Miracle Box - an MLB rewrite

Book 2 - Rooster Runner

"We need to talk," Ladybug said firmly, pulling Chat Noir to a tucked away alley near where Kaalki dropped them off. Chat Noir was not a fish anymore. He tried cracking a joke with her, since she had been in such a silly mood that day, but apparently now that tide had shifted dramatically after what Chat Noir revealed. Her face was sour, but also concerned. Chat Noir felt like he'd done something terribly wrong.

"I know what you're thinking–" he gave in.

"No you don't," she cut him off.

"You think I'm lying or somehow I'm in opps with Hawkmoth–"

"See, you don't know what I'm thinking," Ladybug said. "A month ago, Plagg came to my house as an absolute wreck. I've never seen a kwami so disturbed and he couldn't even say what it was that had him in such a state. I think Tikki figured it out because she's smart but she refuses to tell me. You've been different ever since December. That was when Dusuu woke up. I think I've figured it out."

"Figured what out?"

"I want you to say it," she demanded.

"I genuinely don't know."

"You could feel Dusuu's presence when we fought Prime Queen somehow! And now you just KNOW he has a holder?"

"I don't know what's wrong with me."

"I think it's something to do with your curse, is it not?" Ladybug asked. Chat Noir was greatly confused by this cause, honestly, he forgot he had been cursed. "I know the curse was lifted but what if it wasn't entirely?"

"The curse gave me bad luck and no charm," Chat Noir said, "it was really stupid, but has nothing to do with... this."

"Your ring started shrinking to your finger so badly it got stuck which scared you out of being Chat Noir at a really inconvenient time for us," Ladybug countered, "I think that has something to do with this."

"What do you mean?"

"Okay, you clearly don't know so I won't say you're keeping secrets from me," Ladybug sighed before revealing her theory, "I think you're connected to the miraculous. Not just yours, but also Dusuu's."

"Why Dusuu's?"

"Dusuu was the one who cursed Plagg. In doing so there must now be a tie between him and the black cat, right?"

"That's... actually not a bad thought," Chat Noir said in awe. "That would explain how I felt it when Dusuu woke up, and how I was aware when he was becoming more active."

"And now you know he has a wielder. If the kwamis had sensed it that fast, they would have barged into where we were in the sanctuary in a panic. You somehow figured it out probably the exact second it happened, somehow quicker than the other kwamis."

"That's great then! Maybe we can use this ability of mine to track Dusuu!" Chat said enthusiastically. Ladybug wasn't as excited as him. She actually looked greatly disturbed. Chat Noir took back his ardor.

"I'm worried about you, Chat," she said with a quiet voice. Suddenly, the city became enormous in that moment. All sounds amplified to him; the cars on the street beside them, the traffic in the distance, music playing in one of the buildings nearby... It became hard to focus on her.

"Why would you be..."

"I don't know," she said, "I have a bad feeling. I don't know why, but I'm scared for you."

"Don't be," he said, "I'm perfectly fine. If this theory is true, then this is actually great for us!"

"I'm not so sure..." she quivered.