Having Wednesdays off were great, in Ella's opinion. A midweek reprieve from school and a chance to catch up on homework. Spending the day at the Louvre allowed the teen a nice quiet spot to complete her work, and people watching outside the local cafés provides inspiration for music. She had gotten a passing grade of the first part of her music assignment, so Ella decided to start working on the second section of verses. But the words weren't coming to her with such a crowd of strangers, so a change of scenery was needed.
"Why the Trocadéro?" Kiismet asked, once the pair got closer.
"I don't know... just a feeling that it'll be a good place to get some ideas." Ella shrugged, carefully crossing the street to the Troca steps.
"Wait... do you hear screaming?" The girl cocked her head like a puppy, confusion clear on her face. Then she heard Ladybug's voice.
"Really? Another akuma? Does Hawkmoth ever take a day off?" Ella groaned, running up the steps and around the side to the grass beside the avenue. From her spot, she could see Ladybug and Cat Noir chasing after a suited roller-skater. She caught the words 'past' and 'time' over the wind, but Ella still had no idea what was going on.
"Are you gonna jump in?"
"I don't think so... it looks like they have it handled."
Ella watched as the akumatized villain went for Ivan, but Ladybug stopped her... though it was short lived.
"Uh- they might need he- CAT!"
Ella's brain took a moment to catch up with her body, but when it did, she was already darting over the wall and between the feline hero and the villain. She ignored Kiismet shouting in her ear before feeling the kwami flit away. Cat Noir was protecting Ladybug from whatever was coming but Ella knew he needed to be protected too.
There was a sharp hit to her chest, and Ella remembered nothing else.
Cat Noir heard someone call his name as he stuck himself between Ladybug and Timebreaker. He was expecting the hit to his back, but the confusion was apparent when he and Ladybug both moved to glance at Timebreaker...
"ELLA!"
The girl was between the hero pair and the villain, her arms outstretched to keep a barrier between them. She was already starting to fade, frozen in time.
"Woo- six minutes in one go! This girl must have taken your nine lives kitty! Gotta go- the past is waiting!"
Ladybug stood, anger etched hard on her face. Cat knelt before the frozen Ella, his own expressions giving way to his broken heart. Why had she done that? He could take the hit- he knew Ladybug had a plan to get him back at the end of the fight.
Reaching out, Cat rested his hand against Ella's cheeks, almost wishing for the girl to flinch away from his touch... but no, his hand met her skin for just a moment, before she vanished.
Anger coursing through him, Cat Noir stood to face Timebreaker... but turned just in time to see the villain vanish into the past with Ladybug tethered behind.
Ladybug managed to get her past self all caught up before moving down to the fight, groaning at the sight of two Timebreakers now. But that thought vanished when Cat Noir showed up.
"Cat Noir, I can't explain now, but we've got to capture Timebreaker's akuma! Your life and civilian's depends on it!"
"Which one? I've got nine!"
"Not the time, Cat! If Timebreaker gets too close to you, that girl Ella is gonna sacrifice herself to keep you safe!"
"What?!" Cat Noir growled, his eyes turning steely at the mention of the girl who stole his heart being in danger.
"I'm serious! The akuma is in her rollerblades. We gotta release it!"
The pair jump off the roof and land by the two Timebreakers.
"Am I seeing double all of a sudden?"
"Another thing I don't have time to explain."
"The energy from these two should be enough for both of us to go farther back in time! There was a girl from earlier who gave me a whole lotta time!" The original Timebreaker informed the new villain.
"Heh, I want my watch back! Let's do it!"
"Whatever you do, don't let either of them touch you! And keep your eyes out for Ella!"
The heroes and villains start to fight, though it was an even match- just a little one-sided on the side of the heroes.
"If we were faster, those bozos would be no match for us."
"Then let's stock up on more energy first. Then, we'll destroy them!" The Timebreakers skate away, snatching time from innocent people around them. Ladybug and Cat Noir chase after them. Cat kept his eyes peeled for Ella as they ran, before he spotted her hiding behind the stone wall along the avenue. But this time around, the Timebreakers didn't seem to notice her...
His gaze caught hers as he ran by, and he motioned for her to stay hidden. Luckily, she understood and hid behind the trees around her.
Finally the fight was over. While Ladybug went to return the watch to Alix, Cat Noir ran over to the wall just as Ella popped up.
"What happened?" Her voice was tight, worried. But that went away as Cat Noir wrapped his arms around her, ignoring the flinch he elicited from her.
"Never. And I mean never- sacrifice yourself for me again, Ella..." He hugged her tight, burying his nose in her neck, afraid if he let go, she'd be frozen like before.
Cat held her close for a few moments, relishing in the feeling of Ella's arms soon wrapping around his neck in response.
"Promise me you'll never do that again, mon bel ange..." Ella blushed scarlet, feeling Kiismet dancing around in her pocket at Cat Noir's words.
"I... I promise..." Satisfied with her words, Cat Noir finally released her as his ring beeped in alarm.
"You'd better go..." Ella whispered, pulling her arms back. Cat nodded slowly, backing away. With a small smile, Cat Noir jumped away, vanishing behind the Trocadéro.
"That was so cute!" Kiismet buzzed, zipping around Ella's head like a fly. Ella blushed deep again, collecting her stuff from her hiding place.
"Hush up, Kiis..."
"Isn't it so cute that Adrien and Cat Noir have a crush on you!?"
"Kiis!"