Lost Kitten

Chapter 15: Recruitment

As usual, the school day passed by slowly. Adrien made sure that Alya would get Nino to meet up with Ladybug and Chat Noir, and Marinette was planning on going to Le Grand Paris after school to get Chloé to come as well. As the two walked out of school Adrien pulled Marinette off to the side.

“Did you mean what you said earlier? Do you really think that once this is all over, I can take you out on a date?” Adrien had been wondering about this all day.

“I did. Adrien, I want you to know that you weren’t the only one who thought their feelings were unmatched by the other. I fell in love with you the moment you handed me that umbrella four years ago. While I had feelings for Chat Noir, nothing could really happen when I felt so strongly about you. Our whole relationship is filled with ironies, but I think that we were meant to be together.” Almost as soon as she finished talking, she was picked up and spun around.

“I have been waiting for this for so long Marinette.”

“Me too Adrien.” Marinette said while Adrien set her down. “We can talk about this later, I have to go get Chloé, where are we meeting again?”

“Chemin de fer de Petite Ceinture, the part of it near Maison-Blanche.”

“Okay, I’ll get her there in about an hour. See you in a bit, Kitty.” She turned around and jogged off to the nearest alleyway to transform.

“All right Tikki, we’re nearing the end, let’s go recruit Chloé. Tikki, spots on!”

Marinette soared above the rooftops towards Le Grand Paris. She had been there enough times to know where Chloé’s room was, so she headed straight for that balcony.

“Chloé? Are you in there? Would you be able to come out for a bit, I need to talk to you.” Ladybug said, peering through the windows into the large, sprawling room, just to see a gaping Chloé looking back at her.

“Ladybug?” Chloé came out the large glass doors, “What do you need from me? You haven’t needed my help in quite some time.”

“To say I didn’t need your help isn’t necessarily true. Over the past few years I have needed your help several times, I’ve just been too afraid to ask, but I’ve also been watching you. I have watched you become a better person, and atone for your actions. You have actually tried to improve yourself, and I admire you for it. But now I am asking for your help, and if you’ll come with me, I can explain all of it.”

“You’ve seen all of that? Ladybug, after I helped Hawkmoth, I realized that I had hurt a lot of people, and I knew I had to change that. If you trust me enough to come and personally ask for my help, I will come. Where are we going?” Chloé talked in a way Marinette didn’t know if she’d ever get used to.

“The abandoned railways, we’re going to meet someone.” Marinette walked over and tightly held onto Chloé, “Hold on tight!”

Chloé grabbed onto Ladybug tightly as they soared over the city of Paris. She hadn’t felt like this in years, she truly missed being able to be a superhero. Chloé was excited at the prospect of being able to help someone again. She had worked so hard to change her old ways, and finally it had paid off.

“We’re getting close to the Petite Ceinture, everyone else is there.” Ladybug yelled through the loud wind.

“How many people are there, Ladybug?”

“Three, we’re getting the old team back together.” Ladybug said, chuckling as they landed on the ground in the middle of the old railroad tracks. “Hey there Kitty! I brought an old friend.”

Hearing Ladybug say ‘Kitty’ made Chloé react. Standing right in front of her was the Chat Noir. The Chat Noir who had been missing for two years. Yet here he was, and no one seemed surprised by it. Standing on either side of Chat were her classmates, Alya and Nino, aka Rena Rouge and Carapace. Ladybug wasn’t lying, the old team was here.

“Wow, you weren’t kidding.” said a bemused Chloé.

“Nope, I wasn’t,” Ladybug giggled, and walked over to Chat Noir, placing her arm around him, “Okay, let’s get down to business. Do you want to take the lead on this one Chat?”

“Of course m’lady. So, we have brought you guys here to once again recruit you. We are nearing the end of our fight against Hawkmoth, which means that there will be a final battle soon. We don’t think it would be prudent to dole out every single Miraculous we have, seeing as Hawkmoth will still be outnumbered if it’s just the five of us. We have chosen all of you again because of your track records in the past. You guys have helped us more than anyone else. While some of our pasts may be a bit checkered,” Chat said it as he eyed Chloé, “You have proven yourselves to be true heroes at heart. Which is why, Ladybug and I are formally asking for your help. Will you guys, once again, join our team and help us take down this terrorist once and for all?”

“I’m in.” Chloé stated, taking a step forward, “you’re giving me a chance to show all of Paris that I’ve changed, I can’t pass that up.”

Ladybug took a step forward and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Welcome back, Queen Bee. We’re lucky to have you.”

“It’s good to be back.”

“I’m in too, dudes. I’m always down to help you.” Nino said 

“And of course you already asked me.” Alya stated, receiving a surprised look from her boyfriend.

“They have?” Nino asked

“Yeah, they kind of showed up on my roof last night, I kinda sorta figured out Chat’s identity, they gave the spiel. You get the gist.”

Now it was Chloé’s turn, “You what?! How could you possibly do that?”

“Don’t worry, they’re going to reveal themselves to us tomorrow. I don’t know Ladybug’s identity though.” Alya said quickly, calming the other two slightly.

“So tomorrow?” Chloé asked quietly.

Ladybug looked around at the three, “Tomorrow. All names and identities will be revealed tomorrow, including Hawkmoth and Mayura. We will meet you guys here tomorrow, to give you your Miraculous, to reveal all identities, and to start planning and training. Are you guys ready for this?”

Ladybug and Chat Noir smiled as a collective agreement went throughout the group, it was all coming together.