I forgot to upload this chapter here, I'm sorry about that!

Chapter Eight

"So LB, what's the plan?" Chat asked, turning towards Ladybug. She was pacing across the roof, everyone watching her. Chat Noir looked ready to fight, baton extended in one hand. Chloe had her arms crossed, looking quite irritated, while Nino shuffled uncertainly next to Alya.

"With Lila? How about punching her in the face?" Ladybug muttered, gritting her teeth. "Well, her grabbing the akuma basically proves our suspicions, she's willingly helping Hawk Moth."

"How did you know–" Alya began, before pausing after realizing that was a stupid question. Marinette must have told them what had happened, and if not her Adrien or Miss Bustier or Chloe could have.

Nino looked sick. "Helping him... as in helping him-helping him? I knew she wasn't a nice dude but helping Hawk Moth... he's evil, man!"

"We've been suspicious ever since Heroes' Day," Chat explained. "The 'fight' that took place between me and Ladybug– only Volpina or the Fox Miraculous could conjure up an illusion like that. We never saw or fought Volpina though, meaning that Hawk Moth akumatized her in secret and freed her from the akuma without a fight."

"Don't forget Oni-Chan," Ladybug added. "That akuma was after her, and she lied to split us up and left me to face the akuma alone."

Chat Noir flinched. "I'm still sorry about that, My Lady. I knew she was a liar, I shouldn't have trusted her."

Ladybug paused from her pacing, giving Chat a grim smile. "It wasn't your fault, Kitty, you just wanted to see the best in her. She's had it out for me ever since I confronted her, I'm the one that turned her against me."

"Only had the guts to face her with your mask on, huh?" Chloe asked.

Ladybug gritted her teeth. "Considering she was spreading lies about Ladybug, and claiming to have the Fox Miraculous I felt that was the best way to confront her, Chloe."

Alya's eyes flashed at this. "She said she had what?"

Chloe watched her for a moment. "So you are Rena Rouge then, looks like I was right about that too. And seeing how kissy-kissy you are with Carapace, that must mean he's Nino."

Chat turned to face Nino, eyes wide, but there was a grin on his face. "Wait– you're Carapace? That's... that's awesome! Why didn't you tell me Nino was Carapace, Ladybug?"

Ladybug looked like she wanted to throw Chloe off of the side of the building. She was glowering at the blonde, eyes narrowing as she smirked at the hero. "Because everyone's identities are supposed to be a secret, but apparently we've thrown the rule out the window!"

"It's a good thing too, because now we can actually coordinate," Chloe said, having been looking at her nails, but now she squared her shoulders. "So you're going to go get all three of our Miraculouses so we can actually fight this she-devil."

"That's not how this works."

"We're dealing with a mind control akuma, and we all know how fun those are," Chloe snapped back. "More heroes means more fighters– and doing something is better than sitting on this roof. Besides, Lila won't be able to find Alya if she's running around disguised as the fox."

"She has a point, My–" Chat Noir began, but he was cut off as Ladybug shushed him.

She pointed off towards the school, where the front doors were opening. Alya paled slightly as she looked out at the mass of students pouring out from the doors. There was no idle chatter among them, no panic from an akuma, each one wearing a determined expression. Though she couldn't see it from up here she was sure each had one of the Weaver's bracelets around their wrists. She wasn't sure what reality had been painted in their minds, but she was sure that it wasn't in their favor.

Ladybug looked tired as she looked down at those pouring out from the school, clearly expecting a tiring fight ahead of them. She glanced at them, who were all watching her expectantly, and she sighed as she grabbed her yoyo.

"Well, I don't think Lila is going to let us get close to her, so let's see what fate has in mind," she threw her yoyo up into the air, pink light dancing about it. "Lucky Charm!"

Alya grinned, it wasn't often that she got to see a Lucky Charm summoned this close. She watched as the red spotted object materialized, dropping down into her hands. It was a large candle, nothing particularly interesting about it, but they all knew not to underestimate a Lucky Charm. Ladybug stared at it for a moment, before letting out a loud groan.

"You have to be kidding me!"

"Well, it would be helpful," Chat replied.

"Not all three!" Ladybug said firmly. "I'll get the Fox since that will help protect Alya, but that's it," she tucked the candle under one arm. "You watch these three, don't engage just yet. Retreat if you must, but wait until I get back."

Chloe smirked. "So the Lucky Charm wants you to get the Miraculouses. Hmm, I wonder who already suggested that idea. And who shot it down?"

"A broken clock is right twice a day," Ladybug replied coolly, letting her yoyo fly as she swung away. Chloe was grinning victoriously, and Alya couldn't quite remember a time she had been so sassy with Ladybug– she had always practically worshiped the hero. Ladybug being annoyed with Chloe though, that she could understand.

A smile tugged on Alya's face. "So I get to be apart of this fight then? Awesome. Dibs on Lila!"

"The priority is getting the akuma, not fighting," Chat replied. "No matter how appealing giving her a nice punch to the face is."

"You don't understand," Alya growled. "She made me doubt Adrien! She– she didn't even directly say things about him, Lila would just tell you enough so you'd get these ideas and– and–" she closed her eyes. "...It wasn't just her fault. I'm just as guilty for actually believing all those things. Then after everything I did Adrien placed himself between me and the akuma," she blinked away a few tears. "Ladybug shouldn't be grabbing my Miraculous. The others deserve it more, I don't. I don't deserve Adrien's friendship."

She felt a clawed hand on her shoulder, and she looked up into Chat Noir's gentle eyes. "Hey, don't talk about yourself that way. I've fallen for Lila's manipulations even when I knew she was a liar. She's ruthless, and her actions are not your fault."

"But–

"Adrien was worried about you," Chat said. "He cares about you, he values your friendship, and he wouldn't want you beating yourself up over this. And if you really do feel that you need to make up for something, then what better way than by helping take down Lila?"

She knew his words were just meant to comfort her, and it was working. She couldn't help but relax, and Chat Noir smiled, patting her shoulder. Nino opened his mouth to say something, but they were cut off as the Weaver herself exited the school. Instantly all eyes were on her as she stood on the steps, the army of students and faculty turning towards her.

Her slender fingers grasped as her bracelets, summoning more of her threads as she cast them out at the crowd in front of her, her rich voice easily carried through the air, even to their rooftop.

"Paris is in peril!" She called out, face expressionless. "Criminals are wielding their Miraculouses for evil, terrorizing our city. You are all fearless warriors, and you shall hunt them down, claim their Miraculouses, and bring them to me!"

"Okay, I think now is a good time not to be seen," Chat said, pulling away from the edge of the roof, and he gestured with his baton towards the other side. "Okay, everyone over there, it's time to do some roof hopping."

They wasted no time, though Alya reached into her pocket, wanting to take a few pictures– only to discover that she didn't have her phone. She swore under her breath, remembering that she had dropped it in the school. She turned to follow the others only to see Nino pull out his own phone, snapping a few photos of the Weaver and the crowd, before grabbing her wrist and dragging her towards Chat and Chloe.

"I love you," she said, beaming at him.

"I will never understand your lack of a sense of danger," he replied, and she only grinned in response. Chat scooped up Chloe, before vaulting over to the neighboring roof. When he returned he picked up both of them with ease, swinging them across the street. "How strong are you, dude?"

"Not sure," Chat replied honestly, shrugging before scanning the horizon for any signs of Ladybug, ushering them along the rooftops, wanting to create as much distance as possible from the akuma.

They went across two more rooftops by the time Ladybug returned, panting slightly as she landed next to him. She only offered a grunt as greeting as she pulled out her yoyo, summoning three familiar boxes from the void within it. Alya's and Chloe's eyes lit up at the sight of their Miraculous, each box being shoved into their hands.

"Move quickly," Ladybug panted, glancing down towards the streets– where they could hear angry shouting. "She has people after us, they followed after me on the streets, and I don't know how long it will take for them to reach the roof."

"Don't worry, My Lady," Chat said with a smile, expanding his baton across the roof entrance, wedging it between the railings, barricading the door. "We have all the time in the world."

Hearing that familiar nickname made Alya smile, it sounding so much sweeter now that she knew that they were officially a couple. They weren't acting very couple-y right now, but with Lila on the loose that was expected. Fighting first, and kissing could always come later.

"Hey! You're not Rena!" A familiar voice shouted, and Alya looked up to see an unhappy Trixx floating in front of Chloe.

"Ew," Chloe said, holding the box with the Fox Miraculous away from her. "Take it, I don't want that thing."

"Don't talk to Trixx like that!" Alya growled, snatching it from Chloe and shoving the box she had into her hands instead. She quickly slipped the fox tail pendant on, and Trixx did an excited loop in front of her. "Ready to transform, bud?"

"You know the words!" Trixx chirped, and Alya felt her heart warming. She loved her little kwami, even if she didn't get to see him that often. There was something special about his presence that she couldn't describe. She watched as the others opened their Miraculous boxes, this time the correct kwami appearing for each of them. Nino and Wayzz did their little handshake, and Chloe beamed as the Bee kwami gave her a small bow.

"Trixx, let's pounce!" Alya cried, and Trixx became a burst of orange light, zipping into the Miraculous. She felt the magical energy wash over her, hot and fiery, yet not burning her as she transformed.

She drew her flute as the light faded from around her, excitement pulsing through her, every sense heightened as she was Rena Rouge once again. There was always such a sense of freedom that came with the mask, even if she only wore it in times of danger. She looked at the others around her– Carapace sliding his shield onto his arm, and Queen Bee running a gloved hand through her hair. Ladybug was looking slightly impatient, keeping watch over the edge of the roof, and Chat flinched as the door granting roof entrance shuddered.

"Remember these are civilians," Ladybug said grimly as the door was rammed from the inside again, muffled voices could be heard from the other side. "They aren't transformed into minions or anything– they are just as fragile as always."

Rena understood the heaviness of her words. They would have to fight the civilians, but they would have no powers of any kind protecting them, meaning they would have to be careful not to cause any lasting harm. Chat grabbed the edge of his baton, while the rest of them hurried to Ladybug's side. He let his weapon shrink down, leaving the door unlocked. They burst open, battle cries coming from the mind-controlled civilians as they charged the roof.

"It's nice for you to join us," Chat said with a smile, twirling his weapon between his fingers. "Though I'm afraid we're in a bit of a hurry."

And with that he leapt forward, jumping over their heads, taking the civilians' attention with him. He landed on all fours, belt-tail swishing behind him. "Seize him!" One of them cried, and with a roar they all charged at Chat. "For Paris, and for our Queen!"

"I'm the queen!" Queen Bee cried with a huff, and Ladybug replied by grabbing her around the waist and jumping off of the roof. Rena followed suit, while Carapace hesitated for a second, looking back at Chat in worry, before following after them.

Ladybug and Queen Bee landed on a lamppost, using that to break their fall, before jumping to the ground. Rena mimicked them, quickly jumping down so Carapace would have somewhere to land as well. Queen Bee seemed insulted at being dragged off the roof, pulling herself free from Ladybug's grasp as soon as they were on the ground, snapping at her.

"Our priority is locating the Weaver," Ladybug said, ignoring Chloe. "Let's loop back around to the school, Ad– Chat will meet us there. Stay close."

"We can't leave him alone–!" Carapace protested.

"He'll be fine, Nino," Ladybug replied, cutting him off, and she began running down the street.

The three temporary heroes took after her, the streets fortunately mostly empty thanks to an akuma being on the loose, though Alya didn't understand why they didn't take to the roofs again. Now that they all had powers they could keep up and wouldn't need to be ferried across each one.

"It's so we're not spotted," Ladybug replied, as if reading her mind. "Her 'army' is keeping an eye for us up there, and they're pretty fast too. Tracked me all the way back to you guys the moment they spotted me."

"Can they communicate with each other in some way?" Carapace asked.

She shrugged. "No more than average. But shouting can surprisingly go a long way."

Ladybug paused as several people stepped out of a nearby alleyway, their eyes locked angrily on the heroes. It was easy to spot the bracelets on their wrists– thick and white, many threads having been woven together. They were either one of the first the Weaver had seized control of, or she had given multiple instructions in the short time they had been gone.

"You've terrorized this city long enough," the one in front growled, cracking her knuckles. It took Rena a moment, but she recognized her as the librarian from the school. Unlike their classmates that had been taken controlled of, she was nothing like the librarian Alya remembered. The kind and soft woman wore an angry gaze that she had never seen on her before, and was clearly ready for a fight.

"You've taken what rightfully belongs to Hawk Moth," the one next to her added. "Thieves."

"Villains," the last one spat– and then they charged.

They all jumped out of the way with ease, though this did nothing to deter them. They all reluctantly drew their weapons– everyone but Queen Bee– and rushed to meet them. Carapace took the head, using his shield to push them back. Ladybug's yoyo flew out, entangling one of their feet and pulling them to the ground. Queen Bee let out a yelp as one drew near, and punched her attacker in the face.

"Don't touch me!" She snarled, the man staggering back.

Rena's eyes narrowed in on the librarian, who had pulled her phone out of her pocket. There was no reason for her to pull it out in the middle of a fight, and so with a single bound she pounced on the woman, knocking her onto the pavement, ripping the device from her hand. She struggled under the hero, but the natural strength she got when transformed was enough to keep her pinned.

"Smash their phones!" Rena Rouge cried as she caught a glimpse of the number the woman had been attempting to dial, recognizing it instantly. "They know Lila's number!"

There was something strangely satisfying about throwing the phone to the ground, watching it shatter. A part of her panicked, knowing just how expensive they could be, and perhaps that's why it was also somehow entertaining. The librarian let out a small whimper as her phone shattered, eyes widening. Clearly whatever lies Lila had woven into her mind didn't recall the Miraculous Ladybug, any damage done now was temporarily. Despite that she didn't want to hurt their attackers even if it could be fixed.

"Lila still has her phone on her?" Carapace muttered, flipping someone onto their back, grabbing their phone from their pocket.

"Where's Chloe?" Ladybug demanded, the last of their attackers tied up in her yoyo, and sure enough the bee hero was nowhere in sight. She glanced around, and caught sight of a flash of yellow above. "What part of 'stay off the roofs' didn't you understand! Come back!"

Queen Bee shot one glance at them, then leapt out of sight.

"Always attacking innocents," one of the civilians muttered, and Carapace reached for the bracelet on their wrist. It didn't tear off as easily as the one Rena had pulled off of him, having to wrestle with both the fraying bracelet and the struggling civilian. She reached for the librarian's bracelet, whose was a bit easier to reach with her being pinned.

"Wh-where am I?" she stuttered out as soon as all the threads were ripped, and Rena stepped off of her, helping the woman to her feet.

"You were under the control of an akuma," she replied as Ladybug ripped the last bracelet off of the man she had tied up. "You're fine now, but you should get inside to keep it from happening again."

"I didn't hurt anyone, did I?" She asked, eyes widening in fear.

"No, and even if you did it wasn't your fault," most of the words she was saying were taken from Ladybug, with how she often calmed down those who had been taken controlled by an akuma. Carapace and Ladybug were offering similar words to the ones they had freed, untying them and helping them to their feet.

As the freed civilians hurried down the road they heard a zip of a wire, Queen Bee's top wrapping around a lamppost as she came swinging down. "Lie-la is no longer at the school. Judging from the crowds I think she's heading towards the Eiffel Tower–"

"I told you to stay in the streets! With the group!" Ladybug snarled.

Queen Bee rolled her eyes. "Where we were both slower and vulnerable to attack? Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous! Anyways we should change course–"

"If you have issues with my plan then at least mention something before running off!"

Queen Bee put a hand on her hip. "I liked you better before I knew your identity."

Alya's eyes widened. "Y-you what?"

"Doesn't matter!" Ladybug said quickly. "Let's head to the Eiffel Tower, assuming Chloe's right–"

"I am right, like I have been all day, and if you're actually going to listen to me this time we're going to travel by roof. Who cares if we're seen, we can outpace them– and it will be easier for Chat-ikins to catch up to us."

Ladybug's eyes narrowed. "Do me a favor, and never call him that again."

"Yeah dude," Carapace added. "Please."

"Are we done wasting time– or are we actually going to go fight this stupid akuma?" Queen Bee snapped. "We could actually be somewhere by now, but no!"

She didn't say another word, throwing her top up, soaring up to the roof with a single tug. Ladybug muttered under her breath, but followed suit with her yoyo– leaving her and Carapace to climb manually– but she was still digesting the fact that apparently Chloe knew who Ladybug was. It took a tap on her shoulder to snap her out of her daze, and she looked at her boyfriend in confusion.

"H-how?!" She cried, waving a head up towards Chloe. "How on earth did she figured it out?"

"By paying attention," Carapace replied, a smile tugging on his lips, and he scooped her up into his arms, leaping up towards a window sill, jumping up the side of the building.

"I can walk by myself," she grumbled. "And I pay attention too!"

Carapace laughed, and she glowered at him. "Sorry babe, but I think you've been paying attention to the wrong things lately," he chuckled. "Well, more like paying attention to the right things, but interpreting them wrong."

Her eyes narrowed, what exactly was that supposed to mean? Carapace seemed very relaxed about Chloe knowing, not startled at all in fact, and he had been acting weird these last few days...

"Wait," she said slowly. "You're not saying that you know too–"

"Chat's lost track of the first group," Ladybug reported, hanging up her yoyo. "But he's caught the attention of another group, so he's leading them away from the tower before he meets us there," she glanced at Rena. "They're actively looking for civilian-you as well."

Her throat tightened. "That must mean that she's looking for Marinette and Adrien too."

"I'll have Chat check on them, but you seem to be the main target," she spun her yoyo about, before letting out a sigh. "Let's follow Chloe's plan for now, and head for the tower."

"For now?" Queen Bee demanded as Ladybug leapt away, and she swung after her.

Rena Rouge and Carapace shared a glance, and followed.

Lila was indeed at the Eiffel Tower.

"What did I say, she's a spider akuma," Rena said, shivering slightly at the sight before them. Spiders had never really bothered her, but giant spider webs covering the Eiffel Tower was definitely an unsettling sight.

It was nothing like when her sister had been akumatized though, covering everything with thick and crude webbing, but the Weaver had lived up to her name, carefully crafting her masterpiece with great detail. A haunting beauty, wisps of white webbing creating a veil about the tower, laced from the top down to the streets below.

Carapace gave a low whistle. "She's efficient, I'll give her that. We left the school like what, a half-hour ago?"

Ladybug glanced down at her yoyo. "Just about, yes," she flipped the screen over to a map, looking at a flashing green dot. "Chat is on his way over right now, he should be here any minute– so for now let's plan. Give me your shield."

She took Carapace's shield from off his back without waiting for an answer, setting it in front of their little group, pressing one of the scutes on the back. All the segments of the shell glittered, turning into a screen. Rena glanced at Carapace, but clearly he didn't know that it could do that, since he had a huge grin on his face.

"Dude," he breathed. "Awesome."

"The weapons all function as communicators," Queen Bee said dryly. "Didn't you know that?"

"And Carapace's is the biggest, meaning it's the easiest for all of us to look at," Ladybug said, holding up the shield and aiming it down towards Lila. It seemed to be a camera right now, the view of the Eiffel Tower popping up. It was a clear image, though slightly fractured by the segments of the scutes. Ladybug flicked her fingers against the screen, zooming in on the tower, the image going blurry for only a moment, before focusing with incredible clarity.

So their weapons weren't only weapons, weren't only what was basically a smartphone, but had the 'zoom and enhance' feature every camera on a cop show seemed to have? Could her flute do all of this too? Because this was awesome.

They weren't exactly hidden, up on one of the buildings surrounding the tower– which was a ways away from the tower itself. Close enough to watch what was happening, but far enough away that they wouldn't be spotted right away. Despite that they hunkered down near the roof, using the camera-shield to watch what was happening as Ladybug zoomed in closer as they tried to gauge what exactly they were up against.

At the base of the tower the Weaver had created herself a silky throne, sitting upon the tightly woven threads, its whiteness starkly constructing its surroundings. It was easy to spot Lila as she sat upon it, her black dress standing out against the sprawling white behind her. Rena thought this was all quite fitting of Lila, as everything she had ever done had clearly been seeking attention– and now she had stationed herself right in the center of Paris, at its most well known monument.

"I hate to say it, but it is beautiful," Ladybug said, staring at the intricate designs that had been woven into the webs of the tower. Figures of butterflies and foxes, complex shapes spun into the webbing, draped across the tower like a veil.

"Tacky, if you ask me," Queen Bee said sharply.

They heard a light thump, and they all turned to see a silvery tip of a baton that had landed behind them. Chat Noir came sliding down, panting slightly as he landed on the rooftops, but he looked unharmed. He gave them a grin as he shrunk down his baton, tucking it away on his back as he gave them a salute.

"Hello, My Lady. I lead our pesky pursuers on a wild goose chase, poor civilians were exhausted trying to catch up to me," he slipped himself between Ladybug and Carapace, letting out a sigh. "Left them on the other side of the Seine, I think they'll be out of our hair for the next little bit."

"Afraid she has plenty more at her service," Ladybug replied, gesturing down to the tower below. Chat craned his neck, looking at the webbing that covered the tower, and the many people below that didn't even looked phased at the sight– clearly under the akuma's control.

"This is going to be fun," he muttered, and they all returned their attention to the shield, trying to get a closer look at Lila. She was just sitting there calmly, the only movement being her long dark hair as a slight breeze rushed by.

"Is that Adrien's bodyguard?" Carapace asked, pointing to a figure just offscreen, and with a swipe across his shield it shifted its focus to those surrounding Lila and the tower.

Sure enough there was 'the Gorilla', standing stoic at the head of the path that lead to the Weaver. You could see the threads around his wrist, his bracelet having been woven thick with her string of lies. Who knew what reality he saw in his mind, but he was loyally standing guard of the akuma. The thought of crossing him was not an appealing one, super powers or not. The Gorilla wasn't the only one there either, there were other large towering figures stationed in front of her, clearly acting as personal guards for her. They were stiff, standing as still as Lila, but Rena was sure it wouldn't take much to have them leap into action.

"I hate her," Chat Noir muttered, eyes locked on the Gorilla. Rena's eyes scanned some of the others they would have to go up against to get near Lila, and her throat tightened.

"That's Mr. Dupain," she said, pointing to the figure she recognized as Marinette's father, whose expression was nothing like the gentle baker she knew. Like the others the bracelet on his wrist was thick and tightly woven– it seemed the more lies she spun the less they acted like the people they once were.

"How dare she!" Ladybug snarled, causing Rena to jump in surprise. Her frustrated expression was gone– now replaced by a burning rage. Her fingers tightly gripped the shield, arms shaking slightly.

Chat laid a hand on her shoulder. "We'll stop her Bugaboo, don't worry."

"She– she–" Ladybug sputtered out, and then she closed her eyes. "I'm going to make her pay."

"She has Ivan too," Queen Bee said lazily, scrolling across the screen. "I don't recognize any of the others, and I honestly I don't care. We have to face an army of brutes to get to her, so I say let's get to it before someone spots us up here. Element of surprise and all?"

"She's moving," Carapace said, stiffening slightly as the Weaver rose to her feet. All eyes locked on the shield once more, watching as Lila lazily pulled more threads from her bracelets.

Several of her minions were approaching her, several rows of the controlled civilians dragging forward some who were resisting. The five heroes watched in a horrified awe as she cast her threads as each person who was brought before her, lips moving as she gave orders they could not hear. With a wave of her hand she directed her newly controlled pawns away in different directions, most joining forces with the crowd that had brought them here, while one particular burly woman stayed near Lila.

A jolt of rage ran through Alya, a flash of red crossing her vision. That was Nora– Lila had her sister. Hands curled into fists, Nino's reassuring hand on her shoulder meaning nothing as she watched the Weaver carefully wrap more strings around the thin bracelet on Nora's wrist. Her lips moved slowly, no doubt muttering her lies in her soft voice, slowly twisting her victim's mind to her will.

Nora then joined ranks with the other guards, gaze expressionless as she waited.

The Weaver then sat back on her throne, a purple mask temporarily lighting up her gaze. She nodded once as it faded, holding perfectly still save for the impatient tapping of her fingers.

"How dare she!" Rena spat.

"She's rational," Chat said, expression grim. "She's not going straight for the attack like other akumas, she's preparing. Akumas are usually supposed to enhance a negative emotion to the extreme, and if her anger and embarrassment was increased she shouldn't be this calm. She should be frustrated, lashing out."

"Instead she's building up an army," Carapace muttered.

"Having them bring her more people to turn instead of seeking them out herself," Ladybug mused. "Saving her energy, and keeping herself protected at a little base. I don't think we're dealing with an akuma, we're dealing with Lila herself."

"Are you saying she's still herself?" Rena snarled. "That she's doing all of this consciously?!"

"That'd be my guess," Ladybug said softly. "And that means she is definitely willingly helping Hawk Moth," she glanced at Chat. "We have to get her out of Paris after we defeat her, Hawk Moth can't just have someone who's willing to be akumatized around at all times, Chaton."

"How effective would that be, Bug?" Chat asked, shaking his head. "We can't forget Mayura, I'm sure she wouldn't fight akumatization either."

"If our theory is right then Mayura has to be the akuma that makes him Scarlet Moth," Ladybug replied, the two main heroes barely even acknowledging the others. It was as if they had slipped away into their own little world, mind racing as they tried to take this all in. "There has to be a reason he doesn't akumatize her more often, or else he'd do it every time, she's not the same kind of threat as Lila."

"Now is not the time to worry about this, Bugaboo," Chat said softly. "The Weaver first, theorizing later."

"What if akumatizing someone over and over leaves an effect and that's why he doesn't– what is that doing to Lila then? To others being akumatize multiple times, the innocent ones? I can't just not worry, Kitty–"

"My Lady, look at me," Chat said, grabbing her by the shoulders and forcing her to face him. He put a clawed hand on the shield, lowering it so they could look each other in the eye. "You're not alone in this, me and you against the world. We're going to take this one step at a time, and after we stop Lila we will get to the bottom of this. I promise."

The shield clattered to the rooftop, and Ladybug threw herself into Chat Noir's arms. He held her tightly, everyone being silent during the embrace, even Chloe. It was almost startling to see Ladybug this vulnerable, and it was in that moment Rena truly realized how much weight was on the hero's shoulders.

She wasn't someone with powers that radiated pure confidence and fought without trouble– she was someone just like her. A regular girl, a teenager, who had been handed powers and the responsibility of a whole city. The sheer stress that came with that Alya couldn't even imagine, and she was sure there was even more to it. All she every saw was Ladybug wearing the hero's mask, and never the person behind it.

Chat Noir was right though, she wasn't alone. Just watching the two hold each other showed that, and showed how close they were. Perhaps they were finally together, finally a 'couple', but she realized that they had a love for each other much longer than that. You couldn't go through what they did, you couldn't just hold the trust they had for each other, not that easily. There was a powerful bond there, one that you couldn't describe.

Ladybug and Chat Noir pulled back, looking into each other's eyes. The fear from before was gone, now replaced with a firm look of determination– though clearly the worry was still there.

In that moment Alya couldn't help but think of Marinette and Adrien, and how close they had become. Their relationship may have seemingly transformed overnight, but the trust and love she saw in their eyes was a powerful one. She felt guilt prick at her heart for ever doubting Adrien's loyalty and Marinette's concerns about Lila, but what mattered was she saw it now. They were a lot like the heroes, carrying secrets of their own as they combated Lila's lies, protecting the other and just being so close. Even their nicknames for each other were similar to the heroes'–

Oh.