The Engineered Baby Boom

Veritas Deceptor

"Lucky Charm!" A pink flash of light escaped through the cracks of shadows encapsulating Ladybug, until each one disintegrating as the light brightened further. At the instant the shadows disappeared, a silver object similar to a handheld flashlight fell into Ladybug's hand. Looking it over there wasn't a glass protector at the end, nor could she see a lightbulb inside. "Bahaha! A broken lightbulb what are you going to do with the Ladybug? Throw it at me?" Veritas laughed as Marinette's Ladybug vision singled in on a large button at thumb level, the akuma, and additional shadows that were rising around her. Pushing the button, Ladybug jumped back, barely holding on to the object, as a long beam of pink light shot out from them opening. The light similar to how Chat Noir extended his baton, or not that she was a into American Cinema or anything, but she had seen a few of the Star Wars Saga, thanks to Nino. Maybe it was a light saber, she thought, swinging it back and forth. The light buzzing of the light beam more so solidifying her assessment.

Bringing the saber into a fighting position, Ladybug prepared her foot and pushed forward, swinging the light toward the first shadow she came upon and easily slicing through it. The dark smokey figure dissipating at the touch of light. Pulling the weapon over her head to swing, Ladybug closed her eyes as she swung down on the next. The solid light wielding sword hitting something hard, the saber unable to break through as it had on the shadow before, made Ladybug's eyes fly open. In front of her, her sight as immediately met with black leather and a golden bell. Shooting her head up as she struggled against the strength of her enemy, she grit her teeth, pushing harder in an attempt to break the tension. "Ladybug, where is Marinette Dupain-Cheng? I know Lila is the after her, you said she was safe?" Chat grunted as he continued fighting against the heroine's offensive position. Caught off guard by the question coming from her nemesis, Ladybug slackened her attack being pushed back and stumbling on her feet. Before she could fully lose her balance, Chat had her by the waist pulling her into him and extending his baton to lift them a few buildings away from the akuma.

"Put my down Chat Noir! What are you doing?"

Setting her down on the flat concrete roof of an apartment building far enough away to not be heard by the akuma, Chat grabbed Ladybug by the shoulders and lowered his face to hers, as he struggled to get out, "where is Marinette?" Again, Ladybug looked at him questioningly, "what? Why?" Frowning with a huff Chat squeezed her tighter, "I heard you say she was safe, now tell me where she is." The black cat villain growled out in frustration, looking back over his shoulder for the akuma. "Hurry, I need to know they can't get to her and I won't fight you this time. A trade per say. You tell me where she is and I don't help the akuma, okay?" Still utterly confused by the situation Ladybug nodded toward the bakery saying, "she's in her old room above the bakery." Releasing her Chat turned, grabbing his baton to go check until Ladybug yelled out behind him "wait!" She grabbed his tail at the same time pulling him to a halt. "What!"

"I wouldn't go looking right now, the akuma or the shadows could follow you."

Slackening his stance, turned back to face the spotted heroine. "Your are positive she is safe?"

"100 percent."

"Okay, then hit me."

"Wait, what?"

"I said hit me! The akuma will be here any minute and Hawky will see us. It needs to look like I lost... again," he mumbled the last word under his breath. The sound of the akuma yelling for her shadows to keep looking for Marinette, that she couldn't have gotten far. "Do it now!" Chat yelled, Ladybug's yo-yo slamming into his face instantaneously. The Black Chat's hand flying to his nose, "damn, that fucking hurts, shit, again bug." Ladybug spun at his order, her yo-yo coming around her form and sweeping her nemesis off his feet, his back landing harshly on the rooftop.