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Even Later

Even Later

To say that Chloé Bourgeois was pissed would be a massive understatement. Quite honestly, there are no words to describe how utterly ridiculous this all is. 

And to think, everything was perfect a week ago! She had the world at her beck and call (no she didn’t), she was a perfect superhero (no she wasn’t), and Adrien adored her! (No, he truly didn’t.)

But then her lousy, incompetent sidekicks betrayed her! They tossed her to the curb the one time she faltered- and she only faltered because they chose not to do their jobs! Scarlet Lady was left to face that nasty Akuma all by herself, and what did Chat Noir and Marigold do?

“Go off, Scarlet Lass!” Marigold cheered, voice as high-pitched and annoying as usual. “Show her what’s for!” 

They cheered on the Akuma. They laughed at her, laughed at all of her hard work and all that she had done for them! What did they know about being the leader of the team? They were just stupid little sidekicks, they couldn’t win without her! They needed Scarlet Lady! 

(As it turns out, they didn’t.)

The next day, Chloé showed up to school bitter and cranky, both from a lack of sleep (the de-Akumatized ex-fangirl had yelled in her face for an hour before walking away, finally satisfied) and a lack of Miraculous. She stormed into the class, ready to complain her frustrations away to Sabrina. 

She wasn’t prepared to find her class yelling excitedly, already talking about Ladybug.

And really? Ladybug? Of all things, that’s what Marigold came up with? Wow, great, superb! A thief stole her Miraculous and didn’t even use a good name. How embarrassing. 

Chloé glared at the room as she walked to her seat, and her anger only grew as Alya smirked at her.

“Hey, Chloé!” Alya said, voice taunting. “Did you hear the news? Your ever beloved Scarlet Lady has been replaced!”

“You’re one to talk,” Chloé snapped back. “After all, you run Scarlet Lady’s blog-”

“You mean the Ladyblog,” Alya interrupted, brandishing her phone. “Times are changing, Chloé, and so is my blog! Now I get to focus on a real hero!”

“And Chat Noir!” Marinette piped up, all too happy to speak her mind. “Alya’s got the blog split so that there’s an equal split between the Parisian duo!”

“The real Parisian duo,” Adrien added, leaning into Marinette, which, what?! When did Adrien start getting cuddly with that, that baker’s daughter of a fashion disaster?

Chloé scowled, looking away. “As if! I doubt that new girl can take over the mantle that Scarlet Lady created! No one could be that good!”

The only response she got was laughter. Alix was the one to respond.

“Please. Ladybug is Marigold. She announced the change in position last night to Alya herself! Apparently Scarlet Lady’s identity got revealed to Hawkmoth, which, wow. You had one job, but whatever. So Chat Noir and Marigold decided that a new Ladybug had to be chosen- which, thank God- so Chat Noir gave the Miraculous to Marigold.” She shrugs. “And I don’t know what cloud you shoved your head in, but Marigold has done wayyy more than Scarlet Lady ever did.” 

“She does seem to be much better at being a true hero,” Max added in, and Chloé growled.

“Please! You guys are just jealous that Scarlet Lady is so much cooler than any of you!”

“Scarlet Lady has never helped any of us,” Nino stated. “It was always Chat Noir or Marigold. I, for one, think Marigold should have been Ladybug from the start. Probably would’ve been better in the long run.” The class agreed easily, as if they were right. 

“I-” The bell rang, cutting Chloé off. Huffing, the girl stormed over to her spot. “Whatever! This is just ridiculous, utterly ridiculous!”

And it got worse. Chloé couldn’t believe it! Not only was her stupid little class infatuated with Ladybug, but so was all of Paris! They followed every little thing that dumb sidekick did, praising her for whatever she did! 

“Akuma battles are quicker than ever before!”

“And look at that teamwork! The two work together so flawlessly, it’s impeccable!”

“Ladybug is such a natural leader! She’s got an eye for solutions, really!”

“And Chat Noir has somehow become even greater!”

Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous!

And then, get this, the two were spotted kissing. Chloé wanted to gag as the reporters had an absolute field day, raving over the new ‘power couple’. 

‘Those two sidekicks deserve each other. They’re not good enough for anyone else,’ Chloé told herself, shutting off her television for the night.

The day after ‘LadyNoir’ started trending was even worse, somehow. Chloé got to school, doing her best to ignore the stupidity of her peers, when a comment threw her off of her game.

“Ladybug and Chat Noir are so cute together!” Alya raved. “I just feel bad for you, Marinette.”

“Oh?” Marinette asked, ever so stupidly. “W-why do you feel bad?” Ugh, that stupid stutter.

“Well, with Chat Noir swept up in Ladybug’s arms, you don’t get a chance with him. I’m sorry, girlie.” Alya seemed upset, which, ew? Marinette would never be good enough for a sidekick, as if she’d have a chance with someone better than an absolute fool with no money to his name. 

‘Maybe she should date Nathaniel. Little artist freaks could be happy together and stay quiet,’ Chloé thought with a smirk.

That smirk quickly fell, however, when Adrien turned around and asked, “Well, Marinette, if you can’t pursue Chat Noir anymore…would it be alright if I pursue you?”

What. The. Fuck.

The room was silent as Marinette giggled. “I thought you’d never ask! There’s a new movie coming out on Friday, want to see it together?”

Adrien nodded like some lovesick puppy, and Chloé-

Chloé was done. Absolutely done. 

Storming out of the room, she missed the knowing glance that passed between the new couple.

Slamming open the bathroom door, Chloé glares at the group of girls who gossip with one another, giggling as they apply their stupid makeup to their stupid faces. They see her and panic, darting out immediately. A smart decision, because Chloé Bourgeois is not in the mood to deal with some lowly people.

She stalks around the bathroom like a caged animal, glaring at the walls, the floor, the stalls, the door. Everything pisses her off, from the bright lighting to the dirty mirrors that reflect her glares and curled frown, the shows off her bare ears, lacking any accessories.

She looks away from the mirrors, missing the sight of the purple butterfly that phases through the wall, merging into her purse and allowing the outline of a mask to line her face.

“Scarlet Lady,” Hawkmoth cooes, voice serene and calm. “Your lousy sidekicks have thrown you to the side, betraying you for the sake of fame. Their act of treachery is befitting of a villain, undoubtedly worse, and I am aghast to see such wrongdoings being done by the ‘heroes’. I refuse to fight against such impure people, and as such I will give you the power to overthrow the new Ladybug, so that I may have a proper enemy once more. All that I ask for is Chat Noir’s Miraculous, as he is also unworthy of wielding such power, and in return I will give you the power to defeat Ladybug. Antibug, will you answer this call?”

Chloé smirks, satisfaction overcoming her. “It would be my pleasure, Hawkmoth.”

And then she’s covered in purple. 

—–

Marinette always thought she’d be a normal girl with a normal life. She had dreams of becoming a designer, sure, but even those dreams were rather modest. She wanted to make a difference, sure, but she never thought that she would become somebody.

So imagine her surprise when she ended up becoming a hero of Paris not just once, but twice. First as Marigold, the Bee who rose up to fight beside Chat Noir when his own partner was lacking in, well, everything. Then to become Ladybug, the one who can reverse any damage done by Akumas and to act as Chat Noir’s other half. 

It was unexpected, to say the least, but that’s not to say it is unwanted. No, Marinette loves her life. She loves being able to help people, being able to make a difference in the world. She loves patrolling with Chat Noir at night, hours of laughing and joking as they leap across the horizon. She loves the friends she’s made since this whole villainous mess started. And, of course, she loves her new boyfriend, both in and out of the mask, Adrien “Chat Noir” Agreste. 

Overall, Marinette is happy. She’s really, truly happy. 

So, as the universe goes, Chloé Bourgeois tries to ruin her day. Because that is simply how the world works. 

A crash is heard outside of the window, and class is quickly disrupted as her peers race over to look for the source.

“An Akuma!” Kim shouts, ever so helpful. Marinette and Adrien peer out, eyes quickly trained on the rampant Akuma.

Marinette rolls her eyes when she sees the villain du jour. The blonde girl wears a black suit with red polka dots, a matching yoyo currently being swung about, hitting whatever she can. From the obvious reference to Ladybug to the ever present pout, it’s obvious.

“Chloé,” Marinette and Adrien mutter in unison, and then they sneak off to transform.

As soon as they’re suited up, the duo slips outside, speaking quietly to each other.

“Think it’s because of your popularity, or because we’re dating?” Chat asks, smile light and joking.

“Maybe both. Who knows, maybe she’s been playing hard to get this whole time, chaton.” Ladybug winks, giggling as the blond curls his nose in disgust. 

“Mon Dieu, don’t even say that. We both know that she was just obsessed with the model boy.” 

“Poor boy. I hear he’s got a girlfriend, though, so maybe that caused her to snap?”

“Could be. Oh well. If she’s anything like she was as Scarlet, she’ll be an easy fight.” And with that, they come face to face with the Akuma.

“Ladybug,” she sneers. “I am Antibug, and I’ve come to reclaim my Miraculous!” She shouts out the words, and Ladybug is very aware of Alya as she leans out of the window, phone catching every word.

“Definitely can’t get it back now,” Ladybug whispers, and Chat Noir snorts. Louder, Ladybug says. “The Miraculous is not yours, nor should it have ever been. I have been informed that you stole it from its rightful user, and they have granted it to me instead.” When Tikki told Marinette that she was chosen, not Chloé, the girl had been pissed. 

“Please! As if that stupid Dupain-Cheng deserved it!” Antibug states, just as loudly, and now Ladybug is glad that she came up with her small lie. Otherwise, her identity would be broadcast to all of Paris, if not the whole world, by now. As it is, Ladybug can hear the whispers of her shocked classmates, surprised to hear that their friend was originally chosen to be their beloved heroine.

Shaking her head, Ladybug forces herself to ignore her peers. She has more pressing matters to attend to.

Like the fact that, for an incompetent hero, Antibug is a surprisingly good villain. She plays dirty, using her yoyo to trip up Chat Noir and Ladybug, throwing random objects for them to dodge or deflect, and calling multiple Unlucky Charms in an attempt to throw them off.

“Of course she’s a better villain than a hero,” Chat Noir complains as he leaps over a car, the fight by now taking place in the abandoned street in front of Dupont. “It only makes sense, considering villains are motivated by selfishness, while a hero has to be selfless.”

“You’re one to talk about selfishness!” Antibug taunts before throwing a car at him. Ladybug catches him with her yoyo, pulling him out of reach. “You betrayed me so you could give your little girlfriend my Miraculous.”

“Your identity was revealed, and you were a lousy hero! As if we’d give you the Miraculous that was never supposed to be yours in the first place!” Chat screams back, venting out some of his anger. Ladybug takes the chance to snag Antibug’s yoyo with her own, pulling away the weapon. 

“Chat!” She cries, tossing him the weapon. Without even summoning his power, the blond crushes it in his grip, letting out a small purple butterfly.

“No more evildoing for you, little Akuma!” Ladybug says, catching the Akuma in her yoyo. Quickly, she casts her Miraculous cure, letting a shower of ladybugs fill the air as all of the damage disappears. 

All that is left is one pissed off Chloé Bourgeois, and Alya recording behind a car. 

Ladybug sighs, stepping forwards. Now is the time where she and Chat Noir usually comfort the deakumatized victim, helping them to find a solution. And, as a hero, she and Chat should look past their feelings, right?

Nope. Ladybug quickly decides otherwise when the blonde lets out a yell, lunging at her and reaching for her earrings. Without hesitation, Ladybug restrains the girl with her yoyo, pinning her arms to her side.

“Chloé Bourgeois,” she speaks, voice cold and harsh. “As Scarlet Lady, you put Paris in danger for far too long in order to satiate your ego. You left your partner to do all of the work, letting him run himself ragged to save the city, putting twice the work on him. You never changed, allowing yourself to become even more vain and self-centered with every passing day. You were anything but a hero from the very start, having stolen the Miraculous from a girl who had the potential to save this city from the start. Instead, that girl will never have the chance to help as much as she wants, because you have broadcasted her identity without a second thought. And even though she chose me to take her place, you still try to defy her wishes, going so far as to try stealing the Miraculous from me. You are not Akumatized, either, so you have no excuses. You are a menace to society and a danger to Paris, and you will never and have never been a hero. Good bye.” 

Exhaling, Ladybug retracts her yoyo and leaps out of view, Chat Noir following her. They detransform together, exhausted.

“You went off on her,” Adrien says, a small grin appearing on his face. “Mon Dieu, princess, it’s like you said everything I ever wanted to.”

“Thanks, chaton,” Marinette replies, leaning against him as they walk out of the alley. “Do you think I went too far?”

“I think you said exactly what you should have. She’s gone far too long unchecked, it was about time someone told her what’s for.”

The words relieve her of her doubt, and give her the strength to walk back into their classroom.

Chloé isn’t there, but the class speaks of her nonetheless. 

“I can’t believe she was Scarlet Lady!” Alya cries out, then pauses. “Actually, no, I can. Dang. And I ran a whole blog about her. Ew.”

“It explains why she was so awful,” Kim says bluntly.

“And why she always ditched me…more so than usual, at least,” Sabrina whispers, saddened by this revelation.

“And she stole the Miraculous, too!” Rose cries. “How awful!” 

Alya’s head snaps up, looking to Marinette, who still stands beside Adrien in the front of the class. “From you, right? Ladybug said it was stolen, and Chloé said it was yours!”

“You were supposed to be Ladybug!” Alix shouts, slamming her fist on her desk. “Damn, that would’ve been so cool!” 

“Heheh, yeah…but when Marigold told me what had happened, I knew that I couldn’t take the title,” Marinette says, trying to look bashful.

“Why not?” Max asks. “If it was yours originally, why couldn’t you use it?”

“Because Chloé knew. And I was afraid that she would broadcast my identity in order to get ‘revenge’…and it looks like I was right to assume that.”

Alya frowns. “That’s terrible, girlie. You could’ve been a hero by Chat Noir’s side the whole time.”

Marinette shrugs, leaning into Adrien’s side even more. “Yeah, but I can’t let that stop me. I’ll still help when I can, but Marigold…I knew I could trust her to be a hero. So she became Ladybug.” 

“Yeah, Mari here doesn’t need a Miraculous to be a hero,” Adrien pipes up, smiling widely. “Remember how she always threw herself into fights? She was always helping out with battles.” He laughs. “She only stopped because Chat Noir practically begged her to stay out of the way. He was worried that she’d get hurt.”

The class cooes over the statement, agreeing easily, until class starts back up at last. Marinette takes her seat once more, ready to continue the day.

“Just so you know,” Alya whispers, “I think you would be an amazing hero.”

Marinette simply smiles, and she knows that Alya is right.

Marinette thought she’d be a normal girl, but she’s so much more.

And now it’s Ladybug’s time to shine.

Author’s Note: At long last, I finally made a sequel to Later, which I wrote back in October. I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I enjoy zoe’s amazing comic! ~Salthaven 

Edit: Submitted by Satlhaven

Chapters: 2/2 Fandom: Sonic the Hedgehog - All Media Types Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Charmy Bee & Espio the Chameleon & Vector the Crocodile Characters: Espio the Chameleon, Vector the Crocodile, Charmy Bee Additional Tags: Post-Comic Arc: Metal Virus (Sonic the Hedgehog), Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Nightmares, Espio the Chameleon Needs a Hug, Team Chaotix Week 2025 (Sonic the Hedgehog), Day 3: Metal Virus/Nightmare, Protective Espio the Chameleon, Protective Vector the Crocodile, Day 4: Protector  Series: Part 2 of Team Chaotix Week 2025 Summary:

Chapter 1: Metal Virus/Nightmare: Even after the Metal Virus has been eradicated, the memories remain.

Chapter 2: Protector: Espio just wants to protect his team, forgoing sleep in order to do so. Exhaustion catches up to him, but Vector and Charmy are there for him.

- 

Chapter 2 is up!

Requiem for Cicadas, and Other Small Things on Ao3

2k, Teen, Gen, light angst discussion

Mighty and Espio talk in a quiet woods, about the Metal Virus, and the changing world around them.

@team-chaotix-week day 3 - nightmare or Metal Virus!

chrome-tinted troubles

1k words | no warnings apply | team chaotix week 2025

https://archiveofourown.org/works/65232502

Charmy was sniffling.

Espio wasn't sure he heard it, at first. The first sniffle coincided with the flip of a page of his book–illuminated by a small reading lamp, cradled in his lap in bed. At the next two, he thought perhaps he was just clearing his sinuses. By the fourth sniffle, however, he figured something was wrong.

Soundlessly, Espio crawled out of bed, climbing partway down the wall to examine the small shape of Charmy, bundled in blankets and shaking in his bed.

He was crying.

"Charmy?" Espio whispered. Charmy made a small noise, and Espio watched as he wrapped himself tighter in his blankets. "Charmy, what's wrong?"

"Go 'way," Charmy mumbled, his voice muffled and tiny beneath all the fabric bundled around him.

"Should I get Vector?"

"No," he sniffed again. "Go 'way, Espio."

"Something is troubling you, Charmy. I want to help."

"I dun want help."

Espio dropped soundlessly to the floor, walking over to Charmy’s bedside and looming over the little bee.

“Would you rather talk to me about it?”

“No. Go ‘way.”

Sighing inwardly, Espio grabbed at Charmy’s blankets, and unintentionally began a tug-of-war–Charmy’s tiny hands thrashing desperately to keep himself tucked haphazardly in the material. Espio, of course, was stronger and faster, and he pulled the bee free of his self-imposed cotton prison before he could even put together a coherent complaint.

“Hey!”

“Charmy,” Espio scolded, re-draping the blanket to cover only the bee's shoulders–carefully avoiding smashing his wings. His face was smeared with tears and snot. “You’re going to talk to me, or you’re going to talk to Vector. There’s no way out of it.”

“I’ll do it in the morning,” Charmy grumbled, pulling the blanket over his head. Espio pushed it back onto his shoulders.

“No. You’re just going to pretend it didn’t happen. Or, worse, you’ll actually forget.” He pulled a tissue from the nightstand, littered with toys and short children’s books, and dabbed at Charmy’s face. “Now, what’s going on? Did something happen? Did someone say something to you?”

Charmy sniffled. “Dunno.”

“Charmy.”

He grumbled something unintelligible, his cheeks squishing as Espio wiped at the snot around his nose.

“Charmy.”

“I had a bad dream.”

Espio threw the tissue into the garbage can. “Oh?”

“Mhm.”

“About what?”

Charmy looked away, fingers twisting the corner of the blanket. Espio kneeled in front of his bed, his eye contact patient, but pressing.

“...I had a bad dream ‘bout the metal virus,” Charmy mumbled, antennae drooping.

“I see. What happened in your dream, Charmy?”

“Uhm… Well… I was a zombot again, and… ‘N I was with you ‘n Vector…” He took a deep breath. “Espio, do y’still like me?”

Espio blinked slowly, caught off-guard by the question (and, admittedly, still somewhat drowsy from the late-night reading). “Of course I like you. Why would you ask such a thing?”

“Because, because, in my dream… You ‘n Vector said…” Tears welled up in his eyes, his voice shaking. “Y’said I was… Y’said I was dumb, and Vector said I was annoying,” he cried, wiping at his face roughly with the heels of his palms.

“Charmy…” Espio started, frowning. “Charmy, I don’t think that about you. That was just a dream, it’s not real.”

“Y-yeah, but it’s all my fault I got turned into a zombot in the first place, ‘n– ‘N I heard Gemerl say it was my fault Vector got turned into one, too.”

“Absolutely not. You were just trying to do what you thought was right. Anyone would understand.”

“But ‘ts still my fault!” Charmy exclaimed, his tears flowing more freely, overflowing in his little hands and rolling down his forearms. “I shoulda stayed with you ‘n Vector! I shoulda gone on the ship!”

“Charmy…"

“But I didn’t, ‘n then I got turned into a zombot, and then I turned Vector into a zombot, ‘n it’s all my fault! And everyone thinks I’m dumb and annoying and I–”

Charmy’s sentence fell short as a pair of scaled hands wrapped around his own–bringing them off of his face, before wiping at his eyes.

“Don’t say that about yourself, Charmy,” Espio scolded quietly, using his fingers to clean the tears from the bee’s cheeks with a stern expression. “You aren’t annoying. And you certainly aren’t dumb. You were simply unprepared. Everyone was.”

“But I–”

“There’s no ‘buts’ about it. You were very brave, looking out for that person. You did the right thing, just at the wrong time. You have a good heart. Do you know that?” Charmy shrugged. “And I still like you, you know,” Espio finished, smiling softly. “You’re my favorite coworker.”

The bee’s eyes widened. “Not Vector?”

“What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him,” he whispered, laughing. Charmy smiled.

“I think I feel better, now,” the bee whispered back, plopping back down on his bed, and bundling back up in his blankets. “Thanks, Espio.”

“Of course.” Espio got to his feet, and started walking back towards the wall. “Goodnight, Charmy. Sleep well.”

“Wait. Espio?”

He paused. “Yes, Charmy?”

“Will y’give me a hug?”

Espio turned to stare at the little bee for a moment–he looked almost impossibly small wrapped in his blankets, his face still damp with tears, eyes tired and so terribly, heart-wrenchingly sad for his age.

Wordlessly, the chameleon made his way back to the bed, and knelt down in front of it. Awkwardly, he wrapped his arms around Charmy’s torso; a pair of tiny hands returning the gesture. He felt Charmy’s breaths against his neck, still shaky from the recent crying, felt his little wings flutter behind him lazily.

“Didja mean that, Espio?” Charmy asked suddenly, his voice small.

“I mean everything I say,” Espio replied seriously.

“Yeah, but, when y’said you still like me? Didja really mean it?”

“I did. I like you lots, Charmy Bee. You’re the smartest, bravest, coolest kid I know.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Little hands finally relinquished their grip on him, and Espio pulled back. Charmy’s face was brighter, the sadness somewhat subdued in his eyes. Espio smiled at him.

“I promise,” he said, nodding slowly. “I wouldn’t lie to you.”

“I know.”

“Goodnight, Charmy.”

Charmy huffed out a deep sigh, burying himself in his blankets, and shutting his eyes.

“Goodnight, Espio.”