i'm your methodical b!#%*
your demon scapegoat

if that's what it takes
for you to sleep at night 

evil woman
leah crowe

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

As any fight would have it, luck was on Ladybug's side yet again, even if she did end up fighting alone in the end--somewhat. With the help of Chat Noir's kwamii, Ladybug was able to defeat Style Queen and repair any damage done throughout the fight. Almost.

The moment Adrien regained consciousness, he hadn't the time to process what happened after he had stood up to the villain of the day as himself. Even now, he wasn't able to when Chloe was on him the second she saw he was okay, throwing her arms around him and squeezing like there was no tomorrow. "Adrikins!"

Adrien cheeses awkwardly, patting the girl's back for some type of comfort as she cried. "I was so scared!" She wailed, pressing their faces together. "First, your turned into a statue by Mother, then that bug eyed girl shows up out of nowhere! And don't even get me started on—"

His interest was peaked at the odd nickname randomly thrown around. Bug eyed girl, Chloe had said. Adrien only knew of one person who's eyes resembled a bug and that was Spider Woman! Had she risked her complicated situation to help Ladybug in saving him? Was she still here?

The boy had looed around foolishly, hoping to catch at least a glimpse of the girl he had only ever spoken to as Chat Noir (he had always wondered what their conversation would be like as his civilian self), but all he did see was Ladybug. She was knelt in front of something that called for her undivided attention. It looked to be important.

With Chloe no longer glued to his side, Adrien took his chance and approached the spotted hero with her name hanging off his tongue. "Ladybug?"

She hums confusingly, looking over her shoulder at the call of her name. "Oh!" She smiles awkwardly, standing from her kneeling position. "Is everything alright?"

As polite as ever, Adrien replies with a smile, thanking the hero for asking about his well-being. "But, I was going to ask you the same thing." Her brows pinches with guilt as Adrien leans to the side to peek around her. "What are you looking at?"

Ladybug sighs, finding no use in hiding any longer. As she steps aside, Adrien's eyes train on the very thing she was fretting about. "I don't understand. My magic should have repaired it after I dispersed my lucky charm." She says with a frown, looking away with shame as Adrien stares at the gaping hole in the Eiffel Tower's platform.

If Adrien knew anything from being Chat Noir, it's that damage can only be repaired if it were done during the fight. Simply put, this must have been done before the fight if not repaired. An accident, most likely, but what could have done the damage if not magical? The Eiffel Tower was old, yes, but the untimely monument was maintained on a regular basis. Not to mention, it was made out of a strong enough metal.

"It could have done before the fight, but I don't remember seeing this when Style Queen and I arrived here." Ladybug states, almost as if she were reading his mind. There was no other explanation for it, was there? Unless she was too preoccupied with Style Queen to notice, and she was focusing on Spider Woman was well.

Her eyes widen, realizing her absence far too late. "Where did that spider go?" She grumbles to herself, running a frustrated hand down her face before turning to Adrien. "No matter. I'll figure something out, no need to worry!" She attempts to comfort. She'll need to notify the Mayor to avoid any future accidents. Embarrassing.

No need to worry, she had said. All Adrien does these days was worry! He worries about his father and his suffocating demands; balancing his career, education ad his secret identity all on the same plank. He worries about Spider Woman who suffers greatly the longer she remains here. And he worries about you, who had yet to speak with him. At least now, he could hope it you hadn't approached Adrien yet because he was busy with the fashion show.

His eyes widen. "The fashion show! They must be worried sick about me!" Adrien exclaims, wondering how he let himself stand around for so long.

"It's on my way! I can give you lift if you'd like." Ladybug offers politely, already have missed the opportunity to offer additional help to the others. Maybe it was for the best. she wasn't sure if she could handle Audrey and Chloe Bourgeois at the same time. She shivers at the thought.

Adrien jumps at the opportunity, not hesitating to accept the offer. The faster he accepts, the faster he will find himself at the Grand Palais. And with that, Ladybug takes him along with her as she swings to their destination that so happened to be hers as well.

The second he had turned his back on her, Ladybug dives for cover behind the building, muttering her de-transformation phrase with relief. "Now, let's get this over with—"

"Marinette, aren't you forgetting something?" Tikki interrupts, a worried look on her little face as she looked to her confused holder. "You have to bring back the miraculous to Master Fu!" She reminded the forgetful girl.

"But the magic ladybug's already brought it back, didn't they?" Marinette half states, half questions. When Tikki only shook her head, a heavy dread falls onto the girl when she realizes the grave mistake she committed. "If they didn't then I. . . lost a Miraculous!" She gasps with horror.

"I have to go back to the Eiffel Tower right now! Hide, Tikki!" Marinette exclaims, only giving Tikki a second to do so before she's running off into the tower's general direction.

That was until you suddenly appeared before her, blocking her path. "Marinette, there you are! Your parents and I have been worried sick about you!" You say with relief, pulling her into a hug before she could protest. "Wherever you were off to can wait. You need to be there when the show begins! Can't have the winning piece without its designer." You smiled, taking hold of her hand, pulling her along.

"But—But I. . ." Marinette purses her lips, unsure what excuse would get her out of this situation long enough to do what she originally sought out to do. "Don't worry, Tikki. No one will find it. We'll get it right after the show." She whispers discreetly, picking up her pace to match with yours, giving you a smile of her own.

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

With Adrien back on stage and Marinette sat in her reserved spot in the front row, everything seemed to be falling into place as the show began once more. The lights were beaming, the camera's flashing to capture the brightest of them all as the main star walked the stage.

"Scoop." You smile as Alya flips her camera towards you and her, pulling Marinette into the frame as you did. "The hat Adrien Agreste is wearing was made by our BFF, Marinette!" The said girl tenses under the center of attention, smiling and waving awkwardly to the camera. "Anything you'd like to say during my livestream?"

Marinette stutters, fumbling for the right words when she noticed the dazed look on your face as you starred at the commotion behind her. "I. . don't believe this!" Alya exclaims, flipping her camera around to film Gabriel Agreste making his first public appearance in a long while.

"Ladybloggers, a huge update!" Marinette's mouth drops as she turned, finding the most talked about topic tonight. Would he make an appearance tonight or not? That was all anyone could talk about. Now that it was happening, it sent everyone into a frenzy.

From what you understand now, the man hadn't been in the public eye since his wife disappeared without a trace. A pain such as that one doesn't disappear willing—it's something that both Gabriel and Adrien will carry with them until they find their closure. So it makes you wonder. . . what changed for him to finally step out into the light?

You watched with piqued interest as Adrien turned around, taken in his heartbeat as he found his father standing behind him. There were no words shared between them, only a shared understanding as they embraced each other, sending the camera's into a frenzy.

"And that means we'll be seeing your hat in every single photo and news broadcast!" Alya exclaims, Marinette vibrating with excitement.

You smile, eyes trailing the approaching figures as they make their way off the catwalk's platform. "And it seems you have the opportunity to speak with the man himself." Marinette's eyes widen at your words, her neck creaking at the speed she turned her head.

True as you were words were, Gabriel Agreste stood before the first row, as well did Adrien. He looked as happy as he could be with his father alongside him, but the moment he caught sight of your familiar smile, all his worries flipped upside down.

"My dear, Audrey. I heard about the unforgiving misfortune you had to endure." Gabriel says, accepting Mrs. Bourgeois' extended hand with a polite kiss.

"I'm still quite overwhelmed." Audrey says with slanted eyes, prickly as ever about the situation he allowed to happen tonight.

"I want you to know that I've fired the person who was responsible for the misunderstanding. Only one row is befitting to Audrey Bourgeois and that's the first."

The corner of her lips quirk at the announcement, a smirk she couldn't hide after hearing the misfortune of another—true to the Bourgeois nature. "Let's not overdo it. Hm, Gabriel?"

"Did you enjoy the show?"

"So, so." Audrey waves his question off with a gesture of her hand, acting nonchalant when she spots Agreste Jr. Within a singular blink, Adrien was suddenly hatless, it now in the hands of Audrey Bourgeois. "This hat is not a Gabriel Agreste. Are you responsible for that?" Her eyes narrowed at Marinette who had only clammed up under her intense stare.

Chloe rolls her eyes at her indifference, discreetly nudging her forward with a hip as she passed the girl, claiming her rightful spot next to her mother. "This is Marinette Dupain-Cheng, Mother. The girl I was telling you about?" She says with her nose pointed upwards, avoiding your surprised look as she spoke for her. Maybe she had turned over a new leaf after all.

"Stand proud." Adrien whispers to Marinette, encouraging her forward as he now stood next to her, discreetly inching closer to you.

"I. . . I'm the one who created it." She smiles, albeit a little wobbly. but she smiled! You backed out a little, watching the conversation take its course, not feeling the need to track what's happening when it didn't involve your person.

It seemed Adrien had the same idea as well, taking advantage of the distraction to slip away and approach you. "For a moment there, when I looked to the firs row, I thought you didn't show, but here you are." He smiles, looking to his father with the same appreciation. "My father's here, too." It had only widened at the thought, feeling far too content to stop it from happening.

Your smile twitched, feeling you were the one to blame for giving him the doubt. "I wouldn't miss it for the world." You affirmed, pulling him into a hug to strengthen the truth behind your words.

Adrien's face flushes, finding no trouble in accepting your hug. In fact, he was thrilled about it! You were here with him and engaging a conversation with him instead of turning away from him. "I can't help but to feel like everything's falling into place, now."

"And it's only going to get better from here on out." You smiled, only pulling away from the hug until Adrien did.

"Did you enjoy the show?"

"I didn't know what to expect considering this was my first time attending a fashion show, but I had fun watching you up there! You did great." Adrien beams at your compliment, not paying any mind to the approaching figure behind him.

"Adrien." The boy flinches at his name, the deep timber of it letting him know who it was calling for him. His mouth had parted with an explanation for his absence, when his father's attention had turned to you. "And who might you be, young lady?"

You give Adrien an assuring look before giving Gabriel a polite smile, shaking his hand with a greeting. "Y/n. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir."

"Ah, I remember now. You had starred in Ms. Nightingale's music video along with Adrien." He recalls, a smile slighting quirking his lips. "It's relieving to see Adrien has at least one good influence in his life."

Adrien looks to the two of you in disbelief, barely catching himself before Gabriel turns to him. "I believe it's time for us to leave."

"Yes, Father."

Gabriel turns his back, hands folded behind him as he says, "Say goodbye to your friends. Nathalie and I will be waiting for you." And just like that, he walks away, leaving a stunned boy behind.

You giggled behind your hand as he turned to you with nothing but pure shock, a smile beaming at the tune. "I've never seen him like this before. Not in a long while, at least." He admits. A welcoming change, it was.

"Something must have changed. Maybe he finally realized what's most important to him."

Adrien liked the sound of that. He looked behind him as his father walked alongside Nathalie, the woman that been at his side ever since his mother disappeared. His heart was too full of warmth, he's afraid it might burst at its seams! "It seems so."

With one more hug for the road, Adrien says his goodbyes to the friends that showed up in support of him, waving to them happily as he left Grand Palais. And as he looked to his right where his father sat beside him, things were starting to look a little bit brighter for him.

"Your friend, Y/n. She has quite the presence. Do you think she'd be interested in modeling for the upcoming line this fall?" Gabriel asks, Adrien spacing out just the slightest bit.

"Yeah. . ." His eyes widen, the of his father's words registering in his brain a little too late to salvage his dignity. "I mean! No. I don't think she'd appreciate the limelight that comes with modeling."

"Is that so?"

An awkward laugh fills the limo, Adrien turning to look out the window to avoid Gabriel's knowing look, only to find Plagg desperately waving him down from his bag. The little kwamii urgently points to a small opened safes keep box that held the communicative device Spider Woman had given him not too long ago.

Adrien cautiously glances to his father and Nathalie, discreetly reaching for the small device and placed it behind his ear. He only had to wait a minute or two before he heard Spider Woman's familiar, distorted voice.

"Chat Noir. There's no need to respond verbally in case you aren't alone. Meet me at the Eiffel Tower as soon as you're able. I believe it's time that I speak with Ladybug."

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

Unsuspecting eyes watched Paris' beloved hero as she ran around the lower levels of the Eiffel tower, looking for the miraculous she had lost—something that has long been found.

It was quite amusing watching her run around like a headless chicken, eyes panicked as she slowly loses hope in finding the jewel. But as many had said, all good things must come to an end. You had places to be, things to do and sights to see.

"It has to be here somewhere." Ladybug mutters to herself, checking all the spots she had before once again, making sure to be thorough. Her pointless search had came to an end when something reflective shined in the corner of her eye, restoring her hope.

It had only lasted for a mere few seconds when she found the miraculous to be in someone else's hands. It had worsened when she realized it was your hands. Oh, this was going to be good. "Lost something, Ladybug?" Your dyad voice (all thanks to your suit) breaks the silence.

You watched her eyes darkening, not holding much threat to you as she attempts to ask, "Where'd you—"

"Found it all by its lonesome." You shrug, running the pad of your finger across the comb's teeth, it singing a little tune to you. "It's quite the piece, isn't it? It would be a shame if it fell into the wrong hands." You taunt, a huff of amusement following as you watched Ladybug fall into a threatening stance.

Without a warning, you tossed over the miraculous to the spotted hero, taking in the confusion etched in her face as she caught it in her hand. "Don't be so uptight, LB. Shouldn't you be thanking me?"

"I don't owe you anything." She says through gritted teeth, pocketing the miraculous for safe keeping.

You give a long sigh in response, as if you were really expecting a thank you from the bug. "Just as I, and yet here I am." You jump down from your resting place, now leveled with Ladybug. "You wanted answers, didn't you? Ask."

"Who are you?" Ladybug questions, wasting no time in asking the million dollar question. You groan at the boring question.

"You know better than anyone why I can't answer that question. Hero basics 101." You shrug as if you hadn't indirectly insulted her.

She scoffs. "Fine. What are you? You don't seem to be human from what I saw during the fight." Ladybug asks, speaking off the glitching she had saw during your fight with Style Queen. Ladybug knew what she saw could have been an illusion; perhaps you weren't there to begin with. But she had to ask and find out what she can before it was too late.

A brow raises at this, another huff of amusement bubbling in your chest. Surely, he couldn't be this naive? "But I am. I think, I feel. . . and I bleed like any other human being would. What you saw was a side effect from traveling dimensions."

A sound of disbelief leaves past Ladybug's lips, arms crossed as she says, "Unbelievable. You really expect me to believe you come from another dimension?"

"Why not? It's more possible than you think. The universe holds vast, numerous possibilities, never pertaining to the same rule." Ladybug's brows furrow at your words, amusing the theory in her head. "There are bigger things than you and I."

When it all got too much for Ladybug to wrap her head around, she rejects the narrative you had given her. "No, this is all crazy talk!"

How can you expect her to trust in anything you have to say? Who he knows nothing about? There was one thing she knew for sure and that was the miraculous' magic. For something to exist outside of its power, something that has came natural without being enhanced by a jewel. . . it was scary to think about.

"Ladies, funny seeing you here!" Chat Noir lands before them, his familiar grin intact as he looked between the ladies, it losing some of its spark when he senses the tense atmosphere.

"Chat? What are you doing here? I thought—" She huffs in frustration as she was interrupted once more, glaring at no one particularly when she heard a snicker coming from your direction.

"I heard the news you had a helping hand in my absence; thought I would scope out the scene and so happened to see you two!" He says effortlessly, looking to you with a teasing glance. "Long time no see, huh Bug Eyes?"

You sigh in partial relief at his presence, a faint smile finding its way back at the teasing nickname, but it seemed Ladybug wasn't as appreciative of the comedic relief as you were. "I wouldn't be so quick in being 'buddy-buddy' with her, Chat. Something tells me she shouldn't be trusted so easily."

A scoff sounds at the accusation, Chat Noir quick to step in before things escalated past unneeded measures. "She's helped us out of tight spots before, hasn't she? I don't know about you, but that's trustworthy in my book!" He responds, quick to come to your defense.

What he thought was doing both of you a favor had only pushed Ladybug's buttons, a frustrated groan sounding at Chat Noir's naivety, something that had costed them more trouble when someone like you showed up. If he had listened to her in the first place, the events following Volpina's destruction could have been avoided from the beginning.

"Just because she helped us once or twice doesn't mean we should trust her! Don't you find it suspicious she manages to show up just before an akuma attack happens? She can't be trusted!"

You laugh in disbelief, tickled at the fact she still believed in this narrative despite your willingness to be open with her. If she had continued to ask the right questions, or just simply allowing you to explain, she would at least begin to understand! Your patience was running thin. "Is that really the only explanation you have or is it the only one you want to believe in?"

"I'm sorry, was I speaking with you? If you haven't noticed, I was talking with my partner." She smiles condescendingly, making your blood boil.

"Really? Because I'm hearing a whole lot of nothing." You says between gritted teeth, chest heaving the thicker your breathing gets, heavy with anger.

"Ladies, please! A fight is the last thing we need right now." Chat Noir interrupts, turning to Ladybug with a plea in his eyes. "M'lady, if you give her a chance to tell her story, you'd start to understand her like I did."

Your eyes widen at his confession, Chat Noir realizing far too late what he had just admitted--Ladybug had already caught on and she was furious. "You knew about her existence before I did and didn't think to come to me and tell me about about it?!" She blows up.

The black cat winces at the close proximity of Ladybug's anger, ears drooping as he raises his hands in surrender. "I wanted to tell you, honest! But at first I wasn't even sure myself!" Ladybug's brows furrow with confusion.

"At first I thought I was imaging things the night we fought the Sapotis, but then I ran into her a few nights ago and. . ." Chat Noir's words trailed off at the rekindled anger. That didn't make things any better, did it?

The Sapotis. That was weeks ago and Chat Noir had only admitted to knowing Spider Woman's existence now. "What were you thinking, Chat Noir?!" Ladybug shouts, feeling nothing but betrayed by her partner.

You force them apart with your own body, stepping in between them to create the much needed distance. "Don't take your anger out on him. He was only doing what I asked of him. I told him not to tell you."

Ladybug sneers, shaking her head in disproval as she turned her back on you both, attempting to clear her head of any negative emotions for Paris' sake, knowing Hawk Moth could be lurking. But she found it harder and harder the longer Chat Noir remained at your side when it has been Ladybug and Chat Noir from the beginning. Doesn't any of that mean anything to him?

You look to the pained cat beside you, who looked to the fiery bug with worry, but for your sake, he refused to allow Ladybug to turn his trust against you. You take a breather of you own before you attempt to break through Ladybug's tough exterior once more.

"I get it, Ladybug. I really do. You're faced with something new and scary and you don't know how to go about it." You take a cautious step forward. "You're afraid you're going to make the wrong choice and that the price will be devastating to pay," a shaky breath escapes as you saw Ladybug's tense shoulders drop, "but it's a risk you'll have to take if you want to protect your city. I'm sorry that I can't make it easier for you to accept it, but there are bigger threats out there than Hawk Moth."

She grows rigid at your touch, refusing to let go the anger that festered in her chest, shouldering your comforting hand away harshly. "What? Like you?"

"That's enough, Ladybug!" Chat Noir shouts, his voice stern and disappointed.

Ladybug's skin prickles with embarrassment at the sound of giggling, turning around with a glare as your burst at the seams with laughter. "You can't put aside your pride for one goddamn second, can you?" You spit, your sudden shift in demeanor chilling to the bone.

"I came to you hoping you would understand, hoping you'd help me. But all I get in return was to be RIDICULED." The hero's flinch at the shout, Chat Noir taking a step back whilst Ladybug reached for her weapon.

You groan at the sharp pain behind your eyes, the headache forming behind them putting far much pressure on its sockets. It was sudden as flashes of memories ram into your head all at once—that you had forgotten, some you hadn't made—distracting you for a moments notice as you tried to recollect yourself. "Our home. . ."

Your brows furrow in confusion, your hand pressing to the side of your head, turning away from Chat Noir's reaching hand. "NO. MY home. All that we wanted was to go home!" You cry out in desperation, falling to your knees as your head throbbed painfully.

"Spider Woman!" Chat Noir shouts as you fell, anxiety puncturing through his being as he watched you glitch uncontrollably—noticing it had gotten worse since he last saw it happen. No longer able to stand by and do nothing, Chat moves to approach, to help you in any way he can, only to be held back by Ladybug.

"Wait! She's unstable, Chat. We need to stay cautious for Paris' sake!" She tries to reason with him, practically begging for him to listen to her.

His ears twitched at the painful sob from your crumbled figure on the ground, his eyes dilating at the hand wrapped around his wrist. "No. I'm done waiting!" Ladybug's eyes shine with hurt as he frees his hand from her grip harshly. "And I'm done being afraid, too."

". . . What?"

"Every time I think we should do things differently, I bite down my tongue because I always thought you knew what was best." His eyes dart to your shaking form, feeling nothing but guilt for allowing it to go this far. "But right here, more than ever, It's proving to me how wrong I was."

Ladybug's heart drops to her stomach as she watched her only partner walk away from her, his next words hitting her like truck. "For Paris' sake, I wished you trusted me more."

She watched with shame as he kneeled before you, turning his face away as your shaken hand holds your freshly removed mask, drinking in the fresh air with desperation. Although his words hurt, it was what Ladybug needed to have some sense knocked into her.

How did she allow herself to stray this far from the rightful path? How did she allow her frustrations of being too weak or too slow, morph into jealousy and malice when Spider-Woman stepped into the limelight? How did she allow herself to break her partner's trust?

Your arms shake under your weight, paying no mind to the cat at your side, as you stared off into the city below. "All we wanted was to go home." The silence was deafening, your words penetrating. "Our home could be in ruins, but all you wanted to do was paint us as the monster to fit your perfect little narrative."

The guilt of failing both her partner and someone in need, pushed Ladybug to take the first needed step towards them; to own up to her mistakes. To apologize for allowing herself to get lost in her insecurities. And with that first step taken, she was ready to do whatever she can to mend the situation, but your following words stilled her with fear.

"But if its a monster that you want," you sat on your knees, eerily composed as you welcomed the light feathery touch in the palm of your hand, "then a monster you will get."

You hold your arm out, relishing the panicked beats of their heart as they realized what sat in the palm of your hand. "NO!" Chat Noir shouts, unable to protest as Ladybug's yo-yo reels him out of danger, the akuma disappearing into your mask.

"Venom, I am Hawk Moth. I can see the great turmoil within you that is begging to be let out. Ladybug might have refused to help, but you'll find I am more than inclined to aid you in your time of need. Get me Ladybug's and Chat Noir's miraculous and I'll see to it that your heart's desires will come true! What do you say?"

"Let there be carnage."