Chapter 27

Marinette/Ladybird's P.O.V:

I had just finished dinner and was now sitting down with Tikki to change up my costume before my first patrol. "I think we should incorporate more black." I told my kwami. "Something a little more stealthier is what we are going with." I paced around my room for a moment before I came to a sudden stop with an idea. "I know. Why don't we keep the theme going that the rest of them have?"

"What do you mean by that?" Tikki questioned me.

"They all have some sort of bird or bat theme. We can go along with that, you know? They can call me Ladybird." I smiled at the idea. "I can definitely remember that name. It's already so close to the one I had."

"That's a great idea, Marinette. Do you already have an idea of what it will look like in your head?" Tikki asks curiously.

"Yes. I wish I could draw it for you so you can see." I frowned at the thought of my ruined sketch book.

"You don't have to." Tikki informed. "As long as you desire to look like that deep down then it will happen. Your original look isn't something I came up with. It was all you."

"So, I could change my look the entire time?" I asked her curiously.

"Yes." Tikki nods. "But deep down you never wanted to."

"I guess you're right." I smiled at Tikki. "So Adrien always wanted that ridiculous bell?" My kwami nods. "That boy is something else." I shake my head.

"Tell me about it." Plagg rolls his eyes from across the room.

"You were always the more practical one." Kaalki agrees.----------"Hey, little lady." Dick greets me when I meet up with everyone in the Batcave. "Did you get your whole suit situation settled?"

"Sure did. It was a whole lot easier than I thought it would be." I say honestly.

"Well you better suit up." Barbara rolls away from the Bat computer. "We do briefing in 5."

"Okay." I look around the room at everyone looking at ms expectantly. "You ready, Tikki?"

"Whenever you are, Marinette." The kwami smiled.

"Okay, Tikki. Spots on."

After the light of my transformation faded, everyone looked at my new outfit with appraisal. Across my chest is what looks to be an outline of a bird with its wings extended out and was red with black spots. I also wore what looked like all red boots that went up to my knees and red gloves that went to just below my elbow. The rest of the outfit from the neck down was all black. My mask was the only other thing to show her red with black spots, only this time the mask wasn't as rounded as the one before. It had a similar shape as the rest of the bat crew, pointed almost like a bat's wings. My hair was no longer in pigtails and was now in half up half down space buns. The only thing that actually remained the same was the yoyo that was hanging around my hips.

"Wow, Pixie-pop. Now you totally fit right in." Red Hood gave me a high five.

"Thanks. I had a little bit of inspiration from all of you though." I pointed to the symbol on my chest.

"Have you decided on a name for yourself?" Batman asked.

"Yeah." I smiled brightly. "Ladybird. I think it's fitting."

"Okay then, Ladybird. It's time for your first briefing. We will all meet with Oracle at the Bat computer."

"Oracle?" I said confused.

"That's me." Barbara waved me over. "Code names only while suited up."

"Okay." I walked over to the Bat computer with everyone else. "Got it."

"Alright." Oracle turned back towards the computer and started typing on it. "Today should be a fairly standard sweep of the city. The only notable thing to say is that Two-Face broke out of Arkham a week ago and he's still being oddly quiet. Keep your eyes and ears out for any information on him." Barbara pulled up a map of the city which showed it being sectioned off into three parts. "Batman and Red Robin will take patrol over the north part of the city. Nightwing and Red Hood will take the central part and Robin and Ladybird take the south. Any questions?" The room was quiet. "Okay, good." Oracle grabs a box off the table and opens it up to show 6 small ear pieces. "Remember to call for backup if needed." The red head turns to me. "We will all be listening if you need anything or if you have any questions." She smiles.

"Thank you." I grab one of the ear pieces and put it in with the rest of the team.

"Okay." Batman spoke up and his voice echoed through everyone's comms. "Let's head out."-------------It took me a little while to get used to hearing everyone talking in my ear. They didn't speak often but when they did, it was usually about general directions of where they are going or where they were at. I found myself running from rooftop to rooftop with Robin and keeping an eye out on the streets below. I had just jumped across an alleyway when I caught sight of an older woman clutching onto her purse with her back against the wall as two large men advanced on her armed with knives.

"Down there." I whispered as I swung closer.

"What is it?" Oracle asked over comms.

"Some guys are trying to rob a woman." Robin chased after me.

"Let Ladybird handle this one." Batman said sternly.

"What if she gets hurt?" Robin was still trying to catch up with me but I was clearly very fast with my yoyo.

"Then you intervene. Ladybird, just incapacitate them. Oracle will alert the cops."

"Got it." I whispered.

I jumped down to the ground level while Robin reluctantly watched it all unfold from the shadows, ready to intervene if necessary. I landed quietly behind the two men and made brief eye contact with the scared woman. "Who's that?" The woman pointed at me, effectively giving away my element of surprise.

As the two men turned around to look at me, I took the opportunity to grab for one of the men's arms and fling him over my shoulder. I turned around just in time to dodge the other man's knife that was going straight for my head.

"You better beat it little girl, before you get hurt." The man from on the ground said angrily as he got back up.

"I don't think I will." I quick-stepped out of the way as the man charged at me and I stuck my foot out to trip him.

I use a high kick to the other man's hand when he goes to swing on me again and the knife goes flying away, landing far down the alley. The man looks over to where his knife went and I use his distraction to my advantage. One swift punch to the side of the head and he was knocked out cold.

"You little bitch!" The other man got back up again. "You'll pay for that."

"That's what they all say." I unhook my yoyo and begins to swing it in rapid circles in front of me.

The man laughs in my face. "What do you think you're going to do with that?"

Tired of chatting with him. I swing my yoyo to wrap around the large man and yanks him towards me. Just as he gets closer, I swing my fist forward to connect with his nose. I hear a loud crack as blood trickled down his face and he drops to the floor.

Bringing her yoyo back around my waist, I turn to look at the woman I just saved. "Are you okay ma'am?"

The older woman stares at the two unconscious men before looking back at me. "Y-yes I'm fine, thank you." She steps away from the wall to get a better look at me. "Who are you?"

"This is Ladybird." Robin steps away from the shadows to reveal himself as he gives me a fond smile.

"Oh." The old woman smiles at the boy. "Is she with the Batman too?"

Sirens can be heard coming closer to us from off in the distance. "I am." I answer the woman.

"The police are close." Robin tied the two men's wrists with zip ties. "I'm sure they will want your statement."

"Ah, yes. I know the drill." The woman says as the police cars pull up from down the alley.

Two young officers exit the vehicle and meet with us in the alley. "Over here." Robin point to the two passed out men.

"You caught some more scumbags, huh Robin?" One of the officers spoke.

"No." I smiled brightly at the officers. "That was me."

"Batman got another one?" The other officer looked at me.

"I guess you could say that."

"Where does he find you people?" The officer shook his head as his partner and Robin dragged them to the police cruiser. He walked over to the old woman standing to the side. "Are you the witness?"

He took her statement and it wasn't long before they thanked us before driving off to book the criminals.

"Would you like me to escort you home ma'am?" I looked to the older woman.

"If you wouldn't mind." She gave a thankful expression to me. "My house is only 2 blocks that way."

"Well then let's get you home. Lead the way."

Robin and I walked the woman to her home. Just before she climbs the steps to her house, she turns around to face us, specifically Robin. "You be good to this lovely young lady, Robin. She seems like a keeper." The woman turns around and walks into her house. "Ah, young love. I sure do miss the feeling." She shuts the door behind her.

A gaggle of laughter can be heard from over the comms as the two of us go red. "Come on back to the cave for the night. It's time for debriefing." Batman cuts through the laughter.

I turn to look at Robin. "I'll race you back?"

"You're on." He shoots his grappling hook off and zips up to a building in a surprise head start.

"Hey, no fair!" I swing my way after him. "You didn't say go."