(Once I post this chapter, I'm going through all the current chapters and changing them to past tense. I just realized that some are present tense while others are past tense, which isn't good. So, sorry for the inconvenience, and enjoy this next chapter!)

I decided that sandwiches would be the easiest and quickest thing to make for lunch, so I got started and got out everything I'll need. Neeks flew around, watching me work. "Do you need any help, Jasper?" He asked, landing on top of my head. I smiled and shook my head, grabbing the peanut butter and jelly for my mom's sandwich and ham and cheese for mine.

"Okay." He sprawled out, tickling my scalp with his tail as he swished it around. "If you say so."

I made the sandwiches and put them on plates with some chips, then grabbed some water for Mom and me to drink. Neeks hid himself in my hair and I went to my mother's studio, knocking on the door before entering. Mom sat in front of a canvas, pencil tapping against her chin as she stared, contemplating. I stood by the door for a few minutes, debating how I should go about this without startling her.

"What's your favorite cat?"

I jumped, startled that mom actually knew I was there for once. I made a sound of confusion, walking over and setting the plates on a table near us. I looked at the painting, smiling as I saw a drawn out kitten reaching up to swat at a butterfly, a sunny sky in the background and flowering trees framing the picture."What's your favorite cat?" She repeated, glancing at me again.

I thought for a few minutes. All cats were pretty, I liked all of them. But a certain cat couldn't escape my mind, one that made me happy and comfortable.

"Black cats. Black cats are my favorite... And can you make its eyes green?" I wrote, showing it to my mom.

She nodded and marked it on the drawing, smiling and looks at me. "Long hair or short?"

"Can you do short but fluffy?"

She giggled and nodded once again. "You got it, baby boy." She hummed as she sketched out the fluffy fur with her pencil, and when she was done she sighed. "Alright, now we can eat." She set the pencil down and stretched. "Man, that took me so much longer than it was supposed to! I should have started painting an hour ago!"

I handed her her plate and pulled over the extra stool for me to sit on, shrugging lightly in response to her words.

"Well, anyway... How's school going? Is that video game session still on with those boys Adrien and Nino?"

I nodded, smiling brightly. I grabbed my notebook and started to write once again. "It moved to Adrien's house. His dad apparently wants to meet me because of how I look."

"I see. Now, is that a good thing, or bad?"

"It's good. He's a fashion designer, and since he's never seen an albino, he wanted to see how his designs would look on one." I played with my necklace as she read it, and ate my sandwich quietly.

She glanced at me, then back at the note I wrote, then back to me again. "Alright, well, first thing first, we need to change that chain on your necklace. Make it shorter. Then we need to touch up your hair. You didn't brush it well, again. Give you some concealer under the eyes... Hm... Make sure you are wearing one of your nice shirts... And make sure you add concealer to your neck. I don't think his designs have scarves, so it'd be better to cover up the scars if you don't want him to see."

I roll my eyes and shake my head, scoffing faintly. "Mom, I'm playing video games with my friends, not auditioning for something."

Mom giggled as she read and reached over, running a hand through my hair. "I know. But it's been so long since I've seen you so excited for something. I knew that it was smart to get you away from there and move here to Paris." She smiled lovingly, her hand moving to cup my cheek. "I just wish you could speak again. Then you could dance and laugh like you used to..." I leaned into her touch and smiled sadly. I hoped my eyes could show her that I wasn't sad anymore, that everything was okay. Someday I'll tell her about being the newest edition to the hero team, but not yet. It's too dangerous.

She pulled her hand back and smiled more happily, giggling again. "Well, you are still my baby boy, so as long as you are happy, I'm happy. Now, let's finish lunch and get back to our separate things before you are late for class. When you get home, I'll have a beautiful Chat Noir for you when you get back."

I blushed darkly at the thought of Chat Noir being around when I got back, even though I know that's not what she was talking about. I nodded and finished my food, taking Mom's plate once she was done as well. I kissed her forehead and left the room, closing the door behind me. I put the dishes in the dishwasher and Neeks flew out from my hair. "Well, you should definitely make the chain shorter. Less chance of it getting yanked off if you do."

I nodded once again, before hearing some sort of explosion come from outside. I looked at Neeks and nodded, and he flew into my pendant, once again transforming me into Wolven. I left the house and headed in the direction of the explosion, running across the rooftops and jumping along as I needed. I heard an evil laugh and stopped on a roof where I could watch the Akuma, humming as I did. This one... Was interesting.

He was a man whose skin was the color of coal, and he was dressed in some weird black ball, a fuse on the top of his head and a pair of pliers in his hands. Multiple wires were attached to his suit and his head, and what he did was pull in his head, arms, and legs into the suit, and he would become a super fast bowling ball that attempted to blow things up. He was definitely dangerous.

"What happened to him to make him want to be a bomb?!"

I yelped and stumbled back, hand clutching my chest as my heart raced. "What is with you two and startling me to the point of a heart attack!?" I strained, staring at the giggling red and black superhero in front of me with utter betrayal. One of these days, I'll get them back. That day, sadly, is not going to be today.

"I'm sorry, Wolven. I really thought you knew I was there. But your reaction was pretty funny." She giggled before looking back down as another thud resounded through the air. "... How are we going to stop him?"

I studied the scene a little longer before getting an idea. "Well, I have an idea of how to stop him from destroying that building!" Before she could ask I jumped down, landing in the path of the bomb. "Arcessere: Dung Beetle!" When the person came close I grabbed him, gripping the suit tightly and soon throwing him, watching it "explode" in the air.

"Dung beetle?" Chat landed next to me, snickering. I lightly punched him, being careful while I still had my "super strength".

"Hey, I've done research. Dung Beetles can lift over 1,000 times their weight! They are considered the strongest animal in the world!"

He shrugged, a pun twinkling in his eyes. I put a finger to his lips, "Ah, sorry Kitkat, but, please no puns about dung beetles. Please."

"Aw~" He pouted, slouching for a moment before straightening himself again. "Alright, fine."

"Thank you, kitty." I smiled gratefully before looking over to the bomb guy. "We should focus on him for now." Chat Noir nodded, and Ladybug joined us on the ground.

"Where is the Akuma?"

"In the pliers in his hand, I'm pretty sure. Why else would the bomb have the very thing used to disable one?" I smiled, waiting for them to either refuse or agree with that idea. Ladybug smiled bright and nodded, "Great! Wolven, you keep him from destroying anything else, Chat Noir, you distract him while I get the trap set up."

Chat and I nodded and split up, Chat starting to attract the akuma's attention. I went around behind him, making sure that if the bomb guy started spinning, I was there to stop him.

We went back and forth for a while, the male rolling towards us, attempting to knock us down, and then I proceed to throw him. I was growing tired, and soon enough my necklace started beeping. This guy was persistent, and it took way more strength than anticipated to stop his movements, that amount steadily growing the more tired I got.

"Ladybug, hurry up with that plan, I'm getting tired!"

"Okay, throw him over here!" I attempted to do as asked, but my arms were so tired it didn't work so well and I couldn't really stop, him, sliding back against the ground. "Chat! Help, please!" I grunted, gripping the suit tighter. "Got it!" I heard him yell cataclysm, and the next thing I know the bomb is much less round and more human, so I grab the male and throw him into the trap, which was a web made out of that sticky silly string in a can.

I sighed and leaned against the wall, rubbing my arms as I watched ladybug smash and purify the Akuma. "Oh~ man, my arms are killing me." Chat laughed and placed a hand on my shoulder. "I'm sure you'll be fine. In a day or two, of course."

I laughed dryly, but had an honest smile on my face. "Yeah, hopefully. Anyway, I need to go, I'm about a minute away from turning back. I'll see you guys later." I waved and quickly left, detransforming behind my house when no one was looking. I went inside and quickly grabbed my bag, leaving and heading back to school. Man, I was so late.

All day, my excitement was growing as the time ticked closer and closer to the time I went over to Adrien's, but now my heart was thudding painfully in my chest as I thought about meeting his father and getting banned from his house. I was also debating if I should let my mom come with me because, y'know, she can talk and there is a large gate with a speaker and I think a security camera. Anxiety as well as not being able to speak means that's not a comfortable position for me.

Of course, Mom was still painting away in her studio and I couldn't very well interrupt her while she was focused. This was one of her first happy paintings since my... "accident". Our previous home was a bad place for both of us after I got out of the hospital, so it's nice to see how much Paris, Akuma, and all, has been affecting her. Neeks has been helping me as well as mom and everyone else, so I've been getting better since I got Neeks, but it was really difficult in the beginning.

"It'll be okay, Jasper. Just bring your notebook and write down who you are, show it to the camera. They'll let you in, I'm sure of it." Neeks comforted as I fed him some candy. I smiled and nodded, but I felt like my shaking hands probably gave away my anxiety. He flew up and licked my cheek, making me giggle. "Alright, let's go." Neeks flew into my jacket and I put on my scarf, at least for the journey there, and I left my house.

When I reached Adrien's house I was greatly relieved to see Adrien and Nino waiting for me in front of the gates, visibly relaxing and allowing a smile to form with ease. I waved a hello and they each threw an arm over my shoulders. "There's the last of our trio!"

"I'm glad you came." Adrien laughed, letting go of my shoulders a moment after Nino. "Dad said we can play some games before he takes you from us for a bit. Is that alright?"

I nodded, smiling. This might not be as scary as I thought.