The pulsing beat of the nightclub thudded through the floor, the bass vibrating in Marinette's chest as she leaned against the bar, laughing. Adrien stood beside her, his smile easy and infectious, his green eyes sparkling under the shifting neon lights. They had been talking nonstop, exchanging jokes and playful remarks, the kind of conversation that felt as effortless as breathing.

"Alright, Adrien," Marinette said, her voice raised just enough to cut through the music. She held her drink aloft, a cheeky smile on her face. "Tell me, is it true? Models don't eat carbs?"

Adrien chuckled, lifting his own glass. "Completely false. You've seen me at those charity dinners—bread rolls don't stand a chance."

Marinette laughed, nearly spilling her drink. "I knew it! All those stereotypes—shattered."

"You're welcome," he replied smoothly, tipping his glass in mock salute. "Next time, I'll bring donuts as proof."

Their banter was interrupted by Alya, who appeared at Marinette's side, her grin wide and mischievous. "Girl, I'm heading out with the others. We're hitting up another spot. You good here?"

Marinette, her cheeks flushed from both the alcohol and laughter, nodded enthusiastically. "Go! Have fun! I'll catch up later."

Alya arched a brow at the obvious chemistry between her best friend and the blonde beside her but said nothing, only winking at Adrien before disappearing into the crowd.

"She's abandoning you," Adrien teased, his tone mock-serious.

"Ha!" Marinette scoffed, setting her empty glass on the bar. "I'm perfectly capable of entertaining myself, thank you very much."

"Well, if you insist," he replied, leaning a little closer. "But I don't mind helping."

Marinette giggled, the alcohol clearly softening her nerves as she bumped his shoulder playfully. "Okay, then. Prove it, Mr. Bread Roll Destroyer. Let's dance."

Adrien's smile widened, and with a playful bow, he offered his hand. "Challenge accepted."

The music pulsed like a living heartbeat, its energy wrapping around Adrien and Marinette as they danced effortlessly. Marinette's laughter rang out, carefree and warm, as Adrien's bright smile mirrored hers. Their steps were perfectly in sync, their movements fluid as if the rhythm was theirs alone. They twirled, hands brushing in fleeting contact, both utterly lost in the moment.

Adrien spun her one last time before his pocket buzzed. The glow of his phone lit up his face, and Marinette caught the subtle drop in his expression. The joy that had radiated from him dimmed, replaced by a quiet seriousness. He pulled the phone out and read the text, his brows knitting together briefly before his face smoothed into composure.

Marinette stopped, watching him with concern. "Everything okay?" she asked, her voice soft and tentative.

Adrien's gaze met hers, a faint flicker of regret in his emerald eyes. He leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear as he spoke over the music. "I need to handle something. Stay here, okay? I'll come back, and I'll make sure you get home safely."

She hesitated, her instinct to ask further questions bubbling beneath the surface, but she nodded. "Okay. Be careful."

With a reassuring squeeze of her hand, Adrien turned and moved through the crowd, his golden hair catching the flicker of the club's strobe lights before he disappeared. Marinette stayed rooted for a moment, her eyes lingering on the spot where he'd vanished.

Trying to shake the unease creeping into her chest, she attempted to immerse herself back into the music. She danced alone, letting the beat flow through her, but the vibrant joy she'd shared with Adrien was harder to recapture. The moments dragged, and her movements began to lose their spark.

Finally, boredom and a faint restlessness won. Marinette weaved through the crowd, stepping outside into the crisp night air. The cool breeze was a sharp contrast to the heat of the club, and she closed her eyes, letting it brush against her flushed skin. She stood there, arms crossed as she leaned against the wall, waiting for Adrien and trying to decipher the curious shift in his demeanor.

The quiet outside was unsettling, with only the occasional cab pulling away and muffled laughter fading into the distance. Marinette leaned against the brick wall, her phone lighting up her face as she scrolled, distracted by her own thoughts. She sent a quick message to Alya, hoping to hear something reassuring. Moments later, her phone buzzed, displaying a selfie of Alya with her friends, carefree and laughing. Marinette exhaled, feeling a brief wave of relief.

Then, it came again—the sound. A faint, almost imperceptible noise from above. Marinette froze, her eyes darting upward into the darkness. The rooftops loomed, but nothing moved. She frowned, convincing herself it was just her imagination, and returned to her phone.

Tikki peeked out of her handbag. "Marinette, did you hear that?" the kwami whispered.

"Yeah," Marinette muttered, her grip tightening on the dead phone. She looked down the alley beside her, scanning for anything unusual. Just shadows and trash bins—until something dropped into view.

A figure landed with unnatural grace, the faint glint of cat ears unmistakable. Chat Noir.

Marinette's breath hitched, and she instinctively ducked behind the nearest corner. Her heart raced as she frantically pressed the power button on her phone. Dead. No backup.

"Who's there?" Chat Noir's voice rang out, sharp and searching.

Marinette swallowed hard, her mind spinning. She whispered to Tikki, "Go. Get Master Fu. Now."

Tikki hesitated. "But Marinette—"

"Go!" she hissed.

With a reluctant nod, Tikki disappeared into the night.

"I said, who's there?" Chat Noir's voice was closer now, more commanding.

Realizing she had no other option, Marinette stepped out from behind the wall, hands trembling. Her eyes met his, the sharp green glint of his gaze locking onto her instantly.

For a moment, he didn't move, his silhouette tense in the dim light. Then, a slow, almost predatory smirk spread across his face.

Chat Noir's footsteps echoed in the narrow alley as he closed the distance between them, his presence both commanding and unnervingly casual. Marinette's heart pounded wildly in her chest, the sound almost drowning out his soft, mocking whisper.

"You shouldn't wander alone in places like this," he murmured, his tone dripping with sardonic amusement. "Especially someone like you. It's dangerous out here for young women."

Marinette stiffened at his words, her pulse quickening further. The stories she'd heard about him—his reputation for chaos and cruelty—flooded her mind. She could almost feel the shadow of those rumors pressing down on her as her breath hitched.

But she needed to keep him talking, to stall until Tikki could bring help. Steeling herself, she squared her shoulders and shot him a challenging look. "What are you going to do to me? Hurt me? Kill me? Am I your next victim?" Her voice trembled slightly but held a defiant edge.

Chat Noir's smirk faltered, his eyes narrowing dangerously. He tilted his head, observing her with an intensity that made her knees feel weak. "Empty accusations, huh?" he drawled, stepping closer. "You shouldn't make assumptions about people you don't understand."

Before she could respond, his clawed finger lifted her chin, forcing her to look directly into his piercing green eyes. Marinette froze as she felt the sharp tip of his claw press lightly against her skin, the pressure enough to remind her of the danger she was in but not enough to draw blood.

The air between them grew heavy, and she swallowed nervously, trying not to flinch. His expression was unreadable—a flicker of something unreadable passing through his gaze before he continued, his voice softer but no less menacing. "You might want to rethink what you say next."

Marinette felt a chill crawl down her spine at the cold, sharp edge in Chat Noir's words. Panic clouded her already hazy mind, and she realized she was in no position to do anything but comply. Her voice came out trembling, almost a whisper.

"I—I'm not looking for trouble," she whimpered, trying to steady her breathing. "I'm just waiting for a friend…"

Her words earned her a smirk that sent shivers through her. "You think I'd let you walk away now that you've seen me?" His tone was low, dangerous, laced with an unsettling amusement.

Marinette swallowed hard, her gaze fixed on the ground as her body visibly shook. "Please… don't hurt me…" she pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper.

For a moment, she thought her words reached him. He stepped back, as if considering her plea. But then, as her pulse began to calm slightly, she noticed something odd. A faint whirring sound buzzed above her. She glanced up, eyes widening as a strange, mechanical creature hovered overhead.

A.. sentimonster..?

The thing released a fine, shimmering powder that floated down around her. Panic surged as she tried to move, but her legs felt heavy, her head light. Her vision blurred, and before she could process what was happening, the world tilted, and she crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

Chat Noir stepped away from Marinette's unconscious body, gripping his staff tightly as he extended it, the device morphing into a communicator. His expression was conflicted, but he pushed the guilt aside. This was a mission, nothing more. He had to report his findings.

The communicator buzzed for a moment before Hawkmoth's cold, resonant voice filled the line. "Chat Noir, report."

Chat cleared his throat, steeling himself. "I've found a perfect target. A young child, overwhelmed with fear. I made sure he's primed with enough terror to trigger nightmares. He'll be vulnerable enough for an akumatization in a few days."

"Good," Hawkmoth replied, his tone devoid of emotion. "Fear creates powerful akumas. You've done well, Chat Noir. Leave him to me now."

Chat hesitated for a moment, the weight of his actions gnawing at him. But he shoved the guilt down, forcing himself to respond. "Understood."

Hawkmoth continued, his voice carrying an edge of warning. "Do not let hesitation cloud your loyalty. We are close to achieving our goal. Stay focused."

The line clicked off abruptly, and Chat Noir lowered his staff, a bitter taste lingering in his mouth. Chat Noir paused, looking down at Marinette's unconscious form. The communicator in his staff closed with a soft snap, but the weight of his conversation with Hawkmoth lingered heavily on his shoulders. He knelt beside her, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face.

For a moment, the confident smirk he always wore faltered, replaced by a flicker of uncertainty. Her quiet breathing was the only sound in the dark alley.

"You'll hate me for this," he murmured, his voice barely audible.

Before he could convince himself otherwise, he slid his arms beneath her and lifted her effortlessly. Marinette's head rested against his chest as he held her securely. Instead of vanishing into the night alone as planned, Chat Noir leapt onto a nearby rooftop with her in his arms, disappearing into the shadows.

Hawkmoth's words echoed in his mind: Stay focused. But as he carried her through the cold night air, a gnawing sense of doubt began to bloom in his heart.

Chat Noir stepped into his apartment, carefully cradling Marinette in his arms. The room was dimly lit, the glow from the city outside casting soft patterns on the walls. He gently placed her down on his bed, making sure her head rested comfortably on the pillow. Straightening up, he took a deep breath and whispered, "Claws in."

In a flash of green light, Chat Noir vanished, leaving Adrien standing in his civilian form.

Plagg floated out immediately, his tiny form buzzing with sarcastic energy. "Oh, look at you, Mr. Love Connoisseur. Bringing unconscious ladies into your room now? That's classy."

Adrien shot him a sharp look, rubbing his temple. "It's not like that, Plagg. She saw me… as Chat Noir. I panicked. I didn't know what else to do."

Plagg snickered. "Uh-huh. Sure. That's definitely why you brought her to your bed of all places. You know what they say about first impressions…"

Adrien groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Enough. I made her a promise to keep her safe, and I intend to keep it." His voice softened as he glanced at Marinette, her face peaceful in sleep.

Plagg's teasing grin faded slightly, and he sighed. "Fine, Romeo. But you'd better figure out how to explain all this when she wakes up."

—

The dark alley was now eerily silent as Master Fu and Tikki arrived at the spot where Marinette had last been. The Guardian scanned the area with a furrowed brow, his hands clasped behind his back. "She's not here," he muttered, worry creeping into his voice. He glanced down at Tikki, whose tiny form buzzed with anxious energy.

"I don't understand, Master Fu. She was right here," Tikki whispered, her voice tinged with guilt. "Something must have happened!"

Master Fu gave the alleyway one last thorough glance, sighing heavily. "We must find her. Can you still sense her miraculous?"

Tikki hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes, I can. But… it feels strange. She's far, but she's not in danger—at least not immediately."

"Then follow her," Master Fu ordered, his voice steady but concerned. "Go to her, observe, and report back if there's any trouble."

Tikki gave a determined nod, darting off into the night sky, leaving Master Fu behind. She flew as fast as she could, tracing the faint but steady signal of Marinette's miraculous until she reached an unfamiliar building. Hovering outside a window, she peeked in and gasped softly. Marinette lay peacefully in a large, plush bed, her chest rising and falling rhythmically.

Tikki slipped through the slightly open window, her small wings fluttering softly to avoid making any noise. She hovered close to Marinette, checking her closely. "She's breathing," Tikki murmured with relief. "That's good."

Before she could relax, she heard the faint sound of a door opening. Startled, Tikki dove into Marinette's bag, peeking cautiously out of a small opening.

Adrien stepped into the room, a towel slung casually around his neck, his damp hair tousled from the shower. He glanced at Marinette, his expression softening as he stood there for a moment, taking in the sight of her. A small smile tugged at his lips, and Tikki strained to hear as he murmured something under his breath.

"She's… cute," Adrien said softly, shaking his head as if to dismiss the thought. He gave her one last glance before turning off the light and leaving the room, closing the door behind him.

Tikki stayed hidden, her tiny heart pounding as she processed what she'd just seen. "What happened here?" she whispered to herself.