She pointed it at the merry-go-round where he saw Alya and the little girl and suddenly it was encased in ice. Without a second thought, he ran to help out. Marinette was already slamming her fists into the ice but to no avail. Seeing her failing made him want to succeed all the more. He hit the ice with all his strength but it was no use. Too thick to breakthrough. Where was Ladybug when he needed her? He looked to Marinette who was in tears. The boy wanted nothing more than to comfort her. It was a bad day when she wasn't smiling. Behind them, lightening struck balloons with the face of a girl from some TV contest Adrian never watched. It was advertised all over the city. He had to assume the vilified girl lost. "Both of you, hide! We will be fine here," Alya warned them. She held the little girl close to comfort her. "I'm not leaving you! I can try this," Marinette said, now slamming her body against the ice. She was loyal and persistent. He had to admire that about her. This was no time for persistence, though. He grabbed Marinette and pulled her to safety behind a tree. "I have to go back! I can't leave them there!" she cried. He pulled her into a hug to both comfort her and prevent her from running. "They will be okay. I promise. Ladybug and Cat Noir will help them but you need to stay hidden. You will be no help hurt," he told her. Her arms were limp by her side and her tears stained his shirt. She let out a muffled, "Okay," before he let her go. She dried her eyes and gave him a look of determination. It was infectious. Ladybug hadn't shown up yet but he was there. He needed to act fast and transform. With Marinette with him, though, it was impossible. He poked his head out and saw the girl fly out of the park. He then turned to his friend. "Stay here, please. I'm going to get help," he told her. Technically it wasn't a lie. She agreed a little too quickly. He expected her to put up a fight like before. No time to wonder about it, though. He had a friend in danger and a city to save.

Marinette barely waited for Adrian to leave before transforming into Ladybug. She ran out without thinking and threw her yoyo around the iced-over merry-go-round. "I'll get you outta there!" she told the two. With as much strength as she had, she pulled the yoyo, expecting to cut the ice. It slipped right off and hit her head. Too smooth to latch onto, too thick to punch through. "Um, okay! Plan B," she told herself. Ladybug moved closer to the ice and knelt. She placed her hand on the frozen structure and said to the little girl, "I'll get you out, Manon. I just need to stop the villain." The little girl placed her hand where Ladybug's was. "How do you know my name?" she asked. Ahhh! She messed up! She had to be more careful! Excuse...excuse..."Uh, Marinette told me!" Saved it! She turned to locate the villain and saw Cat Noir flying through the air. Wherever he was, trouble was sure to be close. She threw her yoyo and swung away.

As Cat Noir, Adrian ran back to where he left Marinette, if only to show her that he did find help. She wasn't there. He turned and saw Ladybug at the merry-go-round. She must've gotten Marinette out. Just as awesome as ever. Well, whilst she was helping his friends, he should get to work on stopping the villain. He had so many puns and jokes at the ready. Cat Noir jumped onto the bars around the park and squatted. With a smirk, he asked, "Hey Ice Queen, what's with all the terrorizing? Why don't you pick on someone your own temperature?" She threw her hands to the side and said bitterly, "My name is Stormy Weather!" He hit a nerve. Cool. Casually, he spun his tail in his hand and slid down the bar, rattling off more puns and enjoying himself for the first time that day. "Listen. I'm feline more generous than usual today. So cool down and we'll call it quits, 'kay?" She didn't appreciate his puns. Annoyed, Stormy Weather pointed her umbrella at him and opened it. A gust of wind blew him away from the park and a few streets over. He begged himself over and over again to land on his feet. Cats always landed on their feet. Unfortunately, he didn't. He fell face first and slid on the concrete to a stop. "I thought cats always landed on their feet," he heard Ladybug say. He looked up and saw her smiling face. She gave him both her hands and pulled him up. She was always there when he needed her. "Why thanks, my Ladybug, but I had it covered," he said. Who was he kidding? He kissed her hand like a gentleman would as thanks. "I-um...Uh..." she stuttered. Flustered, Ladybug pulled her hand away. "We need to focus," she told him. The two looked up upon hearing Stormy Weather shout, "We should be expecting lightning storms like right NOW!" The clouds above them darkened. Suddenly, lightning struck where the two stood. Cat Noir jumped forward but Ladybug grabbed him and pulled him back. He let out a slight gasp. Lightning struck along the path he was going to take to the villain. She...saved him. Again. Why couldn't he be as good as she was at this? No. He was. He could prove it. He snapped back to reality and realised he landed on top of Ladybug. He smiled sheepishly at her. He will impress her. Without thinking it through, Cat Noir dove forward towards Stormy Weather. The girl pointed her umbrella at the ground and froze it. She then blew a gust of wind sending him flying again. Urgh! That stupid wind! As he prepared himself to fall face flat, his tail was grabbed and he hung in the air. "Gotcha, kitty," Ladybug told him. He looked at her through his legs. Her yoyo was wrapped around a lamp post as she gripped on tightly. The wind suddenly stopped and the two dropped to the ground. "A little Cat Noir will take the wind out of her sails!" he grumbled. He went to try the same attack again this time whilst she was distracted with destroying a screen of the other competitor. He was stopped, however, by Ladybug placing her hand on his shoulder. "She can't get both of us if we attack from each side. You take that side," she told him. He nodded. That's why she was everyone's favourite. Even his. She let him go and he ran along the building. He looked over to her and took in the sight of his crush, running along with determination. Of all the people in Paris, he got to be her partner. She followed his lead as he jumped at Stormy Weather, spinning his staff. She turned and rolled her eyes, blowing them both away again. They were getting nowhere fast.

Ladybug managed to land on her feet but as soon as she did, she had to dodge the cars that were blown away with them. Too much at once! Too much at once! She just managed to avoid the cars and found herself back to back with her partner. She let out a sigh. "You good, kitty?" she asked him. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. He spun his staff over their heads as a bus suddenly came their way. It acted like a drill and cut through the bus. She slumped down inside the bus and curled up. "...We nearly died," she managed to say. The two were frozen. The only sound they could hear was their own breathing. "We...nearly...but you saved me." The shock was slowly fading away. Ladybug stood up. "Thank you," she told her partner. He didn't say anything. He was still trapped in the moment the bus was about to land on them. Ladybug took his hand and gently said, "Hey, kitty. I got you. You did well. You did well." Her hand stroked his face to soothe him. It was working. She let him go and turned to open the bus window, still calming her partner as she did. "Don't worry. It's over." Ladybug returned to him and took the hand that held his staff. She carefully moved him to the window and placed the staff where she needed it to be. She didn't speak nor did she force him to extend his staff. She just waited patiently and held his hand to let him know she was there. He gulped. "I...I did it?" he asked. "You did it," she assured him. A small smile grew on his face as he slowly relaxed his muscles. "What next?" he asked her. She pointed to the window. He moved her hand to the top of the staff and extended it. Once she was out, she pulled him out. "That was...close," he said, "I didn't know what I was doing. I just was...doing." He looked around the street and saw cars scattered all around. Ladybug patted Cat Noir's back. "At least you did something and it worked," she told him. Before they could talk anymore about it, the broken screen changed from Mireille to a live broadcast from the studio hosting the contest. "Hello, viewers! Here's the latest forecast for the first day of summer. Looks like Mother Nature had a change of plans. Summer vacation is officially over!" Stormy Weather announced. Cat Noir joked sadly, still shaken up, "But I look so good in a swimsuit." He was making an effort to return to normal. Ladybug smiled. He wasn't back to normal yet. Neither of them were. But they were on their way, at least. She needed to try acting normal too. "At least now we know where to find her," she said optimistically. "Makes sense she'd be there." Ladybug looked at him. "What do you mean?" she asked. "Well, she was destroying everything with that finalist girl advertised everywhere. What was it for...Some TV show anyway," he pointed out. That was when it dawned on Ladybug. Of course! She had been following it closely. "How could I not have seen it?" he asked herself, "She is the other contestant! The butterfly must be in her umbrella!" The two began to run across the roofs of Paris towards the studio.

Cat Noir stopped outside the studio and put his arm out to stop Ladybug, not that he needed to. "My lady, only you can blow me away but she has done her best a few times now..." he said. He knew being reckless would be detrimental. Ladybug and her plans never failed. He did. Ladybug lowered his arm and thought for a moment. "Okay," she told him, "We get into the studio. I wrap my yoyo around her wrist, you sneak behind her and distract her. I use my lucky charm and we take it from there." He gave her a thumbs up. He knew exactly how to distract her. Puns and lots of them. Yeah...Puns will help him. He waited for Ladybug to move first but she didn't. He was hesitant due to his recklessness nearly getting them killed. "Are you sure you want to follow my plan?" she asked him, her voice shaking, "After all, I nearly got us...I didn't think through everything." He looked at the towering building. "You were stopping me from doing something stupid...Did you think everything through now?" Cat Noir asked. Ladybug nodded. "I trust you. We got it this time," he assured her. He took a step forward but was too scared to enter the building. Ladybug took the lead and entered, Cat Noir following. They went to the lift and pressed the button. After a few minutes, they went to the stairs. They made it to the floor the studio was on. "Well, now we know why the lift wasn't working," Ladybug said to Cat Noir. The other contestant stood against the wall, a trophy in hand. The ice crept closer to her. "We'll get you out. Soon, I swear," Ladybug promised. She rushed on ahead, Cat Noir staying back to say, "Just chill for a bit." Despite his joking, he was worried about Alya. If that was happening to this girl, it must be happening to his friend at the park. They needed to act fast. They needed this plan to work!

Ladybug burst through the studio doors, followed by Cat Noir. She looked around, the pit in her stomach growing deeper and deeper. This wasn't right. She looked around for the villain, walking deeper into the studio with her yoyo swinging and her partner by her side. She should be here. Her eyes locked onto a computer set before a camera. "It's a recording!" she yelled out to her partner. Cat Noir turned suddenly. She was there, laughing with her umbrella pointed to the lights. Lightning shot out of it before he could get to her. It was dark. Ladybug put her arms out and began to stumble in the dark. "Where is she?" she asked, unable to hear either the girl or Cat Noir. "Ladybug? What are you doing? She's getting away!" he asked. He sounded so much further than he was before. She tried to follow his voice. "How do you know? I can't see further than my nose," she told him. How was she meant to do her work now? They needed to fix the lights. "Don't you have dark vision?" he asked her. What? Dark vision? That wasn't on her list of abilities. "You do?" she asked. She must admit, she only read his special abilities list and assumed, after the first few, they had the same powers. He grabbed her hand out of nowhere and began to pull her away. "Trust me. I got you," he told her. She did her best to anticipate the turns and the stairs so she could keep up without falling. He did his best to guide her and for that, she was grateful. The stairs disappeared and the sudden rush of light blinded her. As her eyes adjusted, the girl laughed more. "You airhead! Both of you? No matter. My trap will still work!" she shouted. Her umbrella pointed to the sky and a twister spun around them. Looks like she didn't expect Cat Noir to guide her along. They were a team. Wherever he went, she would be close by! That was how it would always be. The outline of a purple butterfly appeared around her eyes and once it left she announced, "There's no way out! Party's over, fools!" Ladybug went to point her finger at the villain only to find it stuck in Cat Noir's hand. He smiled sheepishly at her and released it. Oh, Cat. "We're just getting started, Stormy!" she yelled. The girl pointed her umbrella at them. Whilst they were expecting lightning, ready to dodge the flashes, it was hail that hit them. The two spun their weapons above their heads, grinding the chunks to snow. "I need to use my lucky charm," she told her partner. He pulled her under his staff so she could activate the power with her yoyo. She knew she could rely on him. What it gave her was another umbrella with a hooked handle. "So what's the plan? My arm's starting to get a cramp!" he warned her. She looked around. She could open it like so and...No. "Um, I don't know," she said. She looked around once more. They needed to distract her. Like maybe dropping a sign on her. "See that sign over there? Do your thing," she told him. He dodged lightning as he made his way to the sign. Ladybug watched in awe at his skill. He was incredible! Not the time! Admire him later. The sign began to fall. Stormy Weather pointed her umbrella at the sign and shot lightning at it. Now was her chance. She threw her yoyo at the girl, wrapping it around her leg. As she ran towards the crane, the girl flew higher into the sky, through the hole she made in the sign. Ladybug jumped onto the crane so her yoyo wrapped around it then jumped into the sky. Stormy Weather was pulled down the higher the hero got. Using the lucky charm umbrella, she hooked the handle around the villain's weapon and knocked it out her hand. She threw both to Cat Noir and hung from the crane with Stormy Weather. Urgh...That hurt. She couldn't believe she did that. This girl was a real challenge. She proudly smiled as Cat Noir broke the umbrella. It was over now. Ladybug let both herself and the girl drop. Without missing a beat, she threw her yoyo at the butterfly that escaped. Once the pure white bug flew away, she reset the damage. Yes. It was all over now.

Cat Noir went over to Ladybug. She did it! He held his fist out for her to hit and, like always, she accepted. "Hey, Cat...You did really well, today," she told him. His heart skipped a beat. She... "Thank you," he managed. It was all he could manage. She could never know how much that meant to him. His ring beeped loudly but he didn't want to leave. "I just want to make sure you're okay. You know, after the, um, after the bus," she said. Her voice was shaking a little. He did his best to hide the memory. "Uh, well, I'll be fine. How about you? You bounced back quickly," he pointed out. Really? That was the best he could come up with? Of course, she did! She was Ladybug! "I had to but now...I'm not sure. You really saved me. I totally froze up," she said. Her earring beeped, shortly followed by his ring. She looked down. He couldn't stand seeing her like that. "So did I. It was you who got us out of this mess." She placed her hand on his shoulder. "I'm glad you're my partner, kitty. See you later. Bug out!" Just like that, she was gone. He watched longingly as she left. As his cheeks glowed red and heartbeat loudly, he smiled. Maybe he is just imagining things. Or maybe - just maybe - she likes him back.

When Marinette returned to the park, she was relieved to see the ice was gone. Her arms opened wide to catch Manon who ran to her at full speed. Alya was much slower than the energetic girl. "Manon! Oh, you're okay!" she cried. The little girl snuggled into her. "I know what your secret is!" she told Marinette. She knows? How can she know? If Manon knows, Alya must know! If Alya knows, the ladyblog knows which means the world knows! How could this happen? "You're best friends with Ladybug, aren't you?" she asked. By now, Alya had caught up and was listening intently. "Uh, sure, Manon." Alya took Manon out of Marinette's arms and said, "I got this small fry. Go model with Adrian!" She looked at the two. She nearly lost them today. Then she looked at Adrian. All this hesitating and over-thinking nearly got her killed! She needed to be quicker to act. She needed to be more like Cat Noir. She poked Manon's nose then made her way to the photographer. "S-sorry to have kept you, sir," she said politely. Adrian and his dreamy eyes her fixed on her. She felt like she would melt. "Wait a minute. Who is this little angel?" the photographer asked. Both Marinette and Adrian looked to where he was pointing. Manon? The little girl jumped with joy. Marinette glance at her crush and though he was smiling, she knew he wanted it to have been her. He was just too sweet to speak up and hurt Manon's feelings. Still, Marinette couldn't be upset for long. After all, Adrian and Manon were too adorable together! The shots of them playing, her kissing his cheek, both back to back. Her heart was ready to pop. And Marinette had Alya to keep her company.

It was time Marinette got Manon home. The little girl was all tuckered out from her exciting and terrifying day. As Marinette picked a sleeping Manon up, Adrian came over. "Let me walk you home," he said. His hands reached out to take Manon for her but Marinette held her tighter. "I-I got you. Um, I mean, you got me. Um, I, ah! Uh, thanks," she responded. Marinette took a breath and muttered, "I'm a mess," before trying again, "I got her but I'd like the company." He waved to his bodyguard who respectfully followed behind them a few metres away. The sunset, bathing his kind eyes in beautiful pinks and oranges. "I wanted to say thank you for showing up when you did. I was having a bit of a bad day but having friends there helped. You just have a way of making people smile. Sorry. I guess that is weird to say," he confessed. Marinette shook her head furiously, her bunches hitting Manon. "It's not weird! You're not weird! You're great! You're greater than great! Uh...I'm the one saying weird things..." He began to laugh and stopped outside the bakery. Why was she so awkward? He held the door for hee and said, "Thanks. I feel less weird. Good night, Marinette. See you tomorrow." She didn't stutter this time as he left her at least. The issue is she didn't say anything at all. She made him laugh. She made him happy. And with his heart of gold, he changed her whole view of the day. It wasn't too bad. In the end, she lived and she made her crush smile.