Even in an Alternate Lifetime

Recognize

"Rejectifier is no ordinary archer... but she sure has a good aim, even with those magic arrows!" I managed to point it out without feeling awkward. The tension between Ladybug and I was so intense, it caused me to fear her intentions at that moment.

"Mhm. That must be where she's hiding the akuma. It's pretty obvious," Ladybug continued to badmouth, as she rolled her eyes.

We stood quiet, a few feet apart from each other on the edge of a rooftop, as we observed the villain's every-move, wondering what our next move would be.

"It's odd because she's leaving the couples alone," I mentioned to myself out-loud, trying my best to ignore my partner's unmannerly attitude.

"Well that's too bad for us," Ladybug scoffed. What has gotten into her?

"You're not understanding. We know she doesn't attack those who are in a relationship... so we could pretend—"

"Pretend?" Ladybug scoffed again, interrupting my planning.

"To be in a relationship!" I finally said, as I smiled at my intelligence.

"Sorry, Chat, but it's not cool to play around with people's feelings," she replied with a frown. Before I could respond to what she was implying, Ladybug jumped off the roof, swinging her yo-yo at the villain's bow, in an attempt to pull it out of her hands. In a matter of seconds, my partner approached Rejectifier, but was instantly swung around in circles by the string of her yo-yo.

  As always, I saw it coming, so I quickly stripped down my pole and onto the ground where my clumsy partner landed. I took my baton and spun it out in front of us, shielding my partner and I from the flying arrows. Rejectifier was getting used to the same pattern of throwing and shielding, so she changed it up and threw multiple at a time. This time, Ladybug and I jumped, crouched, and flipped as we dodged every arrow which came our way. I continued to use my baton as a bat, hitting and breaking the objects in half.

"A-Are you mad at me because I didn't show up?" I asked the angry bluenette, as I continued shielding myself.

"What do you think?" she replied with an eyeroll, as she too, continued to shield herself with her yo-yo.

"I didn't mean to hurt you, M'la—"

"You have no right to call me that," she began, interrupting my apology. "I... I also had a surprise for you!" she shouted with a faded sob. I stared back at the bluenette, who's eyes were filled with tears. I truly hurt her... and it made me feel like crap.

"I really am sorry, Ladybug," I apologized again, but this time I said it with even more sincerity.

"No... I'm the one who should be sorry. I begged you to come even though you were busy, and I knew that. Maybe another time," she replied with an understanding tone, as she quickly looked away, hiding her teared up face.

It felt shameful that my partner was hurting; hurting because of me.

"Maybe we should try your idea," she said with a quiet tone, as she stared back at me with her swelled up bluebell eyes.

"Purr-fect," I replied with a slight smile.

"There you are! Now I'll make sure—" the villain began, but paused at the sight of Ladybug and I, as we strolled down the dark street with our arms linked. It seemed to be working, so I decided to add just a small amount of spice. I lowered my head down to Ladybug's level and kissed her on the cheek softly, causing her to jump at the unexpected gesture.

"Hey!" she shouted in a whisper. The lighting was so dim, it was hard to tell if her face was covered with a dark red tint.

"It's all part of the plan," I whispered back with a smile.