Miraculous Ladybug - Instalment 3 - Costume Change
Vermilion grabbed the Cat Boy by his tail, setting them down on a roof. Honestly, it didn't understand what he had been thinking. Did secret identities mean nothing to him?
"Who are you?" He demanded, holding his staff at one end in a doublehanded grip like a sword.
"We are Vermilion." There was buzzing, before a small section of the mask opened and a single ladybug fluttered out.
It landed on its finger and Vermilion buzzed to it. It took off and Vermilion swung into the stadium, wrapping the yoyo string around Stoneheart and creating a mandala reminiscent pattern from the News Crew's view.
The Ladybug crawled into the clenched fist and Vermilion let go of the yoyo when a purple butterfly flew from the fist. Stoneheart was covered in churning purple mist before returning to a human.
"Mundare." Vermilion buzzed, activating the purification function on the yoyo.
Cat Boy was flexing and talking to the civilian whilst looking smug, ignoring the victim entirely.
"You are Media Crew, yes?" Vermilion buzzed as it landed on the side of the helicopter lightly.
"Yes, I'm Nadja Chamack from TVi News! Are you our new superhero?" The lady asked, holding out a microphone excitedly.
"I am Vermilion." It pulled a card from one of its pockets. "I will answer your questions on the date specified."
"Thank you, Vermilion!" Her eyes were wide as she accepted the card carefully.
"It is my job." It gave a nod before dropping back down and landing in a crouch next to Ivan. "Hello. What is your name?"
"My name is Ivan." He said, looking around at the damage caused to the stadium. "Did... Did I do this?"
"No." It shook its head, glancing at its yoyo before giving a buzz.
A marble popped out, it rolling it in its palm before tossing it up with more buzz than words. Ivan looked amazed and relieved as the ladybugs erupted and fixed all the damage.
"Can you explain to me what you remember?" It buzzed, sitting down next to him.
"One of the boys in my class, Kim, made fun of a poem I was trying to write for this girl I like. I started feeling angry, but he gave me this really rude note... I was so mad, I almost wanted to hit him. I remember seeing this butterfly go into the paper, and then it's all foggy and all I can remember is rage." He ended up explaining, Vermilion sitting and listening silently.
He looked much calmer once he'd finished, Vermilion nodding.
"I think, you should give her the poem you wrote, and a gift she would enjoy." It said, offering him a note with instructions. "I guarantee that even in the 0.02% chance that she doesn't feel the same way, she will still greatly appreciate the thought put into it and will be open to a closer friendship."
"Okay." Ivan read the note. "Um... what's your gender?"
"We are an omen." Vermilion said, him freezing.
"That is terrifying." He managed to say, Vermilion offering him a bracelet.
"I try my best." It said, Ivan accepting the bracelet.
It ignored the journalist wannabe that tried to pester it for information, swinging off with Ivan once he was comfortable.
"Do you wish for me to explain to your humans what has occurred?" It paused, Marinette trying to toe the line between odd-and-recluse and I-lived-on-Saturn-and-have-only-arrived-on-Earth-recently-so-I-might-make-mistakes.
"No thank you, Vermilion. I think I can explain most of it." He said, Vermilion giving a nod of acceptance.
"If there are any questions you don't know how to answer, then I will be communicating with the Nadja Chamack from TVi News on the date specified." It handed him a card similar to the one it gave Nadja. "Have a productive day."
"Have a nice day." Ivan replied, waving.
"I feel like I made a fool of myself." Marinette groaned, face planting on her bed. "I made a fool of myself, didn't I?"
"You did great, Marinette!" Tikki cheered. "You took charge of the situation and comforted the victim afterwards with time to spare. And you even set up an interview to explain the situation on your own terms."
"I don't like Cat Boy." Marinette lamented.
"He's not one of Plagg's Chosen, he's a very bad Black Cat." Tikki agreed, snuggling down next to her on the bed. "I like our Vermilion Persona! Very blunt and to the point, but also very empathetic and reassuring. You did a good job!"
"Thank you, Tikki." Marinette sighed softly.
