Chat stared at the bargain sodas in the large supermarket, trying to figure out which one would taste the best. He had to get back to the patrol soon. Ladybug would scold him if he took longer than ten minutes, and he was already planning out his witty response. Adrien settled on a peach soda and trotted back to the front of the store where self checkout was. It took three tries to scan the soda correctly. The machine wouldn't accept his euro until the fifth try. He sighed. Maybe it would have been faster just to go through normal checkout.

"Please don't forget my son's samurai movie. I set it down behind the books."

Chat almost ignored the mother's voice, but his ears pricked up at the noise of a child sniffling. He frowned and looked around the self checkout machine.

He was surprised nobody had tried to get his attention sooner. The mother had clearly been akumatized. Her makeup was bright green, her outfit was business-like yet villainous, and she had several of the store's products floating around her head. The child sniffled again, clearly holding back on a full-blown tearfest. Adrien made eye contact with the obviously confused cashier. He put a finger over his lips and hid behind the self checkout sign. The blond wasn't sure exactly what this akuma's powers were, and it was really always best to call Ladybug in for help anyway.

He pressed the green pawprint on his staff and waited for Ladybug to pick up.

"Chat, I told you I didn't want anything, so why are you-"

Adrien rolled his eyes, "my Lady, I hate to interrupt but there is an akuma in here. Just thought that, since we're on patrol and all, that you may want to come help me with this?"

"O-oh. Sorry, I'll be right there!"

"If you come in like you're only shopping she might not register it as a threat. She doesn't even know I'm-" a loud scream interrupted him. He whirled around, just in time to see the cashier get flung into a display of chips.

"Scratch that, get in here." He hung up and extended his staff. The woman's makeup was glowing, and she was hovering a few feet off the ground. Her son clung to her hip, crying.

"You worthless garbage, you've bruised my bananas! Putting them in the bag with the books like that, how dare you! I've spent all day at work dealing with ungrateful men. I didn't think I would have to teach such a lowlife how to do her job!"

Chat frowned. He couldn't tell what the special object was that had caused her to transform. Her son sobbed loudly. The blond trotted over and tapped her on the shoulder with his staff. She twisted, confusion evident on her face despite the anger.

"Ma'am, I'm sorry to inform you, but I can't help but feel like you're-" Her eyebrows quirked, cutting off his air supply midsentence.

"I know who you are, Chat Noir. And I owe somebody that Miraculous on your finger." Her makeup glowed, like she was trying to use telekinesis to remove his ring. He could barely tell that it didn't work over his need for oxygen.

"Well, that didn't work. Honey, would you do the honors?" The small child sniffles, but reached out and took Adrien's ring. His transformation fell apart just as Ladybug crashed through the window and kicked the akuma out of the air. He sucked in lungfuls of air, though he still couldn't move his legs.

"Adrien, run!"

"Would if I could, honestly!" He barely managed to gasp.

"Do you really think that you can defeat me when my son is here? You would have to think again. The Miraculous Ladybug, huh?"

He managed to move one of his legs, then the other. It was like moving through soup. He glanced up, realizing that Ladybug was now also having trouble moving.

"And what should I call you?"

The woman laughed, "I am Super Single. But you won't get to talk to me for long." She quirked her eyebrows again, causing Ladybug to gape like a fish. Adrien suddenly had full use of his legs. He grabbed a bouncy ball from it's elastic and PVC prisonby the windows, and pegged it as hard as he could at Super Single. She glowed an even brighter green as it stopped by her head. He threw another one.

"Let Ladybug go!" He chucked another ball, which nearly hit the akuma. Ladybug dropped to the floor, arms clawing at her throat. He had to get his ring back. He had to help her!

He chucked a bag of charcoal brickettes, which made Super Single drop the bouncy balls. He basically threw the whole front display of the store at her, causing a mountain of products to fall to her feet as she fought to stop the most fatal blows. He finally was able to hit her in the head with a plastic lawn chair because he threw it at the same time as a tank of propane. His arms were so tired, but he heard Ladybug gasping, so his mission was accomplished. He sprinted forward, grabbed his superhero accomplice, and ran for the door.

The sliding door that wouldn't open. He groaned and turned, sprinting for the shelves and racks of supermarket goodies. Ladybug clung to his shirt.

"Adrien, I think the akuma is in her son." He nearly stopped running.

"What?" His heart had already been pounding adrenaline through his veins, but now it picked up the pace. An akuma had never gone into a living being before, it had always been an object. He ran through the door near the restrooms that said "employees only" and kept going.

"That's impossible, it's only ever been non-living objects. Are you sure it's not her makeup?" She shook her head.

"Put me down, I can run." He did as she asked, then they both escaped through the loading dock.

"His eyes were totally black. Almost like a zombie. I think he's actually dead." Adrien came to a stop.

"That's…"

Ladybug turned around, nothing but fear in her blue eyes.

"I don't think I can 'break' this akuma."