Secret Admirer

Chapter 12: Secrets

"Calm down, Hawkmoth." Lila rolled her eyes and jumped off of the brick box she trapped Chat Noir in. She walked up to his hand and held it, gazing at the ring. "Aw, poor cat." She fake pouted. "I guess the cat fight's over."

"Cataclysm!" He shouted, his hand sparking black.

Lila jumped back just in time. "Guess not." She chuckled. "But that'll only work for now. Your miraculous will run out, Chat Noir, and your ring will be mine."

"Not gonna happen!" A muffled shout could be heard from inside. "Ladybug will come any minute now and stop you!" He pointed at her tauntingly.

"Can't wait." Lila smiled, crossing her arms.

. . .

Ladybug stood at the top of a building, watching the encounter between Chat Noir and Lila. She needed to help Chat Noir and Lila was a vicious opponent, so she needed to be cautious. She backed up, so they wouldn't see or hear her.

"Lucky Charm!" Ladybug called. A stick of butter covered in a Ladybug wrapper fell in her hands. She stepped forward to see Lila talking to the trapped Chat Noir. She knew what to do. This would fit right into her idea. Ladybug turned back to her team. "Remember the plan?"

"Of course." Queen Bee flipped her hair.

"You can count on us." Rena Rouge twirled her flute.

"Good. Let's get started." Ladybug tossed Queen Bee the butter and nodded. She looked back to the enemy. "It's our turn to join the fight."

The two heroes ran off while Ladybug watched. She waited a minute before launching her yo-yo in front of Lila. The villain looked up at her with a smirk.

"So . . . you finally showed up." Lila walked closer. "Kind of a lousy partner if you ask me."

"I'm not asking you." Ladybug kept her chin high.

"So are you gonna come down here and fight me already?"

"No." Ladybug shrugged.

"No?" Lila furrowed her brow. "Why not?"

Ladybug sat down on the edge of the building, resting her chin on one of her knees. "You're after my miraculous, aren't you, so why should I be chasing you? My powers won't be taken away if I don't follow orders."

"Don't you care about your partner?" Lila crossed her arms. "I'm about to take his miraculous and you're just gonna leave him helpless?"

"Guess so." She smiled.

"That's quite sad, you know?" Lila huffed, shaking her head. "I should've tried to team up with Chat Noir myself. We would've been way better than you, Ladybug." She glared, her purple eyes flashing a shade darker. "I always knew you were the real villain anyway."

"Maybe." Ladybug replied. "But I already know who he is, so it doesn't matter to me. And besides . . . I'm more powerful. Even if you obtain the power of the black cat, you can't beat the ladybug."

"Fine, Ladybug, then I'll have to take you out first." Lila flew up to the building as Ladybug stood back up. "I'm getting sick of that smile anyway."

. . .

Queen Bee peeked out from behind the walls that imprisoned Chat Noir. Ladybug and Lila had run off fighting. Bee still held the stick of butter that Ladybug gave her and she unwrapped it.

Queen Bee rolled her eyes. "This is a real low point in my career." She rubbed the butter around Chat Noir's wrist with a disgusted look on her face. "I hate this." She complained, moving her hand back. "Try moving your stupid wrist, Chat, so I can stop doing this!"