Runaway Catwalker (ML Comic) - Chapter 27 - pisoprano (2024)

Chapter Text

Astrowalker (internally): Good, she's not here yet.

Adrien detransforms as he drops to the ground and reaches for the shoe that he previously cut a hole in.

Adrien: Claws in.

Adrien puts on his hat, pulls up the hood of his hoodie, and pulls out Rolland’s knife. Plagg gestures towards the knife incredulously.

Plagg: A knife? You came all the way out here to pull out a knife?

Adrien: I'm here because this is where Cosmobug is going to be.

Adrien peeks from behind the tree towards the sky, where Cosmobug is flying in.

Adrien: And there she is.

Adrien holds up the knife, where he looks at his own reflection.

Adrien: So here I am.

Adrien walks out from behind the tree as Oni-Chan teleports in.

Adrien starts to petrify as he grabs Oni-Chan’s sword and stabs his knife between the branches in the sword, locking it in place.

Adrien: Gotcha.

Oni-Chan tries to jiggle the sword out of the frozen Adrien’s grasp.

Oni-Chan: Some boy seizing my sword isn't going to stop me from...

A close-up of Oni-Chan’s face as she realizes who this boy is.

Oni-Chan: Wait.

Oni-Chan reaches a hand towards Adrien’s frozen face.

Oni-Chan: You're...

Cosmobug (wearing the red glove side of her Lucky Charm, still attached to the black glove part) flies towards the akuma and throws her yo-yo.

Cosmobug: Get away from him!

Oni-Chan teleports behind Cosmobug, attacking her with her sword. Cosmobug, her yo-yo having gone too far to immediately be of use, blocks the strike with her Lucky Charm gloves.

Oni-Chan: Ladybug, you don't understand! That boy down there is—

Cosmobug slips the black glove of the Lucky Charm into Adrien’s frozen hand so that they’re holding hands together.

Cosmobug: Adrien Agreste! I know!

Cosmobug uses her grasp on Adrien to give her leverage as she simultaneously kicks Oni-Chan in the chest and uses her yo-yo to grab the sword and (using Adrien's arm as a way to redirect the yo-yo string) and yank it away.

Cosmobug: I figured out he was going to be here! And I'm going to save him!

Oni-Chan goes flying off the cliff and into the trees below.

Oni-Chan: Aaahhhh!

Cosmobug: No more evil doing for you, little akuma!

Cosmobug breaks the sword with her yo-yo and captures the akuma in one smooth motion, then throws the Lucky Charm gloves into the sky to cast her cure.

Cosmobug: Time to de-evilize! Miraculous Ladybug!

As the magical ladybugs restore Adrien to normal, he is startled (to the point to dropping his knife) as Cosmobug jumps on him, hugging him with her arms and legs as she wears a ginormous grin on her face.

Cosmobug: Adrien!!!!!!! I found you!

As Adrien and Cosmobug fall together, he lets himself wrap his arms around her, relishing this moment where he can accept her embrace again.

Cosmobug: I can't even explain how worried I've been, Adrien! I'm just so glad that you're alive! I searched everywhere trying to find out where you'd really gone! And now you're here!

Adrien: I'm here.

Adrien smiles sheepishly as Cosmobug pins him to the ground. Cosmobug’s eyes bug out in embarrassment at the position she has him in.

Adrien: But, uh, Cosmobug? Can I sit up please?

Cosmobug: Waaahh...?

Adrien: I don't mind being like this! But I think I fell on something pointy...?

Cosmobug jolts up and flings the knife straight behind her. Adrien holds up his hands and tries to laugh off his situation.

Cosmobug: Eep! Sorry! I didn't mean—!

Adrien: It's fine! No harm done!

Cosmobug: It's not all fine!

Adrien leans into Cosmobug’s touch as she caresses his cheek, wiping her thumb at the tears that have started forming in his eyes. With her other hand, she points her fingers towards the bruise on his neck, stopping short of touching it.

Cosmobug: I can't bear the thought of you getting hurt, Adrien. Whatever you've been through? You didn't deserve it. None of your suffering was okay. Which is why I refuse to let it happen again.

Cosmobug holds up her hands theatrically as she starts dreaming up the perfect plan. Adrien is shown from behind, expression unseen.

Cosmobug: I'll personally see to it that you have someone who cares about you by your side 24/7, so you'll be completely safe! I know you have some amazing friends who would do anything for you!

Adrien (talked over): Cosmobug, I don't think I—

Cosmobug: And since I know it can be hard to ask people for help, I'll ask them for you!

Cosmobug smiles and raises her hand towards her earring as it starts beeping loudly.

Cosmobug: I just know Marinette would love to—

Adrien (talked over): Really, I—

*BEEP BEEP BEEP*

Cosmobug: Sorry! I'm about to detransform! Be right back!

Cosmobug hovers off the edge of the cliff, giving a wave and a thumbs up. Adrien kneels, reaching his finger towards the ring he stashed through the hole in his shoe.

Cosmobug: The end is in sight! Just sit tight for a second and you'll be home free!

Marinette, all starry-eyed, touches the sides of her face in glee. Tikki is mostly focused on eating the space power up cookie.

Marinette: Adrien's here, Tikki! Thank you thank you thank you for giving me that Lucky Charm! It led me right to him!

Tikki: Lucky Charms are more the universe providing you what you need than me...

Marinette: Close enough! If it weren't for you, I'd still be powerless to help Adrien. But now I can protect him!

Tikki, halfway through her cookie, looks away uneasily.

Tikki: Aren't you forgetting to ask Adrien what he wants?

Marinette: I know what he wants: to be with the people he cares about. His friends are all dying to help, so we'll be perfect for giving Adrien everything he needs to feel that he's safely home!

Tikki: I guess... but maybe you should first make sure that your other friend gets home too?

Marinette grabs the side of her head in distress at the reminder.

Marinette: I FORGOT ALL ABOUT KAGAMI!

Somewhere in the trees at the bottom of the cliff, Cosmobug finds Kagami and waves to her. Kagami shows Cosmobug the knife she found.

Cosmobug: Hey, Kagami! I totally didn't forget to come get you! I've just got a... surprise for you!

Kagami: Was the surprise this knife that almost hit me in the head?

Cosmobug: No! I mean... The real surprise is going to be much better than a knife, ha ha! Let me show you!

Cosmobug, having picked up Kagami to bring her to the clearing at the top of the cliff, gestures in front of them cheerfully. Kagami looks confused.

Cosmobug: Tada!

Kagami: ...I am confused. There seems to be nothing here?

Cosmobug turns her head in shock.

Cosmobug: What? No!

Cosmobug kneels prone on the ground of the empty clearing, Kagami watching from behind at the cliff’s edge.