Jean Luc was upset with himself. He knew he was probably being forward; he knew she was probably having a really hard time because Chat was missing; he knew she probably thought he was nosy and weird…He sighed, contenting himself to pounding the bread dough he was kneading as hard as he could against the countertop in frustration. Why couldn't things ever just be simple for a change?

He knew he had a crush on Marinette; he'd known for a while. He didn't know why, seeing that they'd just now met properly, but he somehow felt drawn to her. The problem was, she seemed to be emotionally closed off from just about everyone- as far as he'd seen, at least. He wished she would let someone be there for her, even if it wasn't him. But, then again, maybe she did have someone, he just didn't know about it because the two of them weren't.…technically friends. Although, he suspected that if she had let someone in, she'd be a lot happier than she was now.

He smiled inwardly as he remembered that she had trusted him to keep her relationship to Chat Noir a secret. That had to be progress, right?

Yeah, said a snarky voice in his head, if by "trust" you mean "asked you not to tell something you already know." He rolled his eyes, knowing it was true. She hadn't confided in him; he'd figured it out on his own. That didn't really sound much like trust.

He had to admit, he was a little jealous of Chat. But then again, the guy was nowhere to be seen for months. He knew it was illogical, but that didn't make his feelings magically disappear either. He wanted Marinette to be happy, but he wished she could be happy with him.

He was startled at this thought. He'd only just met her properly, he shouldn't be thinking things like that yet, he chastised himself. It didn't make any sense! But there was something about Marinette that was very familiar, comforting almost. He didn't know how or why, as he didn't remember meeting her before. He wished he knew what she was to him before this whole mess with his memories.

But, he reasoned, he was unlikely to ever find out. He didn't know a lot about medicine or the human mind, but he thought that if his memories were going to come back, they probably would have started to do so already. At least, he'd have expected something, anything, to turn up by now- a flashback, a dream, a full memory…anything, really. But as it was, he was beginning to lose hope that he'd ever remember anything from before that day.

Sabine chose that moment to rush through the door, looking lighter than Jean Luc had seen her in ages. She gazed around, and, finally catching sight of him, made her way over. She beamed at him, patting his cheek in a motherly fashion.

"I don't know what you said to her, but thank you, Jean Luc! From the bottom of my heart!" She held up her phone to his questioning face. "See? Look!" It took his eyes a moment to focus, but he finally was able read a text from Marinette.

Marinette: Thanks for the dinner invite, Maman. Not sure if I'll be able to get off work early enough for dinner, but maybe we can do a movie night next Friday instead? Let me know 3

Jean Luc's face broke in to a heartfelt grin. "You're welcome Madame…uh..Sabine," he corrected himself as she walked away, humming happily to herself. Tom and Sabine liked him to use their first names, but he nearly always responded formally. A product of his forgotten upbringing, he supposed.

He was glad Marinette had actually listened to his advice. Connection to others could be good for her, he thought, especially if she was dealing with loss. He wasn't sure why he knew that, but he…just had a feeling.

Feeling lighter himself, he returned to his bread, whistling happily as he did so.

Marinette still wasn't sure what possessed her to accept an invitation from her parents to come over. She'd been steadfastly avoiding prolonged contact with them for months. Maybe it had been that Jean Luc guy; he'd gotten in her head, she admitted to herself.

She remembered the sincere look in his eyes as they'd spoken briefly. She shivered, remembering that same look in another, more cat-like pair of eyes…

No! She scolded herself, Don't go there, Mari! It's a mistake! It's not him!

But yet, she couldn't help but remember that he'd helped her. He'd come after her when she had run off in a terrible mood. He'd helped her with her parents, probably because he genuinely cared about her mother, she decided. Her mother was the kind of person that touched people's hearts easily.

"Good for you, Marinette," Tikki spoke up proudly just then from the dining table across the room from where Marinette was sitting, perched on the sofa with her legs tucked underneath her. "I'm glad you're giving your parents a chance. It will be good for you."

"My head knows you're right, Tikki, but I can't help but feel I'm making a mistake," she said heavily. "They shouldn't need to be brought down by my company. And…I don't know if I can face them and pretend everything is ok. Especially with that new guy around. He's too much like Chat Noir."

Tikki stayed silent, knowing it wasn't worth it to continue to argue when Marinette was in this sort of mood. Marinette was grateful as the room lapsed into silence, pulling out her schoolbooks.

She sighed. Her homework waited for no man.

Nathalie Sancoer sat in the large chair in her office, smiling slightly to herself. Her work as mayor was going swimmingly. Akumas were still terrorizing the city several times a week; she'd decided that it would be prudent to pretend there was nothing different about Hawkmoth in order to avoid suspicion. Ladybug was continuing to fail at every turn, less and less focused and effective each time. The city streets were filling with partial victims. Things were going well.

Now, for phase two of her plan.

The intercom buzzed annoyingly.

"Madame Sancoer, a Miss Rossi is here to see you," her secretary announced.

"Send her in," Nathalie commanded, folding her hands calmly on top her desk.

A smartly dressed young woman with auburn hair stepped over the threshold.

"Madame Mayor, it is an honor! Thank you soooo much for inviting me to meet with you!" Miss Rossi gushed sweetly, extending her hand, which Nathalie shook in a perfunctory manner.

"Please, sit down," Nathalie said calmly indicating the chair opposite her. Lila sat down, looking at her expectantly. Nathalie studied her.

"Miss Rossi, you may not remember, but several years ago, I worked as Gabriel Agreste's personal assistant. In that capacity, I was able to observe a good many things about you while you worked as a model. Now, I have an opportunity for you, one that I think you will consider to be too good to refuse."

Lila was intrigued, but said nothing. Nathalie unlocked a drawer to her desk, pulling out a purple brooch. Lila's eyes shone with envy.

"Do you know what this is?" Nathalie asked, holding up the purple gem. Lila nodded.

"The Butterfly Miraculous," she answered at once. "It was in that book Adrien had years ago. He was looking at it on a break during a photo shoot." Nathalie nodded. Lila looked up at her in awe, with just a touch of reverence. "Does this mean…you're Hawkmoth?" Nathalie smirked and shook her head.

"Hawkmoth has been…indisposed for some time now," she revealed. "I have kept up his work, but I find myself…a bit too preoccupied with my own career to continue." She looked at Lila. "I was hoping I could count on you to take his place."

Lila narrowed her eyes. "If anyone ever finds out, I will lose my job as a model. My reputation will be ruined. So…what's in it for me?"

Nathalie smirked again. "I assume that you still hold a grudge towards Ladybug, is that correct?" Lila didn't answer, but the anger that flitted over her face told Nathalie everything she needed to know. "I thought so. What would you say to a chance to bring her down— permanently?"

Lila allowed a malicious grin to spread over her face. "It would be my pleasure, Madame Mayor. And without that stupid Chat Noir, and Ladybug being even more incompetent than usual, it should be easy."

Nathalie smiled. "Excellent. Now, here's what I want you to do…"

Several weeks went by, and Jean Luc was starting to get restless. The bakery work was normal, and while he was pleased with all the new skills he'd learned, he was itching for some excitement. But, not sure where to go or what else to do, he continued to quietly knead his bread dough, letting his mind wander.

He hadn't seen anything of Marinette since that day she'd spilled her drawings all over the bakery floor. She had evidently kept messaging her mother with excuses, postponing the meeting that had been planned. Although he had halfway expected this, he couldn't help but feel disappointed. And he couldn't help but wonder if she was avoiding him on purpose, if it was his fault she'd stayed away.

Sabine was, if anything, even more worried about her daughter than before. She was baking cookies several times a week now, even when Marinette hadn't visited. Jean Luc was becoming concerned for his surrogate mother; she risked getting herself akumatized.

Just as he was finishing up with the bread and taking off his apron for a break, an akuma alert shook him out of his thoughts. He pulled out the phone he'd bought himself just a couple weeks after he'd come to the bakery, seeing that the akuma was near the Louvre. He thought of Ladybug.

He didn't know what he thought he could do, but she needed help, there was absolutely no denying it. He'd watched her become more and more weighed down for weeks- from afar, of course. She was just one person, her partner was missing, and her powers were going berserk. She had to feel as alone as Marinette probably did. He quickly made up his mind. He didn't know how to help Marinette since he was quite sure she wouldn't let him, but he was going to find a way to help Ladybug.

Taking care that Tom and Sabine were too busy inside to notice his escape, he grabbed his favorite hoodie (solid black with a Chat Noir paw print and cat ears on the hood) and slipped out the back door, running as fast as he could toward the museum. As he ran, he pulled out his phone, hoping to get a clue as to what Ladybug would be up against.

The latest intel broadcasted that the man was dressed as a wizard of some sort, with a magic staff. Basically, anything and everything the man thought of became reality. Objects turned into other objects; elements were manipulated; things were appearing out of thin air; the works, in other words.

He finally skidded to a stop a safe distance from the glass pyramid and pulled up his hood, on the lookout for any sign of the wizard villain and Ladybug. Seeing nothing so far, he ventured closer, circling the pyramid from the shadows. Still finding nothing, he crept quietly past the police force standing guard and into the Louvre. The interior was, thankfully, deserted; evidently, all civilians had already been evacuated.

If I were a wizard in a museum, where would I hide? He thought, pushing his oval-shaped glasses up his nose in concentration as he read the directory. Finally catching sight of an exhibit boasting artifacts from the middle ages, he cockily snapped his fingers. Bingo.

He followed the signs, taking care to keep to the shadows and peeking around corners as he went. Passing a display case full of ancient weaponry, Jean Luc grabbed a sword, holding it in front of himself, crouched in a defensive stance. He was beginning to hear the unmistakable sounds of a skirmish. Following the noise, he found Ladybug in an unfortunate situation.

She was pinned between two enchanted suits of armor, thrashing about as the wizard made his way toward the struggling young woman. Jean Luc inched closer, catching the words as the wizard called out.

"Now, Ladybug, you have lost. Give me your Miraculous!"

Jean Luc could see Ladybug's eyes darting around, much as Marinette's had a few weeks earlier in the bakery, in search of an escape route. Her expression was determined, however.

"Never!" She cried, still struggling in defiance. He took a moment to admire her bravery as he thought through her possible moves; her Lucky Charm was out- she couldn't move enough to throw her yo-yo. The Miraculous cure wouldn't help yet, she still had to capture the akuma. Just then, he noticed the wizard raising his staff to strike her.

"Ladybug, watch out!" He cried, darting in front of her, sword at the ready, easily catching the blow with his weapon. Then he crouched into a familiar defensive posture, eyes narrowed in determination. Behind him, he heard Ladybug gasp.

"What's this?" The wizard asked in surprise, before his expression turned into an evil smirk. "A new plaything, eh?" He asked, raising his staff like a sword. "Let's see what you make of this."

Jean Luc smirked with a confidence he didn't know he had. "Mage before beauty. Be my guest!"

As he leapt into action, Jean Luc was surprised at just what he could do with the sword he held. His body responded instantly, his muscle memory performing outstanding feats he'd never dreamed he'd be able to pull off. Evidently, he'd had some professional training at some point in his past life. He leapt and dodged, parried and thrusted, until finally he was able to knock the staff from the wizard's hand. It rolled away behind him to Ladybug, who had finally been able to throw off her armored guards while the wizard was distracted.

She picked it up, snapping it in half and catching what looked like a lightning-streaked purple butterfly inside her glowing yo-yo. Jean Luc watched her in fascination. He had the feeling that all this was familiar, somehow, but he knew that he never could remember watching her purify an akuma.

Ladybug frowned in concentration as she let the butterfly out. He noticed it had changed from dark purple to white on one of the fore-wings, the rest remaining purple. She sighed, snatching it from the air again with the yo-yo and letting it go again. This time he saw that the back wings and body were purple, the forewings white now. Ladybug growled in frustration, grabbing the butterfly for the third time, then a fourth, then a fifth. Each time a little more of the butterfly was cleansed. Finally finding it pure white, she sighed in relief, calling out her Miraculous Ladybug charm before turning to her would-be partner. The akumatized victim was now nowhere to be seen.

He noticed that she looked…nervous as she looked him over. He attempted to strike a cocky pose, holding out his fist to her. "Bien joue!" He grinned, but he could feel his knees knocking under her scrutiny.

Ladybug was hard-core freaking out now- only inwardly, of course. Not only had she almost had her Miraculous taken, but she'd been saved. Saved by the boy from the bakery, Jean Luc, who was, clearly, more like Chat Noir than she'd first thought. Honestly, when he'd called out to her, throwing his body between her and the wizard's staff, she fully expected Chat to be the one standing in front of her, complete with fuzzy cat ears and tail. She knew that was illogical; his ring was still firmly set on her finger, after all. But the young man's voice had been that of her lost partner to her ears.

She'd been mesmerized by his skill with a sword in his hand. He'd moved about like a pro, and she had admired his agility. The way he crouched, the way he sat, catlike, the way he jumped and leaped, even the way he held his sword…it was all so familiar. And the cocky pun…and the customary fist bump…

Ladybug, pull yourself together! She snapped at herself. It can't be him! He's…he's gone. Her jaw dropped at this thought. So far, she'd done her best to avoid even having the words cross her mind, hoping that if she just believed it hard enough, maybe he'd come back to her. But the rational part of her was sure that, had he been alive, he would have contacted her by now. He would have made himself known somehow. There was nothing else for it. He was most likely gone, and he wasn't coming back. Her eyes filled with tears momentarily before she blinked them away. Now was not the time.

"Th-thank you for your help, sir," she said, extending her hand finally, meeting his knuckles with hers gently. "Another couple of minutes and I'd have been done for."

"No- no problem, Milady. Just doing what anyone would do," he said, his ears turning red in embarrassment at her praise, rubbing the back of his neck uncomfortably.

He saw a sparkle flash through her blue eyes for a moment before it disappeared again- the sparkle he'd been looking for in Marinette's eyes- as she gave him a small smile, shaking her head. "Not just anyone would do what you did…um…" she trailed off, looking at him in question.

"Jean Luc. Jean Luc Chapain," he finished for her. She gazed at him for a beat. She seemed to be concentrating hard, trying to see something in his face.

He remembered the look Marinette had given him a couple weeks prior, the same exact look Ladybug had fixed on him now. He wasn't sure what he kept doing that made those two women look at him like that. He shrugged it off as she began speaking again.

"Well, Jean Luc, thank you for being my good luck charm today. Though, please try to refrain from doing so in the future. Fighting akumas is dangerous," she said, looking concerned.

Jean Luc gave an unapologetic shrug. "Begging your pardon, Milady, but I think I can take care of myself," he said. "After all, I was the one to rescue you from this knight-mare." He smirked at her, gesturing to the suits of armor.

Ladybug looked incensed. Apparently that hadn't been the right thing to say. "This isn't a joke, Ch- Jean Luc!" She almost called me Chat Noir, his mind registered vaguely. "I just don't want you getting hurt," she said, sounding frustrated. "It's my job to protect the citizens of Paris, and-"

"-and sometimes, it's our job to protect you, Ladybug," he finished for her firmly. Her eyes narrowed and she opened her mouth, but he cut her off, putting a finger to her lips. "No. You can't possibly be expected to protect every person in the city all on your own. You'd crack under the pressure. Hell, I'd crack under the pressure, too, if it were me," he stated. "You need someone to be there for you, to have your back. If it can't be Chat Noir, well, I'd hope you'd consider me an adequate second choice."

His eyes pleaded with her, hoping she could feel his sincerity. He wanted- no, he needed- to be there for her, to have her back while she kept everyone safe. He couldn't bear the thought of her facing danger alone. Not when he could do something about it.

Whoa. Maybe he had a crush on Ladybug, too…

He watched as Ladybug's sky blue eyes filled with tears again.

Nice job, he thought sarcastically to himself. You were supposed to help her feel better, not make her cry! Good going, you idiot! He wanted to smack himself. He was so busy berating himself that he didn't notice Ladybug's face harden, even as a lone tear streamed down her cheek.

"I…I can't," she said determinedly, wiping at her face. "I can't let you put yourself at risk like that. I'm sorry, but please, don't try to help again." She turned quickly on her heel and ran, leaving Jean Luc standing gaping after her, sword still clutched in his hand.