"I... I've gotta go, Adrien. You get somewhere safe!!", Marinette exclaimed before running off.

"Marinette, wait!!"

She was already gone.

Giuseppe was cowering in fear inside the dressing tent, leaving Adrien alone. Plagg poked his head out and looked up at his holder.

"Why are you worried? You know she's Ladybug, right?"

"Yeah, but I was gonna tell her that I'm Cat Noir."

"You'll just have to save it for later, big guy. That explosion sounded pretty serious."

"You're right. Plagg, claws out!!"

*Ladybug emblem scene transition*

Ladybug landed on top of a building to see the villain-of-the -day traipsing about the city. His head was a giant television with a red jack-o-lantern-esque face on its black screen. Cat Noir dropped in beside her and examined the threat.

"Nice of you to show up, kitty."

"Yeah... I got stuck in traffic."

The lack of the usual enthusiasm in her partner's voice made Ladybug slightly worried, but there was no time to ask him about it.

"The akuma has to be in his remote."

Just as she said that, the villain saw them.

"What do we have here? New contestants!! Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to play FIND THAT MIRACULOUS!!! Looks like I just won a braaaand neeew caaaar!!!"

He used his remote to levitate a car and throw it at the heroes, an attack that they quickly dodged by jumping down behind the building.

"What's the plan, M'lady?", Cat Noir asked.

"I'm thinking, I'm thinking. Lucky Charm!!"

Her special power created a giant rubber band, leaving both heroes confused.

"Well this certainly seems like a bit of a stretch, bugaboo."

Ladybug looked around and highlighted various things she could use. Two lampposts, Cat Noir, and the band itself.

"Aha!! I've got it!! You don't mind being slingshot ammo, do you, Cat Noir?"

He twirled his baton and smirked. "Anything for the mission, M'lady."

They tied the band between the lampposts and Cat Noir stood in the middle, pushing back on it with all of his weight. Luckily, the villain was distracted with a group of fleeing pedestrians.

"Ready... NOW!!!", Ladybug exclaimed.

Cat Noir picked up his feet and the band sprung out, launching him forward. When he flew past the villain, he swung his baton and broke the remote in two.

*insert standard akuma purification sequence here*

Once the akuma had been purified and set free, all of the damage was repaired.

"Nice work, Cat Noir."

"All thanks to your brilliant strategy, M'lady."

Hawkmoth stabbed the floor with his walking stick.

"NO!!! You may have foiled me again, Ladybug, but it will only be a matter of time before I have your Miraculous!!"

When his window closed, the villain detransformed and collapsed onto one knee.

"Master, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Nooroo. A little winded, is all."

The Kwami looked genuinely concerned for Gabriel's health, despite being subjugated to what was, in essence, slavery. "You should seek medical help, Master. This is not the way to solve your problem."

Gabriel stood up and snarled. "You dare try and lecture me on what is best?! You forget your place, you pathetic creature!! You serve me and you do as I command!!"

Nooroo sighed. "Yes, Master."

*Cat Noir emblem scene transition*

Adrien ran back to the park and found Marinette waiting.

"Hey. Are you okay?", she asked him. His suit was soaked with sweat.

"Yeah, Mari. I'm fine. I'm just glad you're safe."

Giuseppe crawled out of the tent, blubbering like a baby. "Is-a de danger over?"

Both teens laughed before Adrien helped the photographer off of the ground. "Yeah, Giuseppe. It's safe."

"Ah. Very good. I already got-a de perfect photo, so I guess-a de shoot is over."

Since the Gorilla was nowhere to be found, Adrien walked Marinette home after he changed back into his normal outfit. They stopped outside the door and Marinette blushed.

"Th-thanks for inviting me to the shoot, Adrien. It was nice to join in."

"You're welcome, Mari. Anytime you want, I'd be glad to do more modeling with you."

He kissed her forehead and bade her goodbye before walking away.

"Uh, duuuude, you forgot to tell her that you're Cat Noir again", Plagg scolded.

"It's not the right time, Plagg. I'll tell her soon enough, but not now."

*jump-cut to Marinette's room*

"Did that really just happen, Tikki?"

"What do you mean, Marinette?"

"Did I just... have a date with Adrien?"

The Kwami giggled and munched a cookie. "Well that depends on your definition of a 'date.' I think it was just a lucky turn of events for you."

Marinette nodded. "Yeah, I guess you're right. But he... he kissed me."

"So? You kissed him on the cheek a few weeks ago."

"Oh... yeah... I forgot about that. Well, maybe I shouldn't worry."

Tikki kissed the girl's nose and giggled. "That a girl, Marinette."