A Snap in Time

Chapter 5 (Adrien)

Chat Noir couldn't believe it. She had zero idea who he was, and it felt like he'd been stabbed in the gut. She didn't even know anything about his powers, looking at him as though he was a wild untamed feline rather than her trusted partner in anti-crime, and to make it worse she had been given an ultimatum, the snake or him. Luka wasn't like that? What had changed?

He sat there waiting, waiting for some sort of answer from Ladybug. She said she felt it, she said she felt that she could trust him, but she didn't know him. Why would you trust someone you didn't know? Luka's eyes were fiery, he was fully in protective mode and who could blame him? Ladybug was Viperion's partner now, and if his feline senses were correct she was more than just that.

Animosity came over him at the thought. So she could date her partner if it was the snake, but a soft gentle fluffy kitty was a no go? What made him so different that Marinette had agreed to be with him?

Why him and not me? Adrien thought.

"I'm sorry kitty cat," the nickname in this context came like a kick to the privates, "but Viperion's right, as much as I feel I can trust you I need to speak to the guardian first."

"But you're the guardian, it's your decision." Chat Noir shouted out, arms flailing around as he tried to put actions to how he was feeling.

"Me? The guardian?" she started to laugh, "I don't think so, who would trust a fourteen year old girl with an array of powerful creatures?"

"I told you we can't trust him," Viperion butted in, "he doesn't know anything!"

Viperion grabbed hold of Ladybug's hand and led her over to the other side of the rooftop and away from Chat Noir. His heart broke. He had no home, no family, no friends and, by the looks of it, no partner. So much for them against the world.

He sighed considering his options. He had two choices; he could stay and fight anyway, perhaps taking Mr Pigeon down and proving himself, or he could go and find Master Fu. If Ladybug wasn't the guardian it must mean the old man was still around.

He looked over to where Ladybug and Viperion were now conversing and noticed she kept looking back. Their eyes would meet and she'd turn away only for Viperion to then follow her gaze and scowl at him. Chat turned his head out to the Paris skyline, choosing to look elsewhere instead, it was less painful.

He looked toward where Mr Pigeon was and watched as the guy flew wildly around on his pigeon made plane, dropping what seemed to be some type of pigeon bombs on the streets below. Chat tapped his foot impatiently, waiting to see if Ladybug and Viperion would make their move but they were still conversing in the corner. What was taking so long?

Reaching for his baton, he pulled it from his back, maybe there was something or someone he could contact on here, passing the rod from side to side, and hand to hand, an idea struck and he flicked open the communicator praying this would work.

Chat Noir to Ladybug
Can you get popcorn from anywhere?

Slyly looking over to the side, he noticed Viperion had moved to survey the area as Ladybug reached for her yo-yo. She looked from the name on the communicator to his face. He nodded, indicating for her to read the message. She answered with a head gesture of agreement, flicking open the top of the yo-yo and looking at the screen intently.

A smile pulled across her lips, and an eyebrow raised. He's got her attention, he's sure of it. He moved away when she began to frantically type a message back, not wanting Viperion to know they were communicating.

Ladybug to Chat Noir
Pigeon's will eat the popcorn! Of course! That way he'll lose the control he has on them, great thinking kitty.

A sense of pride shot through him. She'd called him Kitty.

Chat Noir to Ladybug
You need to get them into a space with a cage or something, if you can trap them Mr Pigeon won't be able to use them.

Ladybug to Chat Noir
The Grand Palais! We can use the park keepers cage inside.

He turned around to give her a quick smile ... she said we was she going to let him come with them?

"We need to go to the Grand Palais, you go ahead, I just need to grab some popcorn." He heard his Lady's voice reel of the instructions to Viperion.

"Is that the grand plan? To trap them in a cage?" Viperion asked.

Chat watched his lady's face turn red and Chat could tell she felt embarrassed by her idea.

"Well, yeah. That way he can't use them to turn us into pigeons." She continued to explain. He heard Viperion scoff.

"If you're doing all that, then what am I meant to do? Where's 'second chance' going to come in?"

Ladybug looked up towards Chat, Viperion following her gaze. Chat shook his head, there was no need for 'second chance' this time. Just creation and destruction, the way it should be.

"Nope, not buying it! You can't be serious with trusting him, remember what happened last time you trusted someone, Ladybug. You've planned for thirty seconds with whoever this person is and you expect me to follow the lead, I don't think so!" Viperion continued, "He could be leading you into a trap, I can't let you do it!"

"I would never hurt her, I would die for her!" Chat's passionate plea was met by laughs from Viperion.

"Whatever you say, kitty cat, but this one's for me and the bug. Thank you for dropping by, see you later."

This time Viperion made sure his last word was the final one, as he grabbed Ladybug and launched off the roof in the direction of the akuma.

"Claws in," Adrien released Plagg from the ring and grabbed the last piece of camembert he had from his pocket.

"You ok, kid?"

"Honestly, Plagg, no I'm not! My friends don't know who I am, Luka's about to rip my throat out, Ladybug's not the guardian and worst of all she doesn't trust me. Plagg, I just want to go home. I want things to go back to what they were."

Snuggling up to his holder, Plagg rubbed the top of his head against Adrien's cheek letting out a low purr to try and calm the boy.

"I won't leave you kid, we'll work this out, together."

"I hope so Plagg, I really hope so."

As the two sat on the rooftop, they were unaware of the situation on the battlefield. For the first time since Ladybug and Viperion made their appearance Paris was subject to the arguing of two heroes who were no closer to defeating the Akuma.