𝙎𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨 ✔️

Chapter Ten

"Plagg's trapped again, Ladybug!" Emma cried with a grin. "We have to save him."

"What happened this time, Papillion?" Marinette asked, waiting for Emma to explain today's 'superhero adventure.' Apparently, the book Adrien had finished reading with Emma involved superheroes, and Emma had adored it. For the past two weeks, 'superheroes' was Emma's favorite game to play. Usually, it was Plagg stuck somewhere and they had to save him, but occasionally, it was some 'secret mission' for some item or other.

"He's trapped in the kitchen!" Emma said. "Let's go, Ladybug!"

With a grin, Marinette followed Emma as she scampered into the kitchen, little purple ribbons trailing behind her from her twin pigtails. According to Adrien, that had been Marinette's fault. For the past few days, Emma had requested her hair to look "just like Marinette." So, twin pigtails it was.

When they got to the kitchen, Marinette was fully expecting Plagg to be sitting on the floor somewhere, or maybe on the counter. Instead, Emma froze in the entryway, staring under the table with a frown. "Where'd he go?" she whined.

Marinette smirked. That sly cat. "Chat Noir probably hid him."

"Oh no!" Emma cried. "We have to find him!" Immediately, she started searching through all the cabinets. Marinette was glad Emma started there so she didn't see the grin Marinette couldn't keep back.

After half an hour of scouring the house, Plagg was found in the living room. Emma gave him a tight hug before retreating upstairs to her room, Marinette following behind.

"Good to have you back, Plagg," Marinette said, patting the plush cat on the head.

Emma hugged him tightly. "I'm sorry Chat Noir kidnapped you. I won't ever let it happen again."

"We won't let it happen," Marinette playfully corrected. It may have been a lie considering there was a high chance of it happening tomorrow, but that's what made it fun. And Emma wasn't ever really upset. If she was, Chat Noir was going to get a talking to.

She held up a fist for Emma to bump. "We're a team, right?"

Emma bumped her little fist against Marinette's. "Yeah."

"And you're the best teammate ever."

There was a long moment where Emma just stared at Marinette, her expression unreadable. Marinette grew worried, about to ask what was wrong when Emma launched herself up and wrapped her arms around Marinette's neck. "Best teammate in the whole, wide world."

Marinette froze, partly out of shock, partly in awe. She knew Emma and Adrien's little exchange, and this felt like she was encroaching on that. But at the same time, Marinette was honored to have this little girl call her that. Smile growing wide, she squeezed Emma in a hug, earning a squeal from the girl. "Best teammate in the whole, wide world."

They stayed like that for a while before Emma wiggled her way out of the hug. "I have to tell you my secret," she whispered. "But can't tell anyone. Okay?"

"Okay."

"Pinky promise?"

Marinette locked her pinky with Emma's. "Pinky promise."

Emma scampered over to her bed, crawling under it and pulling out a thick binder. "This is my special drawing book."

Intrigued, Marinette patted the space beside her, indicating Emma to sit down. But, as always, Emma plopped down in Marinette's lap instead.

Not that Marinette minded in the slightest.

Emma pulled the binder into her lap, and Marinette expected to see a collection of Emma's drawings.