𝐉𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄 𝐉𝐔𝐋𝐘 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏, jasonette

xii. 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬

Marinette smirked victoriously as she launched off into the night.

Lady Noire: 5

Red Hood: 4

She had come to Gotham a few months ago, for, well, miraculous reasons. And started stealing as Lady Noire since Ladybug would be far too attention-seeking.

Anyway, that was when she met Red Hood – another not-so-welcomed vigilante like her.

You would expect the two of them to hit it off, maybe work together, but it was the complete opposite. It was hate at first sight.

Marinette hated the way Hood always undermined her, mocked her and all in all, just plain irritated her.

Safe to say, it pleased her to no end when she one-upped him tonight.

As she detransformed in her apartment, Marinette rolled her eyes as she heard Plagg cackling while he came out from the ring. "So Pigtails, did anything with lover-boy today?"

Plagg had seemed to have gotten it into his head that she and Hood liked each other. As in liked, liked each other.

As if.

"Plagg," she said frustratedly. "For the last time, Hood is not 'lover-boy.'"

Lover-boy was encased in finger quotes.

Plagg cackled again as he raided the fridge of all its cheese. "Sure Pigtails, sure."

Marinette sighed exasperatedly and ignored him.

It was pointless to say anything now – seeing as Plagg was never going to let it go.

**

The next night, she observed her target carefully. A middle-aged man, rich by the looks of it – and thinking to sell of a miraculous.

Marinette was using the cover of a grimy chimney to make sure she wasn't seen. Even though her suit was pitch black, it never hurt to be too safe.

"What are you doing here?" Marinette jumped and slammed her baton into the intruder.

Only the thing was, they dodged it. Hood.

She spun around and glared at him, green eyes gleaming in the darkness. "What do you want, Hood?"

Red Hood walked closer to her, hands out in front of him like he was placating a fretful animal. He gave a dry chuckle. "Doing my job, that's what."

Marinette raised an eyebrow, intrigued. She leaned on her baton. "Where I am? Have a crush on me, Hood?" she teased.

"Why?" he asked. "Do you wish I had one? Nah, I'm here for him." He nodded, pointing at the seller of the miraculous.

Marinette barely registered that because she was far too busy wondering why her cheeks were flushing. But when she realized Hood was waiting for a response, she shot back, "Why? Did he piss you off or something?"

"Or something." Hood replied, shrugging, not giving any more details.

"You didn't answer my question from earlier."

Oh, so now the tables are turned, huh?

Marinette shrugged – much like Hood – and got back to observing her target. "Or something."

Hood quirked an eyebrow at her. "You're here to steal the necklace aren't you?"

It wasn't a question – it was a statement, so Marinette didn't bother giving an answer. He already knew it.