(Continued from part 1)

The pair peeked out from behind a wall, locating the akuma, who was still searching for them after Ladybug's mysterious disappearance.

Ladybug whispered to Chat, "Do you have any idea where her akuma could be hiding?"

"I think it's in her necklace. It lights up right before she uses her powers."

Ladybug looked around, searching for more clues, as Chat stood behind her, resting his hands on her shoulders, keeping guard. All the streets and buildings were so dark, it was hard for her to see anything. Occasionally she would ask Chat to read out a sign or placard, taking advantage of his night vision. Squinting, Ladybug's eyes landed on a certain building, and finally an idea planted itself into her brain.

"So... she sucks up all the light around her, like her own version of a black hole." She brought out the small, polka dotted lightbulb, turning it with her fingers. "But what if we give her more light than she can handle?"

Chat noticed the building she was eyeing. "Got a plan?" he asked curiously.

"I think so. You think you can lure her into that shop?"

Chat stepped away with a cheerful salute. "Can do!"

"Great! Give me a minute or so to set everything up. Once you're inside, follow my lead," she instructed.

Chat winked at her. "Aye aye, partner! See you soon!"

A few well-timed puns and taunts later, Chat had the akuma exactly where he wanted her. He baited and goaded her into the building (which turned out to be a photography studio), as Ladybug had instructed.

Indoors, however, the tight quarters made it much more difficult to keep the akuma occupied and stay out of harm's way. As they reached the middle of the studio, Chat backed up into a lone tripod and lost his footing. The akuma used the opportunity to strike him with an uppercut that landed him on the ground, disoriented.

"I guess I have to put you down first before I can take care of your Lady friend," she said as she raised her blackened palm towards Chat, the pendant in the middle of her chest beginning to glow.

Before she fired, however, she heard Ladybug call, "Hey, Night Terror! Leave my Kitty alone and watch the birdie instead!"

The woman looked around in confusion to find the source of the voice, only to be met by a cacophony of camera clicks and dozens of rapidly flashing lights. Ladybug quickly replaced the flash lightbulbs with fresh ones to continue the onslaught of light, and Chat used the opportunity to knock the akuma over with his staff. The woman shielded her eyes helplessly as she fell with a sharp cry, and Chat yanked the necklace away from her. He flung it across the room to Ladybug, who threw it on the ground and stomped on it.

"Off you go, you pesky butterfly," Ladybug grumbled as the purified akuma fluttered away. She called for the Miraculous Cure and tossed the polka dotted flash bulb into the air, and everything around them quickly went back to normal.

The former akumatized victim sat on the floor, massaging her temple with a light groan.

"Uggghhh, where am I?"

Chat Noir knelt down beside her and asked, "Are you alright, ma'am?"

The woman turned her head towards him, opening her mouth to answer, but shrieked upon recognizing who was speaking to her. "Chat Noir!! S-stay back! Wh-what do you want?!"

Chat's expression fell and he raised his hands to show he meant no harm, backing away with a quiet apology.

Ladybug made her way towards them, clambering over the plethora of cables and photography equipment. She placed her hand on Chat's shoulder and explained, "It's okay, don't be afraid. Chat Noir works with me now. He's here to help. You were akumatized. Can you tell us the last thing you remember?"

The three made their way out of the building while the young woman prattled at length about a group project she'd been a part of for the past few weeks that had been making her life a living nightmare. Hours before the due date, one of the group members had revealed that they hadn't completed any of the assignment, and everything else just fell apart. Ladybug and Chat groaned in understanding and solidarity.

"Group projects are the worst," they all agreed.

Before they could offer to walk the akuma victim home, however, a barrage of video cameras and microphones was shoved in their faces, startling them back into the moment.

Reporters.

Lots of them.

Ladybug sensed Chat stiffen beside her in discomfort.

Then the bombardment of questions began.

"Ladybug! Are you and Chat Noir working together now?"

"Is this permanent or just a temporary alliance?"

Ladybug donned her professional interviewee persona and began the tedious task of clearing up some of the events that had happened recently.

"Chat Noir and I are now allies, and we'll be fighting Hawkmoth as a team from now on," she stated simply.

"Why has Chat Noir worked with Hawkmoth until now?"

Ladybug answered, "Hawkmoth has been controlling and blackmailing Chat Noir for the past few years, and he's only recently managed to escape him. Hawkmoth is the true villain."

An angrier voice clamored, "What are you going to do to keep your cat on a leash?! He can't be trusted!"

"Will you be taking his miraculous away as punishment?"

"Did you find out Chat Noir's identity and threaten him to help you?"

"Did you kidnap and brainwash him with your ladybug magic?"

Ladybug fought the urge to facepalm herself all the way to Mars. This was quickly spiraling out of control. "Ugh, wow. No, that is not how magic works. Unlike Hawkmoth, I'm not threatening him or coercing him."

A familiar face popped up from behind another reporter. "Ladybug, are you and Chat Noir sleeping together?"

Chat flinched in horror, looking quite like he'd swallowed a fly, but Ladybug managed to answer with a straight face and stern voice, "That question is highly inappropriate and I won't be answering it, Nadja.

Nadja Chamack didn't seem to be phased by the fiery glare that Ladybug was sending in her direction; but before she could follow up with another invasive question, a friendly voice by a certain bespectacled novice reporter chimed in, "Mr. Noir! What brought about this change of heart?"

Ladybug bit back a reprimand about how Alya should really be home at this hour, and instead, stepped to the side to let Chat handle the question. She'd been wanting to shield him from all of this intrusive media attention, since he probably wasn't used to all the unwarranted personal questions. But she also understood both the need for him to experience this, and the fact that he was perfectly capable of standing up to them on his own.

Chat replied somewhat timidly, "I... I guess I realized that he was going too far. I was trying to help a loved one, and he led me to believe that we needed the ladybug miraculous' powers to save them. He told me that we were doing a good thing. But I didn't realize just how much our actions would affect everyone else, until now. I'm truly sorry I've caused you all so much trouble these past few years."

Someone in the back yelled, "Simply saying 'Sorry' isn't gonna fix everything!"

Chat resisted the urge to shrink away. He replied, "I know it won't. What I did was wrong. And there's nothing I can do to change the past. But actions speak louder than words, so I'll just have to prove myself to you. I promise that you have nothing to fear from me. I'm here by my own volition, not because Ladybug is forcing me. I truly want to make up for all the wrongs the people of Paris have had to suffer. From now on, I'll do my best to atone by helping Ladybug protect the city, and we will bring Hawkmoth to justice."

The multitude murmured and buzzed with equal parts uncertainty and interest, still trying to figure out the new hero.

A sharp trill broke through the air, and Ladybug had never been as grateful to hear her earrings beep as she was at this moment.

"We have to go. Will the police please escort this young lady home?" she asked, making eye contact with the police officers nearby, and they nodded in reply.

She motioned for Chat to follow, and they disappeared into the skyline together.

Before she and Chat parted ways themselves, however, he tugged on her sleeve to get her attention. She turned her body to face his, looking up into his concerned eyes.

"We don't have much time; I've only got about ten more minutes left til I transform back," he said. "But I think it's finally time I tell you about my mom."

-----------------------

I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter!

Chat Noir's "Black Hole" ability from this chapter was based on one of Chat's powers in the original PV version, as seen in the concept art below.