Miraculous Tales of Ladybug and... Rena Rouge?

Good

"Will you help me investigate Otis Césaire?"

Marinette was shocked and silent. Rena Rouge had asked her to help investigate Alya's father. This was a strange deja vu case. She felt like she had looked into Alya's dad before but she knew she hadn't. She had looked into Gabriel Agreste.

"I- R-Red, we can't just investigate random people, that's not our job as superheroes!"

"I know but... I have a strong feeling about this. And a friend - although it wasn't willingly - offered to help."

"And who exactly is your friend?"

"... more of an acquaintance." Ladybug sighed. "Alya Césaire." Her breath hitched; she stayed silent. "Ladybug?" Marinette heard footsteps coming from the other end. "Shit, I have to go, call me back." Her earring beeped and the call ended. She had the urge to call Alya. To ask her why she was trying to investigate her dad, why she thought he was Velvet Butterfly in the first place.

Alya quickly pulled off her necklace and slid it under her bed. The fist came down on her door once more. "Come in!" The door opened and Alya sighed when it was Megara.

"Your father wishes for you to start practising your flute now," she said softly.

"I will, Megara. Thank you." The woman nodded and closed the door behind her. Alya walked over to her flute case and picked it up. She put it back in her bed and her phone buzzed in her pocket.

Clumsy BFF 💀

Happy Birthday, Alys xoxo

Ty, Mari

Alya had completely forgotten her birthday in this mess. But it was nice to see that Marinette remembered. It had been hours since she and Ladybug last talked but it was a Friday and as usual, they met up. Marinette landed on the roof of the RV. She tapped the shoulder of her superheroine friend. "Hello, Red," she kindly greeted. Rena Rouge turned around and smiled.

"Hey, little bug. About what I said earlier, Im sorry. Just because I think he's in something doesn't mean you should-"

"Red, it's fine. I figured if we want to get back, we have to take action... but I don't want to talk about that... We're here to just hang out, right? Let's do that." Marinette held out an orange rose. "And I, um- I know it's not much but I read somewhere that an orange rose symbolizes the giver saying they are proud of someone. And I'd say I'm proud of you! So, here..." Rena froze for a second but then she reached out and grabbed the flower and held it in both hands. Her lips formed a small smile as her eyes shone with tears.

Before Ladybug could process what happened, Rena had wrapped her arms around Ladybug's waist, trying to not let the tears fall into the girl's shoulder.

"Red-"

"Thank you, thank you so much... you have no idea how happy that makes me." Ladybug smiled, returning the hug. She placed her arms on the girl's back, enjoying being in her partner's arms.

"You're welcome," she whispered. They stayed in the position for a while. Ladybug loved being in Rena's arms. Something about her fellow heroine made her feel so happy and safe. She knew that even if this wasn't going to last forever, she would have the brunette there for her for as long as this lasted. She hadn't planned on falling for her but she was smart, kind, and funny (and sometimes a bit blunt) which made her so likeable. It was definitely not wise to fall for someone who you don't even know, someone who could be in their twenties. And Rena could be a whole different person without the suit. She could be the cruellest person (well, Lila existed so that wasn't entirely true).