Chat Noir dropped on Marinette's balcony like a cannonball. In his hurry, he had missed his leap. His boot got caught in the railing, and he had finished his race rolling at the girl's feet.

"That's what I call running back to one's feet," Alya said smugly.

"If you still want to be able to use your own feet, you should be the one running!" Chat Noir sardonically muttered under his erratic breath. "There's another akumatized villain; a fan of mine fell into Monarch's hands. Now, she's after Marinette. We don't have time to waste." He didn't give the latter the time to react. He swept her off her feet, holding her like a bride, before hopping on the railing. "Get out of here with Marinette's parents. I'll personally take care of her," he told Alya.

"Don't you think that walking around with the target is like waving a bone to a dog? You could also wear a lighted sign that says ' Marinette is here', while you're at it." Tongue-in-cheek, she glared at the two, arms folded over her chest and stance stern.

Marinette tightened her hold around Chat Noir's neck and looked guardedly at her best friend. She didn't like the way Alya was often overdoing it these past days. That was her thing, to overdo, overthink, overreact… not Alya's.

"Everything will be okay. I'm safe with Chat Noir. Do what he says and we'll gather back here when it's over," Marinette reassured her in a soft voice.

"Have you gone crazy? This is reckless and dangerous!" Alya glared and tugged oddly at her ear in a way that left Marinette puzzled.

"I can protect her, Alya."

"He can," Marinette unshakably stated.

"Fine." Alya stomped her foot on the ground and turned her heels. "I'll be withstanding your guardian angel while the poor fallen guy is contemplating your life choices, trying to not have a burn-out."

An angry Alya turned away from them but before she could get back into Marinette's room, a beam of white light hit her straight in the back. The next moment, Nino appeared on Marinette's balcony, his wrist cuffed to Alya's.

"What am I doing here?" Nino's puzzled question came out with him suddenly trying to hide his Rena Rouge fan pajamas.

"You claim to be in love, let's see if you can stand each other until the end of time. Soon all your flaws will be exposed to the other and you'll have no choice but to put up with them."

Behind the four, the new villain stood with a flesh-colored costume, almost giving her the impression of being in her birth suit. Only chains were twisted all along her arms, with handcuffs hanging from the end. Marinette could also have sworn she was blind because her eyes were completely white, deprived of pupils and irises.

"I snore and Nino knows it. I have nothing to hide!" Alya snapped back at the newcomer.

"Not everyone has anything to hide. Exhibition can expose the truth. Starting with you, Chat Noir." At that moment, Exhibition's eyes began to flicker and shine bright as she looked at the feline hero.

"Hold on tight!" Chat Noir stretched out his staff and vaulted in the night with Marinette before the white beam could reach them. "We need to hide until Ladybug shows up," he pointed out.

Something about Ladybug stirred Marinette from the inside. She had to transform. But it could wait a little longer, right? With Chat Noir to protect her, she was safe. How could she not be safe with someone who smelled so good—Adrien the fragrance? She buried her face in the crook of his neck and gave him a proper sniff—Yes, she had been right.

"W-what are you d-doing?"

"You smell gorgeous," she raved, her eyelids fluttering as she took another breath in.

"I can return the favor." He leaned closer to sniff her neck, the warmth of his breath tickling her senses. "Mhhhh! Vanilla and Violet? With a hint of… Jasmine?"

"That's right. You're good at it."

"Comes with the job," Chat Noir whispered as he fondly looked down at her. "I… I mean… the cat-like sensitive sense of smell, that is."

"Just like the mesmerizing cat eyes," Marinette marvelled as she leaned closer. She couldn't take her eyes off him, drawn like a magnet.

She was close to being able to touch his lips with hers and take a taste of him; each of her senses would be fulfilled that way—what more could she ask for?

"Marinette," he murmured with a voice hoarser than usual. "We're back to being really messed up. We need to hurry and find you a safe place."

Her cheeks flushed as she chewed on her bottom lip. Chat Noir was right. They were back at being hot messes unable to function properly around each other.

She had to transform. But maybe… just a little longer? She was feeling so comfortable in the shield of his arms, cradled by his careful leaps and the beating of his heart—the best place to be if you asked her.

"I may know a place where you'll be safe." Chat Noir's run fastened forward, taking a direction that seemed pretty familiar to Marinette. "Only if you feel comfortable with it though," he said as he stopped in his tracks atop the Agreste Manor.

"A-are you going to leave me here with… A-Adrien?" With a villain presumably chasing lovers, and the mess that was currently her feelings, she wasn't sure it was a very good idea.

What if she ended up hit and found herself chained to Adrien? Her thoughts were suddenly like a mirror reflecting the disarray in her heart.

"I'll stay with you, don't worry. Besides, I don't think Adrien is here; his room looked empty when I passed in front of the window…" He paused and brought a hand to the back of his neck. "Anyway, I'm sure he wouldn't say anything about that. He's your friend and he must like you a lot."

"He doesn't."

It felt like breaking the mirror that scattered into a thousand pieces, each bringing her more bad luck into her love life.

"How could he not?" Chat Noir blinked slowly at her. Wasn't that the way cats used to say I love you?

Wait. Nevermind. She had to stay on the lookout and avoid getting lost in his eyes; they made her feel so vulnerable and she couldn't stoop to that now. She couldn't, or she would melt like snow in the sun.

"They said that love is blind but this is not true. Love is not a mask that you can hide behind. Love is not a mask to fall in love with. Do you really love him for what he is? Don't you want to find out his flaws and see that you're wrong? That we're both wrong about him?" Exhibition's voice rose in the air, coming closer.

"Sounds like a jealous fan of yours," Marinette cleared up.

"She's right though. I told you earlier. It can't work. I can't betray Ladybug and let you find out who's under the mask." Chat Noir looked down at his feet, avoiding her gaze.

Slowly bringing a hand to his cheek, Marinette urged him to look back at her, straight in the eye.

"There is the most incredible boy I've ever met underneath that mask. Between her and me, she's the one who's wrong and can't see you the way I do," she whispered matter-of-factly. Her hand lingered on his cheek, her thumbs gingerly stroking the outline of his mask, and he leaned into her touch. "I wouldn't be afraid to be touched by her power."

"Better not to tempt the devil for the sake of my Miraculous," Chat Noir chuckled. "We need to hide quickly. There's no time to waste."

The hero extended his staff and stuck it in the concrete below. He let himself slide down with Marinette, like a pole dancer duet, until they were facing Adrien's room. They took advantage of the open bathroom window to sneak inside. This left a strange feeling in Marinette's stomach at the idea of entering Adrien's room without being invited—not that it was the first time she was actually breaking in.

Cautiously sticking his head through the frame door, Chat Noir then gave Marinette the cue to follow him in the room. At least, Adrien wasn't there—much for the sake of her own sanity.

More tomorrow, but until then... feel free to comment.

Miraculous kisses!