Red Strings And Markers

f i f t e e n

Yesterday, the city was being destroyed by The Phantom.

"What's tonight's issue?" She asked herself. She was still looking at the paper crane that was floating under the street lamp, not noticing the presence behind her.

Arms slicked around her waist and she immediately tensed and shot her elbow back into her perpetrator, grabbing one of their arms and tossing them over her shoulder.

"W-Well, I'm glad you're on your toes, my lady." Immediately after, she kneeled next to the boy, feeling the blow to her gut.

"Chat! I'm so sorry, I just didn't-"

Chat Noir held up his hand up to stop her as he sat up, shooting her a smile. "Don't worry about it, my lady. I deserved that one." He chuckled and Ladybug held her hand out to help him stand and he took it, standing. But he didn't let go of her hand, he pulled her into his embrace, the smell of grapefruit filling his nose. "The odds must be in our favor if we keep meeting up like this."

Ladybug let out a small chuckle and pushed Chat away slightly. "Another time kitty cat, another time." She bopped his nose with a smile and he let out a smirk, rubbing his nose against hers.

"I'll keep you to those words Bugaboo." He whispered before parting.

The two heard the flapping of wings and looked up at the night sky, seeing many origami cranes flying towards the Big Ben tower.

"At least they're not actual birds."

"Luckily. If not my pigeon-radar would be on high." The irony of it all, the black cat was allergic to birds.

"What harm could a paper bird do?"

The two started to go towards the Big Ben tower and noticed all the birds congregating around the base of it, flying in circles in a swirl of colors.

"Art is truly underappreciated. It's a shame that I'm going to have to take over London to show these poor imbeciles. Surely, my army of origami cranes will take over the world."

Ladybug and Chat stood before the swirl of birds until they ceased to spin, settling besides their master. A young man with tight fitting clothing of grayscale colors shapes and figures all around his costume. The signature moth shaped mask adorned the boy's face, in his hand was a large stack of colorful folding paper that was magically folding into more paper cranes.

"Well, if it isn't Ladybug and Chat Noir. I've heard about you."

Chat extended his baton long enough that he could lean on it, Ladybug leaning on him.

"I'm paw-sitively sure you've heard miraculous things about us." Chat smirked.

The boy scoffed. "Atrocities. Papillion tells me that the two of you don't appreciate art. Art is an explosion of creativity and emotions that Papillion creates and that you two always seem to crush. As Papillion's new apprentice, I, Kirigami, will be the ones to crush you."

Ladybug let out a chuckle. "You sure are paw-simistic about that." Ladybug said and Chat looked at her.

"Did you just-"

"Yup. A play on optimistic. Get it?"

"This is why I love you."

"You dare mock Kirigami?" The cranes that had been floating alongside of the boy were almost buzzing now, trembling and ready to attack. "You will rue the day that the two of you mocked my art and I. Attack, my children!" On cue, the cranes flew towards Ladybug and Chat Noir, sending the two flying in different directions.