Miraculous Team ✔️

16

It was another hot day when the heroes headed to the airport. The same Bourgeois jet was waiting for them. Brie couldn't see them off, she had school, but they all exchanged numbers and hugs before leaving. Chloe slipped Brie a dazzling bracelet with yellow and white stones. The two smiled brightly at each other. Deep down, they knew that they'd see each other again.

Marinette and Alya were back on friendly terms. None of them brought up what happened the day before. But Marinette still kept a noticeable distance herself and Adrien, who also decided that maybe he needed some space...

away

from her.

Nino was gradually warming up to Chloe after they fought side by side, though first impressions really are hard to wash away.

Lew accompanied the group to the airport. He had something to tell them.

"Your next stop is my brother, Ming. Ming is very different from me and Fu. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if you never find him. I haven't spoken to him for more than ten years. As a boy, he was the only one from the three of us brothers who found no interest in the Miraculous. He always thought of it as a myth. You might have some difficulty getting the ingredients out of him. But anyhow, I hope you guys stay safe. It's quite impressive, having so much on your shoulders at such a young age. It's... admirable really. And hopefully Hawkmoth isn't smart enough to know where you guys are headed."

Marinette's face fell. "I'm sorry about the attacks in Hong Kong."

Lew patted her shoulder and looked at her, dead serious. "Absolutely not your fault."

Soon they were off. This time, Adrien followed Chloe to the front of the plane, behind the pilot. He tried to show interest when the pilot started blabbering about the weather patterns and controls, but his mind was on something else. The pilot was a small, friendly man. He had sworn secrecy to the heroes and had a very warm, reassuring smile during the first trip. But this time, there was something odd about him. His shoulders were tense and he frequently jumbled up his words and laughed nervously to cover it up. Adrien pushed it aside, convinced that his mind was playing yet another trick on him. There was the faint sound of music coming from Nino's speaker, accompanying the whooshing of air from the engine and beneath the jet's wings. Chloe dug out her tiny bottle of perfume from her purse.

"Please don't." The pilot said, not taking his eyes of the cockpit, "I'm very sensitive to strong smells."

"Oh. My bad."

"Sure is cloudy up here." The pilot continued, "We're not gonna see the sun for a while."

"Then why are you wearing sunglasses?" Adrien asked out of curiosity.

"Oh." The pilot chuckled, edgy, "Uh, you never know when you need them, son- I mean, Adrien. I mean... yeah."

Adrien straightened up. Something was off. He carefully sat down on the leather seat next to the pilot.

"That's for the co-pilot." The pilot stated.

"There's no co-pilot." Adrien answered coolly, "Can I have a look at your Ray-Bans? I've always wanted to buy one."

"You're a model. There's no way you haven't had Ray-Bans before. And I don't think that's such a good idea."

At that moment, the pilot eyed Adrien from the side and Adrien felt his body freeze up.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Adrien forced a smile, his heart pounding, "I want a snack. Chloe, you wanna come?"

Chloe was about to say that she was still full from the delicious chow mein she had when they sat down for an early lunch at the airport, when she saw the panicked look on Adrien's face.

"Sure. I'm starving." Chloe said, sounding a bit too convincing, "Lead the way."

Adrien kept quiet till he and Chloe reached their friends.

"Kitchen." Adrien hissed at them.

Nino reached over and turned off his speaker. "What?"

"Kitchen. Now." Adrien repeated. They saw the solemnity in his eyes and quickly unbuckled their seatbelts. Marinette and Nino both stared at him, puzzled. Alya silently prayed that Adrien wasn't about to burst Nino and Marinette's bubble. And Chloe, well, she was digging for her perfume.

The kitchen was the kwamis temporary empire and they did not appreciate the disturbance.

"Wow, Adrien." Plagg said, peeking out from behind his cards, "We just had lunch two hours ago, and now you bring in the whole gang. I thought I was the eater in this pack."

"And you still are." Trixx rolled her eyes.

"Oh quit it you two." Wayzz threw a card at Trixx, who ducked.

Adrien approached their table. "The pilot's akumatized."

A couple gasps rang out from the group. Pollen spat out a mouthful of green tea. "What?" She exclaimed, shocked.

"How'd- how did you find out?" Marinette asked, her eyes darting at all directions.

"When he looked at me, the bags under his eyes were purple. He was covering it up with his sunglasses." Adrien explained quietly.

"That explains why Hawkmoth knows our every move." Alya whispered, "What do we do?"

Nino bit his lower lip. "And he's the only one who's on the plane besides us. I don't think any of you know how to fly a plane."

"So we can't fight him." Chloe concluded, "Unless we're on land."

"You need to get rid of him." Pollen said nervously, "What if he comes after us?"

"Everyone stay away from the pilot, kwamis, stay close to your owners." Marinette said, her voice full of authority, "If the pilot's akumatized, I doubt he's even bringing us to San Francisco. Alya, do me a favor and check Google Maps or something like that on your phone. I know it's supposed to be on airplane mode, but I've never heard of planes dropping out of the sky because someone forgot to turn off their phone, so it'll be fine. Nino, go back and turn on your music so the pilot doesn't suspect a thing. Chloe, call your papa. If this doesn't work out, we might need another pilot for the trip back to Paris. Adrien-"

His name blissfully rolled down her tongue.

"Do you have any idea where his akuma might be?"

Adrien pursed his lips. "I have guesses."

"Good." Marinette nodded.

"He's taking us back to Paris." Alya gasped, looking up from her phone. Nino's music started playing again, loudly this time.

"My daddy isn't picking up." Chloe reported from the other side of the kitchen.

"Looks like it's up to us then." Marinette said dramatically, turning to the direction of the front of the private jet.

"What's the plan, m'lady?" Adrien couldn't help but grin.

"All of you, stay in the kitchen and protect the miraculouses. There's no where to hide and no place to escape, so I'm putting as much distance as possible between you and the pilot."

Nino stepped back in and held Alya's hand. She glanced at him and smiled.

"I don't have much to lose. I'll go after the akuma."

"Woah woah woah." Adrien said, holding his hands out, "First of all, that's insane. You don't have any powers to defend yourself. Second of all, I believe in you, Mari, but do you even know how to fly a plane?"

Marinette looked back at him and flashed him a toothy smile. "Never heard of autopilot, kitty?"