Miraculous Ladybug: Season Six | Part One

Chapter Sixteen: Resistance

Chat Noir's POV
I sit at the top of the Eiffel Tower, overlooking all of Paris. I lean my body against the railing, looking towards the horizon, the heat from the sun burning my cheeks. Ladybug wanted me to stay alert for a message she would send me, assuming because she knew the other's identities, she could just find them in their civilian forms and tell them the date and place. Me though? No, I had to stay hidden in my superhero persona for hours until I got a little buzz from my staff from her. Sometimes, I think this whole thing would be more straightforward if we knew each other's identities and kept it to ourselves, but I knew it's safer this way. Despite Monarch's defeat, we still had an uprising enemy. I sigh, watching Parisians and tourists swarm around Andre; I wonder what Marinette is doing, probably finishing her Art project since she spent the majority of her day over at my place the day before. I wish I could be with her, or at least tell her where I disappear to during the day, especially now that we're starting patrolling again. Hiding her away from danger but failing to hide with her only makes it more suspicious in my eyes. Eventually, she'll put the puzzle pieces together.
I bow my head, looking away from Paris's afternoon glow, staring at my feet. I know it'll endanger Marinette if I tell her. Luka knowing is one thing: he owns a miraculous and can reach out to either Ladybug or me, knowing our civilian identities. Why couldn't it be more effortless?

Buzz. Buzz.

I opened my staff and was immediately introduced to a new message from Ladybug. "3 PM. Usual spot." It read, I think, for a moment. Usual spot... does she mean the rooftop? Wouldn't that be out in the open? I have to trust her. "Got it," I respond, immediately vaulting toward the direction of the distant rooftop, hoping that was what she meant.

I arrive at the rooftop simultaneously with her and Viperion, Luka. All three of us looked at each other awkwardly; they definitely came from the same place. She must've met with him in her civilian form before coming up this way with him. "Hey Kitty, you're early?" Ladybug starts, breaking the silence. I bite my tongue to resist asking her what they were doing together. I run my fingers through my hair, "O-oh, you know I was already transformed so I could get the message you mentioned about!" I chuckle nervously, refusing to make eye contact with either one of them. Viperion sighs, "Chat, I was telling Ladybug how I found out about you two; it was nothing serious." He smiles, looking down at her and back towards me. I blush, staring directly at him, "What exactly did you tell her?" I spat, in fear he told her my identity. He shrugs, "The same thing I told you, but from the perspective of her getting hit. You don't need to worry so much," He assures, touching my shoulder. I sigh, looking down once again, "You know where to find me," he whispers, pulling away from me. I nod, looking over the edge of the building. I see Rena Rouge and Carapace come running together, shocker.

By the time everyone that we expected arrived, aside from Ryuko, Ladybug sat us down in a circle. She put her hands together and inhaled, "I know this is our first time meeting all together since before Monarch stole the miraculouses. We have a new enemy we need to be wary of." She begins looking at everyone in the eyes, including me. "We still are unsure on who this person is named; however, we know what they are capable of." She continues looking at me, implying I'm a part of the we. I nod in agreement. "Therefore, we must begin to patrol. But this time, it won't just be Chat Noir and I. We will need all of your support." She emphasizes with a very stern look, hoping for some sort of response. She sighs once that response isn't given, "So, we have a system of buddies, so you aren't alone. It's too risky for you to be alone without any help, so we calculated the best matches for each of you." She says, looking over at Viperion. "Obviously, Chat and I will be together, and if we need any help at all, we will notify you." She continues, "Rena and Carapace, you will be a part of a system. Rena's illusions can distract the enemy until either Chat, or I appear. Carapace can obviously prot- Argos?" She tilts her head, looking behind all of us. I whip my head around to face my cousin; he's with Ryuko? I blink and immediately turn my head around to meet Ladybug once again. She sighs, "I honestly didn't expect you to come to Argos; I truly apologize." She says sincerely as he makes his way behind me with Ryuko following him. I felt their presence come closer, their shadows casting over me. He shrugs in response, "I get it, continue." He responds as if he were listening before he made the appearance. She inhales, looking over at Viperion, "I guess since you are truly taking the initiative on joining us, you can go with Viperion. I trust you both more than anyone could know." She states sternly but monotoned as if there's something she isn't revealing to the rest of us. Why is my cousin more trustworthy than the rest of us? What exactly does he know that I don't? I regain my focus and continue to listen to the conversation and lengthy list of buddies. This meeting drags on for an hour; it feels like an eternity.

  Finally, Ladybug gave everyone their respective shifts: nights and days; everyone had about three hours of shifts, once a day for all of us since there were eight total groups. "If you cannot make it to a shift, please inform me, and I will try to cover. I do not want your buddy suffering alone for three hours." She stated before anyone could ask about that since it could be an issue in the future. She inhales again, "Are there any questions before I release you." She asks, raising an eyebrow and scanning all of our masked faces. Silence. "Alright, we begin tonight; good luck, and don't forget to contact us if you need help." She finishes as she stands, looking over towards Argos. She walks over to him and mutters some intelligible words I couldn't exactly make out. I sigh, also standing; everyone begins to exit, leaving only me, Ladybug, Argos, Ryuko, and Viperion. Ladybug starts having a completely separate conversation with them as Viperion walks over to me. I sigh, "I need to come over," looking up at him as he nods back in response. "I know," He responds as we both leave Ladybug and them to their conversation.

Luka's POV

Adrien, even as his Chat Noir persona, has never been this negative towards someone. Even in his different persona, he was oddly quiet; I'm wondering if it had something to do with me talking to Ladybug before meeting up with everyone else for the meeting.

We stop by an alley and detransform without anyone else near. He crosses his arms and looks down, "I don't understand why it's okay for you to know Ladybug's identity, but I don't." He complains, which is a genuine concern for both of us. Why am I the one who was entrusted in the first place, compared to Adrien? Yeah, he wasn't the best at manipulating time, but seriously. I sigh, "I don't know, I also know yours, remember that. Also, it's not like I was willingly told by you both individually." I explain, turning away to walk out of the alley, hoping he would follow. "Luka, did she tell you anything about the night she defeated Monarch?" He stops me in my tracks with that question; I turn around quickly. "Are you implying she still hasn't told you?" I gasp with my mouth gaping open. He grimaces at my response, "Yeah, no, she hasn't. I don't think she plans on it either." He mutters, taking out his phone. I stand up straight, "I truly doubt that. It's probably not a good time for her to tell you," I start watching him type a message to someone. He shoves his phone back in his pocket, "What do you mean "a good time for her" when is there possibly a good time to tell her partner who the man behind the mask of the person who terrorized Paris for over a year was?" He growls, not inherently angry towards me. I bite my cheek, genuinely not knowing why Ladybug wouldn't have told Chat Noir, someone she claims she trusts. I sigh, "If I'm being honest, she's worried about this reaction. She's worried you'll get overly emotional over whoever it was. We still don't know the exact motives behind whoever is behind the butterfly miraculous now. All we know is that they want your miraculouses. And it would be too easy to akumatize you if you're in an unstable state." I mutter, crossing my arms. He looks at me confused, "How would she know the man behind Monarch would affect me if she doesn't know my identity?" He questions, "I'm not sure, but it seems like whoever it was would affect all of us if she hasn't told anyone." I respond, turning away to exit the alley once again. "You're welcome to join me," I add, hoping he would join me so he could finally open up more about what's actually on his mind.