LadyBugOut AU (Snippets)

Turtle Power

Summary:
Nino meets his "replacement."

Chapter Text
In the midst of all the chaos happening, Nino felt forced to stop, not wanting to risk collapsing from exhaustion. He hunched over, hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. He inhaled and tried to call out for Alya, only to receive no reply.

That girl was going to give him a heart attack, he was sure. Whether she’d gone to try and get footage or not, he’d officially lost her.

He panted, rubbing his throat and lamenting how dry it felt. He was a sitting duck for as long as it took him to recover his strength, and—

“Aw, lookie here. A little boy all on his own?”

Nino flinched, straightening and turning to the source of the voice. It was Hawk Moth’s latest champion, twirling a baseball bat in their hand before letting the blunt end of it rest on their shoulder.

“Out of breath, are we?” They leaned to the side, looking at him wholly condescendingly. “Too bad. I prefer it when they play more hard-to-get.”

This time, they twirled the bat as they got into position, clearly ready to strike. Their bat sparked with energy as they said, “Ah well, time for a little shake-up.”

Nino backed away, hands raised in defense. The akuma charged for him, and all Nino could do is crouch down, curling up and putting his hands on his head in some form of protection.

Suddenly, a new voice cut in, “Shell-ter!”

Nino’s eyes widened at the familiar phrase. As he heard the thump of a failed attack, he looked up to see the new turtle hero - of whom he’d only seen every now and then on TV - completely concealing him from the akuma’s sight thanks to his large size.

His name was Heavy Matal, if Nino recalled correctly, and his turtle shell was raised high, maintaining the shield that was preventing the now-frustrated akuma from getting close.

Nino swallowed for multiple reasons.

“Hey!” the akuma yelled, seeming offended as their snarky personality turned into something more childish. “You’re not nervous? Not even a little bit? I can change that for you; just lower this stupid thing!”

Peeking out from behind Heavy Matal, Nino remained crouched down and watched the scene unfold. Even though he knew full-well how powerful Shell-ter was, he couldn’t help feeling unnerved by the akuma hitting at the shield in such senseless fashion.

Heavy Matal’s voice rang out from above, “You okay?”

Nino glanced up, seeing Heavy Matal looking down at him. Suddenly feeling embarrassed that he was essentially cowering, Nino stood and nodded. “Y-yeah, I’m cool!”

Heavy Matal looked at the akuma, then at Nino, then at something behind Nino. Nino could only guess that he was processing the situation, especially as Heavy Matal seemed to search the skies for the other heroes.

“Uh.” Heavy Matal paused, then actually began to lower the arm holding his weapon. “Hold this.”

Nino blanked. “Wait—dude—what—”

Suddenly, the turtle shell was thrust back into his hands, a feeling a familiarity coursing through Nino’s body. The shield around them began to fade while Heavy Matal ran behind Nino for whatever he must’ve been looking at before.

The akuma charged at Nino. Thankfully, this time, Nino was more alert, muscle memory kicking in from the shell in his hands. He held out the shell and felt the strike from the baseball bat. The shell absorbed so much of the hit that Nino hardly staggered.

The akuma struck again, and Nino realized why Heavy Matal had left him with the akuma; they seemed blinded by either rage or impatience.

“Nino!” Heavy Matal called from behind him. “Get down!”

It didn’t even register that Heavy Matal knew his name. Hero instinct kicked in, Nino not asking a single question as he crouched to the ground, eyes shut and still holding the shell facing towards the akuma.

Instead of the sound of the bat hitting the shell, Nino heard the sound of something heavy hitting its mark, signified by the grunt of the akuma. Nino waited, just to make sure that it was safe, then peeked out from behind the shell to see the akuma, lying dazed on the ground with a manhole cover next to them.

Dang.

Heavy Matal rushed over, Nino idly noting that he was a little slower than Carapace would’ve been. The akuma clutched their bat, almost looking ready to strike, but Heavy Matal snatched it from their hand and threw it a safe distance away. The akuma immediately began to get up, but they could barely get on all fours before Heavy Matal grasped the back of their clothing.

Nino gaped as Heavy Matal lifted the akuma effortlessly with one hand, the other hand grabbing their side. Heavy Matal reeled their arms back, then stepped forward.

Nino’s pupils contracted as the akuma was sent flying off into the distance, screaming all the way. Nino didn’t even hear the impact of the landing, nor could he even see it.

Well, what Heavy Matal lacked in speed, Nino supposed, he definitely made up elsewhere.

Slowly, Heavy Matal turned, Nino flinching as if he were next to be thrown. However, Heavy Matal simply walked towards the baseball bat he’d tossed aside, mumbling something about how he hoped it was the object Ladybug needed. He picked up the bat, turning it in his hands, then glanced back at Nino.

Nino held out the shell almost robotically. Heavy Matal approached with a smile, letting out a, “thanks,” as he took the shell and placed it on his back. Baseball bat in his left hand, Heavy Matal waved with the other, Nino’s eyes briefly locking onto the transformed turtle miraculous.

Then, Heavy Matal just… left, as if he truly had no knowledge that Nino had once been Carapace. Perhaps Ladybug hadn’t told him? Nino was fairly sure that was a good thing.

Still, it was a weird feeling, seeing someone else wielding the turtle. Of course, the miraculouses had never been permanent until now - previously only given when required - but Nino had been its only wielder up until this point.

Yet, Nino didn’t feel as replaced as he thought he would, if he were honest. Even if he had, his replacement…

Well, he was a darn good turtle, at least in Nino’s opinion. It was a comforting thought.