I Knew It Was You [COMPLETE]

12. Akuma

"Adrien, go to the living room and stay there... I-I have to inform my pa-parents," Marinette said, dashing off.
Adrien checked his surroundings, making sure no one was around. Soon he transformed and jumped out of the window, spotting Ladybug not far away and approaching him.
"Cat Noir, any idea about this akuma?" she asked, ready to fling her yo-yo.
"I just arrived, M'Lady. Gotta check this bad guy out," he said, extending his staff. He knew Ladybug was still in awe because her nickname returned but he didn't want to see her happy face, just yet.

He leaped over buildings and crossed over streets, just like they way it was before: him and his Lady. Like nothing ever changed...he was her Kitty and her best friend as always...

He snapped out of memory lane as soon as he heard toddlers wailing on the street.
"I am the Babysitter!" a firm voice boomed. The akuma victim entered, a blue-skinned, apron-wielding teenager with a ladle in her hands.
"Babysitter? The Maid suits you more, Nanny McBlue," Cat teased.
"Looks like the real babysitting is up to us, Cat Noir," Ladybug said, landing next to him.
"You got it Bugaboo. What's the plan?"
"I'm sure the akuma is in her ladle, distract her, won't you Kitty?"
"You got it, M'Lady."
"I said her, not me. When did you start calling me those names again?"
"When I realized I liked them too much to stop." Cat winked and put his staff forward, aiming directly at the akuma, leaving Ladybug in awe.

But it wasn't the right day to flirt...
As Cat zoomed to the Babysitter, she had already shot her shot: a flash of blue hit Ladybug.
Before Cat could analyze what had happened, his sixth sense told him to duck. He complied and landed smoothly on the ground, finally taking a look at the mess: a toddler-sized Ladybug stared at him.
"Oh no no no...M'Lady?" he asked, reaching out for her.
Ladybug- actually, Babybug- cooed and reached for Cat's hair. 
"Oh no, this is bad," Cat said, picking up the child and running away to the nearest hiding spot.
"YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE FOREVER!" the Babysitter's voice boomed.

Cat found an alley and kept Babybug on a mostly-foam couch.
"M'Lady? Do you know who I am?" he asked.
The toddler stared at him and frowned, "Am I supposed to?" she asked. Okay, she can talk.
"Um yeah...we save Paris together all the time? We trust each other with our lives?"
"Are you joking? And where did I get this silly costume from? Did you give it to me, Silly Kitty?"
He had to admit, if they weren't in a life-threatening situation, this would've been a cute way to spend time.
But he had to think quick...he needed to find a way to deal with Babybug and the Babysitter.
Kids...babysitting...distraction...Suddenly, an idea filled in his head.
"Hey Babybug, how about a game of hide-and-seek?" Cat said, smirking.

Soon, Babybug was counting. He had till 20 to get the akuma.
"Hey Babysitter? Wanna babysit a cat? Come and get me!" he yelled, aiming his staff at her.
"I'm gonna babysit a kitty soon, you rotten cat!" Babysitter yelled, shooting from her ladle.
Cat dodged the shots, getting closer with each step. Soon, he cornered her at a dead-end. Babybug could get here...
"READY OR NOT! HERE I COME!" he heard a voice not far away. Perfect timing.
"Oh playing games now are we?" Babysitter taunted, "I've got one. It's called tag!"
She lunged and Cat Noir flipped, landing behind her and grabbed the ladle. 
"Say goodbye to your job!" he said, breaking it in half.
The nasty butterfly fluttered out, as Babysitter wailed and detransformed: a dark-haired teenager, sitting on the ground and rubbing her head.

"I found you Silly Kitty!" Babybug chirped, "Now I'm gonna get the lucky charm!" 
Just like always, the magic instilled in her produced her Lucky Charm: a ladle. She was holding the ladle and staring at it in wonder, probably trying to figure out how a ladybug-patterned object appeared in her hands.
"Alright! Good job!" Cat said, trying to bring her back to focus. 
"Did you see that Silly Kitty? I can do magic!" Babybug exclaimed.
"And guess what? You can do even more!" he said, bending down to her level.
"Really?"
"Really. All you gotta do is catch a nasty little butterfly with that yo-yo of yours!"
"I can do that?"
"You sure can Babybug. Climb on my back and let's get the butterfly before it goes away."
He carried her, piggyback style and jumped over a store. "Wheeeeee! This is so cooooooool!" she exclaimed. Cat really wished he could spend more time with this little munchkin, but duty first.

Soon, he spotted the purple glowing bug and ran ahead, making sure Babybug was safe behind him.
"Alright Babybug! Think you can catch that rotten bug for me?" he asked, trying to keep his distance from the akuma and run with a toddler on his back.
"Of course I can, you Silly Cat!" she said. She tightened one arm around his neck and flung the open yo-yo, trapping the akuma inside. Cat set her down and closed the yo-yo, along with her tiny hands.
"Okay Babybug, you wanna see what else you can do?" he asked, looking at her big, blue eyes. She nodded, smiling and looking down at the yo-yo. A newly de-evilized akuma fluttered away.

Cat let out a breath of relief. The akuma was gone...now to fix this mess. He took the ladle and heard her earrings ring. 
"What's this Kitty?" she asked, touching her earrings.
"Wait! Don't touch them! You-you will lose your powers," Cat said, his voice becoming smaller with every word.
"Oh no, is that why you're sad Kitty? Can't we work together then?"
This was his chance. He could finally know her identity and it wouldn't even be his fault. But as he was thinking his, parallel thoughts appeared, reminding him of how much she trusted him. He can't do this, Ladybug needs him.
He sighed and looked at the little girl: blue eyes, dark hair and the same confidence. Whoever she was, she was meant to be Ladybug.
"I'm afraid not Babybug...but there's a way to fix that," he said, handing her the ladle, "You need to throw this as high up in the air as possible and say 'Miraculous Ladybug'. Th-That will break the spell a-a-and we-we can play a-again."
"Are you okay Kitty?" Babybug said, coming forward. She engulfed him in a tiny hug and Cat relaxed on her little shoulders, wrapping his arms around her without hurting her with his claws. He heard her earrings beep and pulled away. "You ready?" he said, holding her hand.
She nodded. He placed a little kiss on her forehead and smiled, trying to push his thoughts away. I'm doing this for Ladybug, he reminded himself.

"MIRACULOUS LADYBUG!"
The ladybugs zoomed out of the ladle and all around them. Babybug watched in wonder, loving her powers and excitedly jumped.
Too soon, the ladybugs engulfed her too and transformed back into the Ladybug we all know as now: a teenager. 
"Wh-What happened?" Ladybug said, rubbing her head.
"You're about to detranform, M'Lady. Can you meet me at the Arc de Triomphe in fifteen minutes?" Cat said, his staff ready to extend and transport him over buildings.
Ladybug nodded and flung her yo-yo, disappearing into the city.

Cat made his way over to the set location, a million thoughts in his head.
But one stumped them all: Even after this mess, Ladybug trusted him.
And that's all he needs from her.