A/N: Like all my stories so far, this is set vaguely post-Season 1. I haven't yet seen any of Season 2 - still waiting for it to become legally available in my area on a channel I can access.

I've been doing short chapters up til now. This one was also supposed to be short, but it had too many viewpoints happening all at once. So if you like long chapters, this one is for you. If you like short chapters, please think of this as me giving you three updates at once! The next chapters will go back to being short again.

Reminder also: this is a rewrite because you can't quote song lyrics in a fic! Please learn from my mistake before you find yourself rewriting seven chapters... :-)

Put Holding Out for a Hero by Bonnie Tyler on your headphones – because out there, tonight, people are looking for good men, for gods... and for the hero they need right now.

Plagg flew out of the window, looking cautiously ahead. He needed to find Ladybug and warn her, despite the kwami code of non-interference. This was bigger than any silly little rule. And he really wanted to talk with Tikki about this – Adrien was going to need a whole lot of help afterwards. But Plagg also needed to stay away from Adrien so that he couldn't transform. An akumatised Chat Noir would be disastrous.

Unfortunately, Adrien and Ladybug were probably going to be in the same place, seeing as they were looking for each other. This was going to make it a lot harder to get to her without running into, well, Her. Plagg swore a little under his breath. Not knowing each other's identities made this so much harder. If he knew who Ladybug was and where she lived, he could at least head that way and try and catch her enroute.

But he didn't.

He sighed, and followed Adrien at the furthest distance he could without losing him, hoping against hope that he'd be able to get to Ladybug before Adrien did.

Nino smiled at Alya. She was outside on her balcony already, phone in hand, livestream running on her blog, camera pointed at the crowd of very slightly glowing people. They were supposed to be doing some homework. In fact, he was supposed to have been leaving – it was late and her parents only gave them so much leeway – but he was fairly sure that if they realised there was an akuma outside, there'd be no question about him staying.

"Oh my god" he heard her say. Then, "NINO!"

He was out of his chair before he realised it, and at the doorway by her – though he held himself back from stepping into view from outside. Natural caution.

And then he saw it. The young man leading the parade. The very familiar young man. His heart jumped into his mouth. Adrien was his friend, goshdarnit, with the strongest heart of anyone he knew. Except maybe for Marinette. He knew what sort of crap Adrien's father put him through, and the guy was still superhumanly nice.

This was bad.

Alya said to her camera "The akumatised person appears to be famous model Adrien Agreste, and it's not clear what powers Hawkmoth has given him. Ladybug fans, there's no sign of the girl in spots yet." While she scanned for Ladybug, Nino looked up to the rooftops, hoping to see Chat Noir. He knew Adrien better than most. His bro was scary-skilled and smart underneath that polished facade. This wouldn't be a one-hero job.

Adrien looked up and saw them on the balcony, and raised a hand. The moonlight around him seemed to intensify, and the glow flowed up towards them. Nino stepped back into the shadow, reaching for Alya. Focused on the view through her camera, she pulled away from his hand. The unearthly brightness touched her foot.

The papers dug into Marinette's face, head slumped on her desk, asleep on her homework. She murmured in her sleep, brushing the paper away, pillowing her head on the textbook. Tikki glanced over and smiled at her Chosen. She knew those murmurs. Marinette wouldn't admit it, but Tikki knew who she was dreaming of.

Alya turned as if she could hear music, a broad smile spreading across her face as she looked up at the moon. She didn't notice when she dropped her phone. Nino did, and caught it in reflex just before it hit the balcony floor, pulling his hand back into the shadow as quickly as he could.

The phone was still livestreaming. He turned the camera towards himself. "Hey everyone. The Ladyblogger's been affected by tonight's akuma. He puts out some kind of light. Stay out of it and you might be OK." He took a deep breath. "Ladybug! We need you. This could be really bad."

Alya tugged at the phone. He looked up. She was looking at him with a dreamy look on her face. It sent shivers up his spine. Good ones. She tugged on the phone again. He hit the "Stop recording" button, and let go of her phone. As she put it back in her pocket, he grabbed his own phone and sent a text. Adrien was going to need help from another strong hearted friend. If she could get the words out.

To: Marinette

: Adrien's an akuma

Alya tugged on his hand. She still had that look in her eyes. Not blank – if anything, almost more herself than normal. It was... addictive. He took half a step closer to her, to the moonlight pouring around her, and froze as he realised where he was. His fingers flew across his phone screen.

: He needs you

Alya tugged on his hand again, and the smile on her face filled him with longing. She stepped back, and, distracted by putting his phone back in his pocket, he moved to close the distance. The moonlight caressed him, and suddenly he wondered why he'd been worried.

"Nino?" Alya said, pulling him into a hug.

"Mmm?"

"We belong together. You know that, right?"

He tangled his fingers in her hair. She made him feel complete, whole. As long as they were with each other, they would never feel alone.

"Mm-hmm." He started to pull her in a little closer, but she suddenly stepped back and pointed down to the crowds.

"They're dancing!"

He knew what she wanted, and he knew that she knew he knew. It tickled him that they could be this in tune with each other. All those half steps carefully around each other, trying not to talk about who or what they were to each other just in case. And on the other side of all that fear... was this. He closed his eyes in bliss.

Only for them to pop open as he was yanked away by one hand, his girlfriend – yes, his girlfriend, no question of that anymore – pulling him towards the door. "Come on, let's go! Mama, I'm just walking Nino downstairs." He saw the lie alive in her glinting eyes, and laughing, ran with her. He'd follow her into any adventure, he knew that now. And there was a dance to join.

Marinette reached out her hand. Adrien smiled at her, and reached to take it. She shivered, looking into his eyes. Green eyes. Being pulled away from her. She let out a meep without realising, and reached harder. Their fingers almost met, his hand retreating even as she ran forwards. She made one more desperate grab.

And made contact. Adrien's black glove was cool in her palm, but the feel of the faux-leather sent heat all the way through her. She looked up into his eyes, green all the way across under the mask... no, that wasn't right... and something cheeped at her.

She opened her eyes.

She was still at her desk. The Literature assignment was still only partly done. And it was imprinted on her face. That had been a weird dream. She still wasn't sure if it had been Adrien or Chat. She sighed, stretched, picked up her phone to check the time. It was after midnight.

So, if she was dreaming of her partner... no, she couldn't have been. Marinette reached out and clutched denial to herself as tightly as she could. She couldn't have been dreaming about that cat, with those supermodel good looks and sweet smile that sent shivers up her spine in class... gah. She wasn't awake enough to think about this. She shook herself, and, noticing the message icon lit up on her phone, pressed it.

There was a text from Nino, and an alert from the Ladyblog.

The heat in her spine instantly turned to freezing water.

"Tikki!", she called out.

The little kwami yawned and struggled out from under her tiny blanket. "What is it, Marinette?"

"There's an akuma. Let me see what's going on." She clicked on the Ladyblog alert, and Tikki flew over to watch with her.

Both of their mouths dropped open as they heard Alya name the akumatised person. When the moonlight stole Alya and Nino grabbed the phone, his message struck right into Marinette's heart.

He needed a hero.

She dropped her phone onto the desk.

"Tikki, what do I do?" she said beseechingly. "I can't fight Adrien!"

The little kwami looked at her, almost as stricken. "I know", she said.

A sudden hope flew through her. "Maybe Chat Noir's already on his way. Or there. Tikki, spots on!"

A flourish and a flash, and she grabbed for her yoyo, dialing Chat's number. If he could stop Adrien and get the akuma, she'd be able to purify it. She knew she really couldn't fight the love of her life. She needed Chat. Hopefully he'd be able to fight for her without her having to explain why.

There was no answer.

Nor the second time.

As she started to dial Chat a third time, Tikki released the transformation and her yoyo vanished.

"I know you can't fight Adrien", she said. "But you still have to stop him. He's hurting people."

Marinette blew out a long breath, then nodded in determination. "You're right." She looked up to the night sky, where the bright moon rode towards the west. "Let's go find him."

Plagg flew to the next chimney, still keeping his distance from the moonlit crowd, and searched the night once again for his beloved's Chosen. Where was she?

He'd been watching the people that Adrien collected for nearly an hour now. Thankfully, none of them seemed to be doing anything they didn't want to do. They weren't dancing themselves sore, or harassing and attacking people they didn't know, or hurting anyone in any way. There seemed to be a lot of friendliness. Conviviality. Whatever this power was doing to them, nobody was getting hurt.

He wouldn't admit it where anyone except Tikki could hear him, but he was kinda proud of the kid.

Now, if only she would turn up before something changed.

Plagg turned again to look thoughtfully at the moon. He had a theory about it. Perhaps it wasn't a bad thing that Ladybug was tardy. In fact, he was sure his new theory was right.

Now, if only he had someone to tell it to.

With no other obvious guide to follow, Ladybug swung across the city towards the moon. She knew Adrien had been not far from Alya's but that livestream had ended before she woke up. And it'd taken her a long time to realise what was going on once she did wake up. She blamed the dream. Adrien could be in one of several neighbourhoods by now.

She paused on a rooftop to dial Chat again. She really really needed him for this one. Her goofy partner, who despite his jokes was a seriously good fighter. Ok, his personality could be a bit overwhelming at times, but there was nobody she'd rather have with her. Especially this time. She knew he could be as gentle as a kitten with the people Hawkmoth took over, if they weren't trying to attack him on sight, and she really didn't want Adrien hurt.

He still didn't answer.

She found them soon enough. The sound of a piano drew her. It was a jazzy, discoish kind of number, almost poppy – something she was sure she'd heard on her parents' radio. By the time she got close enough to be sure where it was coming from, the piano had been joined by what sounded like dozens of voices singing along. She flattened herself to a rooftop to watch.

Below her and across the plaza, they danced. They were friendly with each other, no harsh words or aggressive actions. Some people were dancing with each other in a group, others sitting back and watching, applauding the good moves. There was a lighthearted party feel to the crowd. Nobody seemed forced to be there, nobody seemed to be seeking trouble. She'd have thought it was just a normal crowd if it hadn't been for the light glow touching all of their faces. That of course and the unearthly bright figure right in the middle, pulling each note out of the piano like his fingers were diamonds.

An akuma that hurt or forced nobody. How Adrien. She loved him more in that moment than she'd known she could.

But she kept Nino's words at heart and stayed in the shadow of a chimney, away from the moonlight that flowed like a living thing around them. That seemed almost to be fueling them.

As she thought that, she noticed something. The moon's shadows were stretching as it slowly lowered to the horizon. Whenever one got near Adrien, he was stepping back into the light. Back where it could shine on his face.

Which meant that he needed the light more than he was letting on.

She sat up slightly as she thought this, and the moonlight – the real light from above her – caught against her skin. At the same moment, Adrien tilted his head back – and smiled widely.

He'd seen her.

With a flourish, he let go of each note as if it was a kiss, and blew them towards her. Then he... sauntered towards her, a sultry glide she'd not seen the perfect schoolboy use before.

He walked as if the plaza was a catwalk for an audience of one. It held her eyes. Held her nerves in place. She felt like she couldn't move, couldn't breathe.

And then he began to step upwards through the air, glow coalescing under his feet as if he walked on an invisible staircase. Only stepping on the moonlight, walking in wide circles around any shadows that stole the light from the air. Slowly, slowly coming closer.

She'd never thought that it was possible to seduce someone by simply walking up a set of stairs. But every movement of his was compelling. The moonlight was a cold, cold white – but she knew it burned hot. She pulled herself as deeply into the shadow as she could.

He kept his eyes on her as he walked upwards. But as he set foot onto her rooftop, his attention flickered to the west. Just for a moment. And then his eyes focused back on her again, and he gave her a smile. The smile of someone who loved her more than anything or anyone else. Her insides melted.

It was the look she'd always wanted him to give her.

And that nearly broke her heart.

She couldn't do this.

She needed a hero.

In the plaza below, Nino watched the love of his life, his other half, spin towards him. She stumbled, bumped him, and he fell into one of the deepening shadows for just a moment. The light that had touched his face, his skin, was pulled away as Her walked to the rooftops, and suddenly Nino was alone again.

Completely alone, in a crowd of people.

He looked up to the rooftops, where Ladybug must be hiding. "Please hurry", he whispered to the air. He felt the first tear falling down his cheek. "This hurts."

He needed a hero.

On a rooftop on the other side of the plaza, Plagg watched in horror. Ladybug had come from the other direction. He couldn't see her, but he could tell by Her's focus that she must be there. There was no way he could reach her in time, not any more. Not without coming in sight and reach of Her.

But he was going to try.

He needed his Chosen's hero.

Marinette wanted to break down and cry. Hawkmoth had set her against the one person she could never fight. Set her against her own heart. She couldn't lift a finger against him.

But she had to.

Tears streaking down her face, she reached for her yoyo, pulling herself carefully up against the chimney. "Chat, where are you?" she whispered under her breath.

Her walked towards his love, his one and only. He saw the tears, and his heart ached for her. They were already so close. Just one touch of the hand, and she would have no more need for tears. They'd be together, inside and out, truly joined the way he knew they should be.

But... something drew his eyes away again.

Ladybug clutched her yoyo as Adrien came towards her. Just a few steps away now. His eyes lifted, held hers, and the light in them threatened to set her heart ablaze. She wanted to see that look on his face every day.

And then he glanced away to the west, and frowned.

She followed his gaze and saw the moon hanging low.

The noise from the plaza below them began to change. Their eyes met for a second and then they both looked towards the crowd.

The dancers were beginning to slow. Many had stopped. Some were crying.

Ladybug looked at the moonlight that clung to Adrien, the unearthly magical light haunting his footsteps and skin. Was it... dimmer than before?

His face lost its confident look, his expression became stricken. He reached out to her, fingertips touching just the edge of the shadow she pressed herself into.

As they touched the shadows edge, they turned black. He pulled them back swiftly and they returned to white again.

Their eyes met one last time – and then he ran. White light gathering around him, being pulled from everywhere and everyone it had settled upon. He glowed brighter, and leapt into the night, disappearing completely from sight as he passed through the setting moon's reflection on an office building's glass facade.

And then he was gone.

Ladybug sagged back against the chimney, no longer caring if any part of her was touched by the moon. The real moon, the one nearly full. She sagged back, starting to wipe her eyes... and something small and black fell into her lap.

She lifted it up – and a little cat-like kwami rolled over in her hand to meet her wide-eyed look. It spoke in an exhausted voice, saying only "Chat Noir's going to need your help". And then it closed its eyes again, breathing hard.

Down in the plaza, people leaned in exhaustion against each other just like the kwami.

No, not exhaustion.

Grief.

Ladybug stood on shaky legs, tucking the little black kwami into her hair so that he could ride with her, and swung down to the plaza.

Every one of them was grieving.

As she looked around in dawning horror, listening to the words people let fall with their tears, she realised what this akuma had truly done.

Every one of them had felt safe, together. Their loneliness, their isolation had been taken away. In the moonlight they were no longer separate. They were completed. Whole.

But now they were alone again. And it hurt.

She saw people exchanging phone numbers, barely able to meet each other in the eyes but promising to check up on each other in the morning. One man, crumpled so small he might almost as well have not been there, was being made to promise that he would make it to the morning. That camaraderie wasn't forgotten, the whole crowd was still looking out for each other – but now they knew what they were missing. They knew they were lost on the inside with no map to find home. And even surrounded by all the people they'd shared something with, they were alone.

Unbearably alone.

Oh, Adrien.

Sobbing, Ladybug threw her yoyo and swung high. There was nothing more she could do for them without capturing Adrien's akuma, and he was gone with the moon. She had a kwami to look after, and a cat to help.

Alya looked at Nino. "Baby?" she said, reaching towards him. "I'm right here".

"I know", he said, tears falling. "But I can't feel you any more".

"I can't feel you either", she said, hand falling to her side.

"Did I imagine it?" The thought struck him to the core. Perhaps it had never been real. But it had seemed so strong, so perfect.

She sighed, and he wondered if that was an answer or if she had the same question. He no longer knew what his girlfriend – no, Alya – thought.

"Come on, let's go home".