The rain was loud in Marinette's ears, and so was her heartbeat. She could feel the heat of Chat's hand seeping through her sweater and into her waist, filling her veins with a warm and jittery feeling.

He was holding the umbrella with his other hand, which meant that both of his hands were occupied. Marinette, who had the unfortunate luck to not have both hands occupied, had to figure out the heck to do with her other hand. She ended up fiddling with the stray slips of paper in her pocket, trying to keep her heartbeat under control.

Chat's shoulder was getting wet. Marinette didn't seem to notice, and he was glad she didn't. He didn't want her to insist he keep the umbrella completely for himself or something dumb like that.

Besides, he hardly noticed the wet feeling on his shoulder. It was nothing compared to the feeling he got with Marinette's side pressed up against his. She was a bit on the shorter side; her head went just above his shoulder, and he thought it was the most endearing thing. He liked how easily she fit into him.

"Where'd you guys get the umbrella?"

Marinette gave a little squeak, whipping her head around to look at Manon, who was huddled by the wall, holding her hands above her head in an effort to shield herself from the rain.

"Manon!" Chat said, turning and giving a stern glance at her, while still keeping the umbrella mainly on Marinette. "I thought I told you to go home."

"You sure did," Manon answered, rolling her eyes. "That doesn't mean I have to do what you say." She turned, summoning her best puppy eyes for Marinette. "But Marinette says I can stay, right?" Her dripping pigtails and overall lost-puppy-in-the-rain look really sold the con.

As it turned out, Marinette was extremely weak to puppy eyes. "Yeah," she said weakly. "She can stay."

"Marinette-"

"It'll be more dangerous for her to go home alone," Marinette reasoned, "right?"

Chat didn't look happy about it, but he agreed. "We only have one umbrella, though."

"You two can share. I don't mind the rain anyway," Marinette said, stepping out of Chat's embrace (though neither of them liked the sudden cold they felt after being separated). She pulled Manon over so that she was under the umbrella.

"But I wanted to share with you, Marinette," Manon whined, glaring at Chat.

"Looks like we have something in common," Chat muttered under his breath, too quiet for either of the girls to hear.

"Cats don't like the rain. So Chat has to be under the umbrella or else he'll cry."

Manon looked at Chat as if she were seriously contemplating the idea of pushing Chat out from under the umbrella just to see him cry. Then she shrugged. "Alright."

Marinette glanced over at Chat before she went to walk by Manon, and in that split second, she noticed his shoulder, which was absolutely soaked. Something warm stirred inside her heart.

"Alya is so cool, right?" Manon said after a few minutes of walking. By that time, Marinette was already extremely soaked, but she didn't mind too much.

"Right," she answered. Chat glanced over at her, but her expression was completely neutral.

Sometime between then and the next time Manon spoke, Marinette ended up holding Manon's hand, and Manon held on to the end of Chat's tail.

"You know," Manon started, looking up at Marinette, "King Plagg visited my school once. We had to call him 'Mr. Plagg.' He was nice, sort of. Kind of little," she said, letting go of Chat's tail for a moment to make a gesture with her finger to show how little the king was before grabbing Chat's tail again. She paused, stomping her foot into a puddle. "And that got me thinking. Would if Alya visited the school? That would be so cool!"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah! She could beat up everyone, but probably only the bullies and boring teachers since she doesn't beat up innocent people." Again, Chat glanced at Marinette, but her expression was still relatively neutral. He wondered if he'd ever be able to read her expression.

The rain started to thin out, and the corridor they were walked down expanded, the walls extending so wide, that it was hard to see them in the low light. Far away, a town glowed, buildings reaching far up into the sky of the Underground. And amongst it all, a castle towered over everything, its imposing grandeur sending a shiver down Marinette's spine.

Manon darted out from underneath the umbrella, catching rain droplets on her tongue and stomping in puddles. Both Chat and Marinette stopped walking, standing side by side and staring at the castle.

Slowly, Chat lowered the umbrella, letting the point of it brush against the ground. "I forget sometimes how vast the kingdom is," he said softly. When Marinette glanced over at him, she saw the awe in his eyes.

"Is that where I have to go?" she asked, nodding her head to the castle.

"Yeah."

Silence descended over them, creating a film as thin as the clothes sticking to their skin. Water dripped into Marinette's eye, and she rubbed at it absently.

"Remember when we first met?"

Chat looked over at her, but she was still staring at the castle. "Of course I do."

"And how you could disappear without leaving a trace?"

Manon let out a shriek of joy as she stomped into a large puddle, sending rainwater flying in all directions. Guilt tugged at Chat's heart. "I'm still very sorry about that. I know I should've warned you-"

"I need you to do that again."

"What?"

Finally, Marinette looked at him, and her expression was a mask of determination. Whatever it was she was planning, he had little chance of convincing her out of it. "I need you to disappear without a trace. Probably soon."

"Why?"

"I'll probably be meeting Alya soon. And that means she'll want to fight me or something like that, and I don't want you getting caught in the crossfire."

His grip on the umbrella grew tighter, and he stuck a hand on his chest, giving her that look that said she was being ridiculous in the worst way. "I can defend myself, you know! I was training to be part of the Royal Guard before you came along. If anything, I should be as close to you as possible so that I can make sure you don't get hurt."

She crossed her arms. "In case you haven't noticed, I've survived this long." She said the word 'survived' carefully, as if she rolled it around her mouth before letting herself say it. "And this isn't about whether or not I think you're capable."

"Then what is it about then?" His was angry, she could tell, and she sighed, taking his hand and giving it a squeeze.

"I know you're capable, and I know you're strong. But you're also still part of the Royal Guard, or at least involved with them. Alya probably knows that. If you were caught defending me, I won't be the only one they want dead." Her voice was even, logical, and Chat couldn't stand how her expression was the same.

"You think I care about that? I've never been one to advocate for the destruction of the human race; I never liked this stupid new agenda! I would happily send my reputation up in smoke to protect what I think is right, to protect you."

They were trying to keep their voices down, for fear of letting Manon know that not everything was as wonderful as she thought it was. But Marinette could still hear the burning tone of his voice, and every word scorched her to the bone. But she remained resilient.

"What about Nino?" she asked, and Chat's defiance went down about five notches.

"What about Nino?" he asked, trying to keep up the stubborn hero shtick, but she could hear the uncertainty in his voice.

"Nino is also associated with the Royal Guard – to help you, I believe. If you recklessly help me along where Alya can see, you're not only endangering yourself, but Nino, as well. Nino is your best friend. People will have to go after him just to see if he is also as amazingly stupid as you are."

"So I'm stupid for helping you?"

"Of course you are."

"No one would go after Nino."

"Are you absolutely sure?"

The split second hesitation on Chat's face was just enough to convince Marinette he knew she was right. "As soon as there is any hint of Alya nearby, you have to disappear. If not for your sake, then Nino's," she said softly, giving his hand another squeeze. "I need you two to stay safe."

Finally, his defiance cracked. His shoulders slumped, and he hung his head. "And what about you? Would if I need you to stay safe?"

"You'll just have to trust me."

Chat looked down at his hand, which Marinette was holding loosely. He let out a sigh, pulling her closer and tugging his hand from hers so that he could hug her easily. "You must be real tired of me always being so worried about you," he whispered into her hair, squeezing her tight.

Something caught in the back of Marinette's throat, and she pressed her face into his chest, wrapping her arms around him. "I don't mind."

They stayed wrapped in their hug until Manon stomped in a puddle right next to their legs. Marinette pulled away from Chat, raising an eyebrow at Manon.

"You guys looked so sad," she said with a shrug. "I don't like seeing people sad."

"So your solution was to splash water on us?" Chat asked, crossing his arms and giving Manon a look.

She just shrugged again.

"Thanks, Manon," Marinette said, taking Manon's hand and starting to walk. "Now I'm not sad at all." The two walked hand in hand, jumping in puddles together and laughing. Chat watched them, a smile tugging at his lips as he closed the umbrella and walked after them, kicking at puddles as he went.

They hadn't gotten very far before a tall ledge blocked the path. No one could climb up by themselves, which meant that someone had to be left behind.

Chat chewed at his bottom lip, staring up at the ledge. "I could help you two up, and then try and use my baton to get up by myself," he suggested, sticking the umbrella in a bucket of umbrellas nearby.

"It could work," Marinette said, looking up at the ledge.

"Up you go, then," he said, kneeling down by the ledge and lacing his fingers together to make a foot hold.

"Manon should go first."

"I can throw her up, and you can catch her."

Marinette looked down at Manon, who shrugged. "It could be fun."

And so Marinette went up first.

She placed her foot in Chat's hand, reaching her hands up to the edge of the ledge. He lifted her as easily as if she were just a sack of flour, and she squeaked a bit before getting a hold of herself and grabbing the ledge to pull herself up. As soon as she stood up, a feeling of dread sunk into her stomach.

The path led off into darkness.

"Chat," she said, looking down at him as he was starting to pick up Manon.

He looked up at her. "What's up?"

She tried her best to convey the dreadand anxiety twisting her stomach through her expression. "I actually think it'd be best if Manon were to go home right now."

Manon let out a noise of protest. "What? Marinette, you were the one who said I could stay!"

"I know, but it might be dangerous," she said, flicking her eyes pointedly to Chat.

He finally seemed to understand. "Manon, I think Marinette is right. I should take you home."

"What's up there?" Manon demanded, jumping up and down in an effort to try and see over the ledge.

"Nothing, really," Marinette promised.

"Than why can't I go?"

"Isn't your mom probably really worried right now?" Marinette asked, trying to ignore the puppy eyes Manon was giving her. "You should at least explain to your mom where you've been."

Manon pouted, but finally seemed to agree. "Fine. But I'll find a way back." She stomped off in the direction they had come, her arms crossed.

Chat looked up at Marinette, mouthing the words 'be safe.' She nodded, and he ran off after Manon.

Marinette turned, taking a deep breath to calm her sudden nerves. Logically speaking, there was no guarantee Alya was anywhere in the path ahead of her, but there had to be some reason for the unsettled feeling in the pit of her stomach. She'd rather pay attention to that feeling than ignore it and let Manon get hurt.

She walked forward, alone.

In the next corridor, two signs glowed on the wall, and a glittering save point sat on the floor between the signs. The save point, if anything, was a hint that something major was about to happen.

Before paying any attention to the signs, Marinette walked forward, touching a finger to the save point.

The already low-lit corridor seemed all the more eerie now that it was in black and white. Marinette scanned the save message.

The serene sound of a distant music box…

It fills you with determination.

Would you like to save?

Not wanting to spend another moment in the stillness surrounding her, she pressed the 'yes' button and watched as the world flooded with color once again.

Closing her eyes, she listened to the sound of rain coming from the past corridor, and, if she listened hard enough, she could hear the faint sounds of the music box melody from the statue. Sure enough, it did seem to strengthen her just the slightest.

The signs on the wall continued the story of powerful humans scared of akuma power, but now that Chat had told her the signs were propaganda, Marinette only glanced at them before she continued.

Only the last line of the second sign jumped out at her, and it only seemed to make her more unsettled.

…countless akumas turned to dust.

She shivered, walking faster.

In the next area, wooden planks greeted her along with long shadows thrown about by the eerie glow given off by lanterns lined up along the maze-like deck that spanned before her.

Her shadow quivered in front of her as she walked.

Just as she was about to dismiss the area as being only creepy and not housing anything dangerous, her SOUL emerged from her chest and a purple pause button appeared in the ground in front of her. Marinette only just managed to keep herself from stepping on it as she wrapped her hands around her SOUL.

A long spear erupted vertically from the pause button, and Marinette stumbled back, whipping her head around to find Alya, who was standing on a deck that shadowed the one Marinette was on.

For a moment, their eyes met, and it was almost like Marinette could actually try to talk Alya out of attacking her. But then Alya pointed her spear at the deck Marinette was standing on, and pause buttons appeared all around her, spears shooting up from the buttons.

And so Marinette ran.

The only problem with this brilliant plan was that it was too dark to see clearly, and the deck was sprawled out in a sort of maze. The lanterns aided her vision only as much to help see a couple feet in front of her.

Pause buttons surrounded her feet, and she pulled herself to a stop, closing her eyes tight as she felt the air by her ears get sliced open by the spears around her. She clutched her SOUL tightly to herself, and the moment she heard the spears retract into the pause buttons again, she started to run again.

She was running blindly, her heart beating erratically, her breath tearing at her lungs, her feet dancing to keep herself away from the buttons constantly surrounding her.

But then she ran into a dead end, and she turned, only to have planted her left foot directly into a pause button. She tried her best to pry herself out before the spear erupted from the button, but she was stuck fast. Tears pricked at her eyes at the thought of a spear going straight through her leg, but that never happened.

Instead, the spears from the buttons around her lashed out at her leg, slicing her skin and reaching desperately for her hands, which still clutched her SOUL tight. She held her hands higher, squeezing her eyes shut and biting her lip to keep from crying out as again and again her leg was slashed at.

When the spears retracted into the buttons once more, she took off again, feeling the blood run down her leg and soak into her sock. She was running with an obvious limp, and the pain was slowing her down considerably, but she still ran.

A pause button appeared directly under her left foot, but she was too slow on that leg to swerve around it, and her foot fell onto the pause button. Tears ran down her cheeks, and she closed her eyes once more, bracing herself.

The spears didn't fail to deliver.

Again and again, they slashed at any skin that wasn't already injured, and Marinette bit so hard on her bottom lip that it started to bleed.

But still, when the spears retracted, she ran.

It hurt bad, and it was hard to breathe after running so long, but she pushed herself further and further. She held her SOUL close to her chest, sobbing assurances to it as best as she could.

She only realized she had run into another dead end until she was about to fall over the edge.

Fatigue pulled at her shoulders, and she'd lost a lot of blood. Her left leg stung like crazy, and it hurt to even put the slightest of pressure on it. There was no use in trying to run again. So she turned around, holding her SOUL loosely in her trembling hands, and waited for Alya to find her.

Soon enough, Alya walked forward, her armor clanking softly as she did so. For a moment, they stared at each other. Marinette lifted her chin and stood as tall as she could.

Alya raised her spear. Marinette braced herself.

Instead of killing her with a slash of her spear, Alya struck the deck between her and Marinette.

And suddenly Marinette was falling.

Marinette vaguely felt her SOUL seep back into her body, but she was too focused on watching Alya grow smaller and smaller as her body fell through the still air. Then Alya disappeared and Marinette was watching nothing, a strange sort of calm over her heart. Blood droplets seemed to fall up as she fell down.

She landed ungracefully, and her vision wavered as her leg and pretty much everything else throbbed painfully. She thought she could see flickers of movement around her, but she couldn't be sure. She felt blood dribble down her chin from the cut on her lip.

She wondered if she'd die there. Everything went black.

I didn't think people like you could be so clumsy. Are you okay? Everyone already knows your name, huh? Must be nice…

. . .