#BTU Ch. 18 excerpt

[insanitysscribblings]

Ninette Week: Day 4 - Ladybug and Miraculous!Nino

So, yeah, remember that thing I mentioned about ret-conning a scene with Ladybug and Emerald Shell?

Here it is, from Chapter 18. (Is this cheating? This might be cheating. Oh well.)

Enjoy! <3

“You know, you probably made him fall in love with you just then,” Shell remarked as Ladybug approached. She snorted softly, something that amused and frustrated him, as if she was doubtful that anyone would fall in love with her just like that.

“He’s a kid; he can’t even spell ‘love’.”

“Don’t underestimate him because he’s young,” Shell warned her in a dire tone that was ruined by his grin. “He nearly conquered Paris in one night in his very short reign as king.”

“Hmm. Well, I have always wanted my own kingdom,” Ladybug mused as she and Shell scampered off before press or protesters could catch them unaware. “You know, big castle, moat, drawbridge—”

“I know someone who’s rich enough to pull that off,” Shell teased, grinning when Ladybug’s face flushed red to match her mask. She was so cute. “So when is that going to start being a thing again?”

“How many times do I have to say that ship has sailed before you’ll actually believe me?” Ladybug huffed, scowling at him with her fists on her hips. “And mind your own business. You’re almost as bad as Alya.”

Shell’s grin died at the mention of his friend/ex-girlfriend.

“Speaking of…she’s pissed at me, isn’t she?”

Ladybug side-eyed him as they ran through the streets of Paris.

“You did skip out on us for lunch yesterday. And I doubt it helps that we were both too busy to join her at Francoise’s today.”

Shell sighed as they paused to climb onto his favorite rooftop, the sight of the Seine gorgeous at this height. He kept his eyes focused on the river as he grumbled.

“Recording ran over yesterday. There was nothing I could do about it. Couple that with meeting Master Fu today when we were supposed to meet her for ice cream—” He gave a sigh, scratching the back of his hooded head. “This is hard, LB.”

Ladybug laid a brief, understanding hand on his shoulder as they leapt from the rooftop and raced off to complete their patrol.

“I know, Shell. I wish there was another way, too. But we’re still doing her birthday thing next week, right?”

“Oh, for sure,” Shell agreed, pacing his breath as they ran. “At this point, it’s not about just wanting to do it anymore: if we don’t do something to make things up to her soon, she’ll curse us both into toads.”

“Are you calling Alya a witch?”

“God no, especially not if there’s a chance it’ll get back to her. I’m just saying—”

Ladybug’s Miraculous gave a beep, and they paused, her hand going to it.

“How many dots?”

“Three,” Shell replied, counting quickly. Ladybug gave a shrug.

“Then we have time.”

“Yeah.”

He eyed her for a moment as they paused to survey the area yet again, frowning to himself. He didn’t…particularly want to have this conversation with her, mostly because he didn’t want to tear open old wounds…and partially because he wasn’t sure he could stand to hear what she would have to say about the matter. But on the other hand, just how long could he stand to see that forlorn look that crossed her face every time they were out and about doing moonlight hero work? It was an expression Ladybug should never have to make, an expression that made Emerald Shell ache deep inside every time she made it…though she probably wasn’t aware of the effect it had on him…

Taking a deep breath and reminding himself to focus, Shell gave this potentially unpleasant conversation a shot.

“So…since we have time, I gotta ask you: you miss Chat Noir, don’t you?”

Ladybug froze, her gaze turned away from him.

“Didn’t I say you should mind your own business, Shelly?”

Shell frowned. So it was as he thought…

“Aren’t we teammates, Dots?”

Ladybug turned, giving him an incredulous look. Shell grinned at her.

“What? You’re not the only one who can come up with stupid nicknames.” His smile faded after a second. “Seriously, LB, talk to me.”

Ladybug regarded him for a long moment. Shell kept her gaze, feeling himself straighten, as if he wanted to physically prove to her that he was worthy of her trust, waiting as a low rumble of tension rolled through him...

Finally, she seemed to give up, and she sank down on their current rooftop with a sigh, drawing her legs up to her chest, her arms folded under them. She waited until Shell sat down too, an arm draped over a bent knee, before she spoke.

“Yes, I miss him. It’s stupid, I know. And I can’t really explain it right…but when he’s not here…things don’t feel the same.”

Shell, for his part, didn’t know what to say. Just as Ladybug couldn’t explain it, he didn’t really get it, and it made him frown. After everything the guy had done, how could she still want him around? Wasn’t Shell himself doing a pretty good job? Or did it not matter because he would never be Chat Noir?

Immediately, he hated himself for his reaction. What was he, a jealous ex-boyfriend, covetous of every other relationship Ladybug had? That was so stupid. Yes, they had gotten closer ever since he had been Chosen, and yes, he cared about Ladybug’s happiness, and yes, he found that with every passing day he spent in her company, things shifted in a way that was both strangely new and horribly familiar, god help him, but—

As if she could feel him doubting himself—or maybe his feelings were obvious on his face—Ladybug bumped his shoulder with hers. Shell felt a jolt go through him that had nothing to do with the jostling movement.

“This isn’t to say I think any less of you, Shell,” she told him seriously. “You’ve been a godsend, honestly. If it weren’t for you when Poseidon showed up last month, I’d be dead. You’ve had only a short time to adapt, but you’ve been so amazing, and I’m proud of you.” She smiled. “Thank you, Shell.”

Oh jeez.

Shell could feel himself warm, and he laughed to distract from the fact that he was melting into a pile of goo, rubbing the back of his hooded head with a sheepish grin.

“Well, I think you’re really great too, LB,” he replied with a grin, but to his embarrassment, his words came out a bit too ardent.

Ladybug blinked for a moment, staring at him. Before Shell could rush to do damage control, his inner self-flogging was put on pause as red painted Ladybug’s cheeks once again. He stared. Oh…had he embarrassed her…?

Abruptly, her smile widened, as if to distract from the blush.

“Well…thank you,” she answered, ducking her head…almost shyly.

Emerald Shell swallowed.

‘Get a grip,’ he reminded himself fiercely before he could return to the topic at hand.

“I just worry sometimes…” He said slowly, leaning over to meet Ladybug’s gaze again so she could see how earnest he was. “I can tell you’re missing him by the look on your face when we beat an akuma. I just wish you didn’t have to.” For more reasons than one…

Ladybug laughed softly at that, and Shell’s heart nearly broke at the note of sadness in her voice.

“Believe me, I wish I didn’t have to, either. Stupid rogue cat.” She sighed, straightening her legs before she got up, standing tall, her silhouette striking an impressive figure against the moon and stars of the nighttime scenery. Standing there like that, if Shell didn’t know any better, he would claim that this was, without a doubt, an incredible woman who needed no support, who could stand on her own and be the hero Paris needed, and then some.

…But because he did have the privilege of knowing her so well, Shell knew what the height of such a pedestal did to Ladybug. And because he hated to see her alone up there, he stood with her, giving her back a pat, his hand maybe lingering a little longer than it should have.

“Well, I don’t get it…but I’ll leave it alone,” he promised her with a solemn nod. “You can’t help who you care about, right?”

Just then, something strange happened: instead of scoffing or rolling her eyes with a sarcastic twist of her lips or sardonic words, like Emerald Shell was half-expecting from her…she just stared at him. He blinked down at her, confused. Had he said something wrong?

He was about to ask…but something in her eyes made him stop, made him forget how to breathe as she stared up at him, the stars reflected in her eyes, red glossing her cheeks once again as they stood, suspended in this strange moment that made him anxious…and hopeful.

Slowly, after…however long they had stood there, Shell couldn’t remember, he had lost count—Ladybug’s lips parted, and she spoke.

“…I guess not,” she said softly, the look in her eyes evolving into something that made Shell’s heart jump into his throat.

Oh god. Oh god, he was so screwed, he had been trying to be good, trying not to complicate this new dynamic of their friendship, but now she was looking at him like that, and holy shit, he blew it—

His inner panic was mercifully interrupted by the beeping of her Miraculous once again. Their trance broke, and Ladybug looked away, biting her lip. Shell looked away too, clearing his throat and working to get his heartbeat back under control before he did something stupid.

“Come on. Let’s finish up our patrol before you turn back,” Shell insisted, hopping onto his hover board to glide back down to the ground. He heard Ladybug huff behind him as she touched down onto the street, releasing her yo-yo from the roof.

“It is so unfair that you don’t have a time limit like I do.”

Ah, there it was—the lifeline he could seize to make this situation return to normal. Thank god.

“Excuse me, but all I have is a shield that can hover and generate force fields. You can make things out of thin air. It wouldn’t be fair if you could be Ladybug indefinitely.”

Ladybug laughed at that, and Shell let himself watch as the movement crinkled her eyes, her lips curving in mirth. He only let himself look for a moment, though, swiftly looking away afterwards.

“Point taken, I guess…though I think your powers are still pretty cool.”

Such small praise, and yet it still made him glow. Dear lord, he was so incredibly screwed…

“Me too, but I didn’t wanna be the first one to say it,” he teased, and Ladybug laughed again, the sound echoing around them and sending Emerald Shell’s heart soaring as they disappeared into the night.

...This worked way too well and I am upset.

is it too late to make BTU an OT4 fic?

Hope you enjoyed! <3

~Reyna