Miraculous: New Beginnings

Spectre's Call

Bruno hummed impatiently outside an old performing arts building. He had agreed to accompany Veronique on an audition - as long as she paid for his food afterwards. He really wasn't in a situation to say no. They had been doing this for as long as Bruno could remember.

He didn't exactly have a lot of money. His inheritance was already spent - and he wasted any money he got from the government on gambling. It was hard to get a job when he had school to go to, too.

Luckily, Veronique was finally done with her audition. He couldn't remember what it was about - something to do with an old war film or something. To be fair, he wasn't that much interested in war films. He'd much prefer a horror film.

"How did it go?" Bruno asked her as she emerged from the building. "You got it, right? Did they say anything to you?"

Veronique looked at him with a forced smile. "Oh, yes... um... Claudine was there. At the audition. I didn't think she was the acting type," she said, "They said they might contact me later... uh, can we get moving?"

"What's the rush?" Bruno shrugged. "We've got all the time in the world. What about where you're taking me to, hmm? What about that noodle place?"

"Mm... maybe," mumbled Veronique. She grabbed Bruno's hand and tugged him along, in a hurry. "Don't turn around."

Bruno almost tripped over his own feet. What was going on? "Slow down, Ver. It's usually me doing the running..."

"I... there's no time to explain," she hissed, taking a left turn. "There's someone... um... yeah, no time to explain!"

"No, no. What's up?" Bruno pulled her aside. She was acting way too weird. "I can help... I may not have much in the terms of money, but I can still dish out pretty good advice!"

"Oh... it's not like you could help me. I-I mean, I'd probably need a superhero or something!" Veronique insisted, "And you're not a superhero, soooo..."

"I might not be," he lied, "But I know where to find one! Look, wait here for a minute, and I'll be back with a superhero! All you gotta do is act like you need help, right?"

"W-Wait, that's really not necessary-! I wouldn't want to burden The Miraculous Six with a problem like that!" Veronique called out to Bruno, yet it was already too late. He was already sprinting down the road, insisting that everything would be alright.

When he was definitely alone, Bruno opened his jacket to let his kwami escape. "Krratch, hunting time!" He called out, activating his transformation. Krratch didn't have a chance to argue.

Loupe jumped down from the roof of a building, landing in front of Veronique. "I heard that you needed a hero!" He said with a grin. "So, what's the problem?"

Veronique stared at him with wide eyes. "Did... did Bruno fetch you? Where is he? How did he do it?"

"Bruno's just doing a good deed for me, that's all," he lied, "I'm more worried about you, though. Care to tell me what's up?"

"... Only if you're quiet. Look into the next street," Veronique instructed, "Do you see a boy with blond hair? Uh... actually, that's probably not specific enough... he should be wearing a purple hoodie."

Loupe glanced into the next street, making sure to keep himself as hidden as possible. Sure enough, he saw the boy Veronique was talking about. He seemed shifty; he was looking at his phone, but every now and then, he'd glance towards the alleyway that they were in.

"I've never seen him before until recently. I don't even know his name," she told him, "But he's been... um... following me for a while now... I'm scared to go home in case he follows me there. He knows where I go to school. Every time I finish, he's there, waiting for me..."