The GenderBender (Miraculous Ladybug story/ kinda AU)

Chapter Four ~ The plot thickens

The three of them practically flew through the city, Ladybug with her yoyo and Chat with his staff. Chat was also carrying Luka who had gone quiet since the outbreak at the river. It wasn't long until Ladybug led them to the flooring on the Eiffel Tower. As it was a chilly day, not many people were there. This came as a relief to the two superheroes as they needed somewhere private to talk and there wasn't many places to go. Letting Luka sit down, Chat turned to Ladybug. He seemed to have a lot to say, as did Ladybug herself though before they could begin Luka started talking.

"I'm sorry to be so impatient but... what exactly is happening to me..." The feminine looking Luka asked the too worriedly. "I heard you saying something about an Akuma, Ladybug," he added, turning his head to the spotted hero. Ladybug paused, unsure of where to start. A lot had happened today and honestly she was amazed at the way this Akuma victim worked. Almost in the shadows. She had never seen anything like it apart from the time Sabrina had been Akumatised and even then it didn't take as long. She wondered if she was missing something. "Ah... Ladybug?" Luka's voice said softly noticing how the hero had gone off in a trail of thought.

Ladybug blinked back to focus. She smiled nervously to Luka. "Ah well you see... you've been cursed by an akuma somehow..." she started before noting how worried he looked, "though you're not the first! We're still trying to work out who is doing this and where they are so we're going to have to ask you some questions," Ladybug told the ever so changing Luka.

Luka seemed distant, like something was talking to him elsewhere, but he soon snapped back. "Ah sorry Ladybug... well what happened earlier... well it was all normal I guess..." He said, seemingly scratching his brain to get some of his memories out. He seemed annoyed by his lack of knowledge which was an odd sight to see on him.

It was now Chats turn to speak, "Anyone you've seen? Specifically someone suspicious, or um in an akuma costume," he chuckled a bit before returning to his out of character-ably serious self. Luka seemed to remember something by that as his eyes widened and his lips parted to an 'o' shape as if he had just realised something table turning.

"They covered their face," he mumbled.

"Huh?" Ladybug blinked in confusion at the short muffled answer. "Who did?"

Luka sighed and looked to the spotted hero with his soft eyes. His feminine appearance gave him a strange dusty glow of natural beauty and concern. It really caught the eye of the spotted hero. It was then Luka continued. "Earlier today someone in a hood stopped me and started talking about my music, I didn't mind the conversation it was just strange how they were holding my wrist as if to stop me walking away..."

Chat moved forward and swiftly grabbed Lukas wrist, examining it. His eyes hardened at a realisation. "Look..." he said tapping at the wrist. Both Luka and Ladybug stared down at the wrist. Bared across it was the small pink symbol of female. Luka seemed just as shocked as the others.

"That wasn't there before..." Luka muttered under his breath though still audible. His breathing was getting deeper until he let out a sigh and lent back. Leaning and leaning, it wasn't long until he was laying on the metallic ledge of the Eiffel Tower. The confused victim seemed very quiet as he held a hand over his forehead. His eyes drifted closed and he bit his lip. "Sorry... I think I have a headache..."

Ladybug leant towards him and tapped his shoulder. "Luka are you ok?" She asked strongly but with clear concern. At no immediate answer she spun her head around to Chat. Her eyes glistened with worry. There had to be something she could do, going with instinct she looked to the sky. "LUCKY CHARM!" With that a small towel or flannel dropped down to her hands. Looking around by the corners of her eyes, the river below went spotted in her bug vision. This wasn't so hard to guess what she had to do. Looking back to Chat she handed him the flannel. "Can you dip this in cold water? The river water should do, it might help his head?"

As Chat headed off to get the towel damp, Ladybug examined Lukas wrist. "Hmmm it must have been left by the akuma... I'll have to check if Clovis has one... at some point..." she mumbled to herself, looking off into the distance.

•••

Marinette was walking back from school with Alya. The whole akuma deal had been going on for over three days now and it was getting crazy. Some students at the school weren't turning up and only more and more people were becoming victims. Even some of the people of Marinette's class had been affected. Kim now Cam, Sabrina now Samuel, and Nino now Nina, were just to name a few. It was exhausting seeing it go on around her whilst she was still trying to find the main victim. The closest she had gotten so far was with the wrist thing which everyone who was affected seemed to share.

"I think they're going to close the School," Alya mentioned lightly to her friend, resting her arm over Marinette's shoulder. Alya's relationship with Nina had taken a tough turn after the change. She didn't say anything but Marinette could tell Alya was uncomfortable about it. Sighing Marinette hugged Alya supportively. A lot of Paris was in paranoia about it which only made her feel worse.

"I agree... at the state everyone is in..." Mari added as the two girls took a turn towards the bakery. Standing outside they said their goodbyes before heading their separate ways. Marinette's thoughts were so deep that she didn't acknowledge the warm bakery smell as she headed inside. Her parents weren't downstairs so she stood behind the counter and traced her finger across the front desk in silence. She had plans to meet with Chat tonight about the akuma and share anything they've found out. She'd tried already to get advice from Master Fu about it but he just told her to treat the victim as any other victim for now until he finds of a temporary cure. Sighing she didn't even look up as the bell of the door jingled as somebody stepped inside.

"Marinette?"