Your Friendly Neighborhood Ladybug

[masquage]

New York's criminal underbelly was the first real lead to come his way in a long, long time. So, of course, he had jumped at the chance to investigate further. It's not like he had any other choice, it was New York's criminals or failing his siblings. It wasn't even a choice, really. He would do anything for his family, to keep them all together and safe.

Though he wasn't sure what to do once he got to New York. He didn't have any actual criminal connections, and it's not like he could just go around questioning suspicious people in sketchy alleys. That would be a one-way ticket to getting stabbed.

But luck was on his side...in the weirdest way possible.

If someone had asked him a week ago whether a set of earrings would change his life, he probably would have laughed. Or jokingly agreed. Yet here he was with a new superhero identity thanks to a pair of magic earrings. All in all? Very surreal, yes, but still fortunate.

As the spotted, yo-yo wielding vigilante, he was able to confront criminals while keeping his identity secret. The whole magic thing helped, too. It meant he was less likely to straight up die.

At least, theoretically. He hadn't counted on the one thug he'd cornered to have two friends waiting in the wings.

Fun. Exciting.

Being new at this superhero thing meant that he wasn't used to...well, this. Just he wasn't used to all of this, okay? So three against one was kind of a dicey situation.

He let out a breathy laugh. "So, uh. I think there's been a misunderstanding here. I'm just looking for the nearest anime convention? I heard there was one around here so--" Thug number one doesn't wait for him to finish, and lunges forward to attack.

"No? Not buying it, huh? Well, it was worth a shot." He shrugs as he dodges, tripping the baddie with his yo-yo.

H

Comments

[shuidegurou]

"Dug her own grave." is really not the message that Tony wanted on her tombstone, but every day that passed without locating the Ladybug miraculous made that seem more and more likely. She counted it as a miracle as it was that no one from the clan had called looking for it yet.

Honestly, what the hell had possessed her to take those in the first place, other than the arrogant thinking that she could somehow follow in her heroes footsteps, recover the moth miraculous, and do some good in the world in the process? Stealing precious artifacts from her own clan sure didn't seem like a great start to her heroing career, but there hadn't been time to make things right. The next thing she knew they were packing up and moving to New York, and before she could so much as second guess her choice the two little jewelry boxes were among her packed possessions.

And speaking of "honestly", thinking about those earrings being out lost in New York, of Tikki being in the hands of some random criminal bastard- it made her stomach churn to the point she was sure she'd be sick.

Every night since that disastrous collision on the subway, she'd been out on patrol looking for any sign of them, but until tonight she was sure that her black cat luck was the only thing at play.

That is, until she hears the commotion from the alley. A routine patrol through their neighborhood might just turn ALL of her bad luck and choices around. Her father was still going to KILL her, but at least she could try to begin to set things right.

From overhead she heard the conversation by chance, feline senses picking up on the sounds of the scuffle first. She damn near fell over the ledge in shock at what she saw, though. No mistaking it, that outfit belonged to Ladybug, and somehow some random guy had not only FOUND the miraculous but figured out how to use it???

... Huh. Well, alright, then. Might as well roll with it, right? The least she can do is help him out, since it's her fault he's even in this mess to begin with.

"Mind if I cut in?"

Is the only warning that they get before she's getting the literal drop on thug number three. Landing behind him with a neat sweep of the leg is enough to send him toppling backwards into the dumpster behind, and Tony stands up with a flourishing turn and flick of her bo staff. It catches his ankles and gives him that final push into the open trash receptacle.

Tony looks to the remaining two things even while already smirking proudly at her own quick thinking, pointing her staff in challenge at the thug with the knife.

"They say crossing a black cat is seriously bad luck. Plan to stick around long enough to find out?"

[masquage]

Liam has to do a double-take. It was weird enough being a magical vigilante. Seeing another one threw him off balance. Yeah, he knew about the previous heroes Ladybug and Cat Noir, they had been a big deal in the past. But it's one of those things that seems distant from everyday life. Especially his every day life.

Until recently, anyway. Considering he is one of them now.

He's still not quite over that. The powers, the outfit, the magic talking bug. It's all a lot but he's willing to deal as long as he's able to get the info he needs to find his sister. Easy, right? Find sister. Convince sister of wrongdoings. Bring sister home.

He shoots the stranger (is she still Cat Noir? Or will her hero name be different? He supposes it doesn't matter) a grin. He appreciates wit and skill, which she has in spades. He laughs, turning to the goon he'd initially tracked here.

"I could always use some help taking out the trash." Tikki had mentioned he was able to use something called "Lucky Charm," but he also knows it'll hasten his transformation back into his regular self. The fight most likely won't last long now that it's two on two, but at the same time he doesn't want to risk revealing his identity should anyone else be lurking nearby.

Instead, he lunges toward the bad guy he'd initially chased. The surprise appearance of Cat Noir 2.0 had distracted them, but Liam uses this to his advantage. The yo-yo whips around his legs, tying them firmly together.

"It's my least favorite chore." He finishes the attack with a hefty kick, knocking the criminal onto his back.

Two down, one to go.