Marinette blinked, still half-asleep, as she stepped into the bakery. She had barely managed to drag herself out of bed, expecting the usual quiet morning, but instead—

She saw her father patting Gurvinder's shoulder with a proud smile.

Gurvinder winced—barely noticeable, but she caught it.

"Ah, good morning, sweetheart!" Tom beamed, turning to her. "You won't believe it—Gurvinder was up before all of us today. He opened the shop, cleaned the dishes, displayed the sweets, swept the floor, and even prepared the doughs before we woke up!"

Marinette's sleepy brain took a moment to process that. "…What?"

Her eyes flicked toward Gurvinder, who was standing there, arms crossed, looking completely unbothered.

"Seriously?" she asked, still trying to wrap her head around it.

Sabine chuckled as she walked past, setting down a fresh tray of pastries. "He's been taking care of customers too. And it's only 8 AM."

Marinette just stared. What kind of person wakes up and does an entire bakery's worth of work before sunrise?

Gurvinder gave her a small smirk. "Good morning to you too, sleepyhead."

She narrowed her eyes. "When did you even wake up?"

He shrugged. "Four."

"Four?!" Marinette nearly choked on air. "That's not waking up—that's still nighttime!"

Tom laughed heartily. "He's got a great work ethic! Reminds me of myself when I was younger."

Marinette crossed her arms, still staring at Gurvinder like he was some kind of mystery.

Who was this guy?

One moment, he was a carefree jokester at school. The next, he was silently taking scoldings. And now, he was acting like some superhuman bakery worker on barely any sleep?

Something wasn't adding up.

And Marinette hated not knowing things.

Marinette darted up the stairs to her room, shutting the door behind her before pacing back and forth.

"Tikki, something is not adding up," she muttered, running a hand through her hair.

Tikki floated out from her hiding spot, tilting her head. "What do you mean, Marinette?"

Marinette turned to her kwami, eyes narrowed. "First, he takes a scolding without defending himself. Then, I see him limping but acting like nothing's wrong. And now, he wakes up at four in the morning to do all the bakery work before we're even awake?"

Tikki blinked. "…That is a little unusual."

Marinette crossed her arms. "A little? Tikki, something's off about him. He's either hiding something or—" She gasped dramatically. "What if he's actually some kind of secret superhero too?!"

Tikki giggled. "Marinette, not everyone has a Miraculous."

Marinette huffed. "Well, something is going on, and I have to find out what."

Tikki sighed knowingly. "So what are you going to do?"

Marinette smirked.

"I'm going to spy on him."

"You are not doing it, Marinette. It's not good," Tikki said firmly, crossing her tiny arms.

Marinette groaned, flopping onto her bed. "Tikki, come on! I'm not trying to invade his privacy—I just… I just need to understand him!"

Tikki gave her a knowing look. "And spying is the way to do that?"

Marinette sat up. "It's not spying—it's investigating! He's obviously hiding something, and if he won't tell me, then I have to find out myself!"

Tikki shook her head. "Marinette…"

Marinette clasped her hands together, giving her best pleading look. "Please, Tikki? Just a tiny peek while he's getting ready for school? Just to see if there's anything weird?"

Tikki sighed deeply, clearly conflicted.

"…Just a peek?"

Marinette nodded eagerly. "Just a peek."

Tikki groaned. "Fine. But only because I know you won't drop it otherwise."

Marinette grinned. "That's why you're the best, Tikki."

Tikki rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. "Alright, let's do this quickly before I change my mind."

And with that, she phased through the door, disappearing into Gurvinder's room.

Tikki hovered into Gurvinder's room, looking around carefully. But to her surprise—he wasn't there.

She frowned, scanning the space. The bed was neatly made, his school bag was packed, and everything looked in place.

Then, she noticed it.

The bathroom door was slightly open.

Curious, she floated closer, peeking through the small gap.

And what she saw made her tiny eyes widen in shock.

Gurvinder stood in front of the mirror, shirtless, his back turned towards her. His physique was incredibly built—broad shoulders, strong arms, every muscle sharply defined from rigorous training. But that wasn't what caught her attention.

It was the scars.

His entire back was covered in them. Long, jagged whip marks crisscrossed his skin, some old and faded, others fresher—angry red lines that looked like they had barely begun to heal.

Tikki felt her breath hitch.

He wasn't just limping from training.

This was something else entirely.

Her gaze shifted to his shoulder, where he was carefully treating a wound. A bit of blood dripped down his arm as he pressed a cotton pad against it, his face unreadable in the mirror.

Tikki could feel the pain in his movements, but there was no wince, no hesitation—just quiet, practiced care. As if he had done this a hundred times before.

Her tiny heart clenched.

Marinette needs to know about this…

Marinette sat on her bed, bouncing her leg impatiently as she waited for Tikki to return.

Her mind was running wild with possibilities. Did she find anything? Was there something strange in his room? Maybe a secret diary? Mysterious notes? A double life?!

She chewed her lip, glancing at the door.

Then, finally—Tikki phased back into the room.

Marinette immediately perked up. "Well? What did you find?"

But the moment she saw Tikki's expression, her excitement faded.

Tikki looked shaken. Her usual bright energy was dim, her little body tense with something Marinette couldn't quite place.

"…Tikki?" Marinette's voice softened. "What's wrong?"

Tikki hesitated, her tiny hands fidgeting.

"Marinette… we need to talk."

Marinette felt a sudden tightness in her chest as she saw the serious look on Tikki's face.

Her hands instinctively gripped at her heart. "Tikki… what is it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Tikki hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. "Gurvinder… he's hurt, Marinette."

Marinette's breath hitched. "Hurt?"

Tikki nodded, floating closer. "I—I saw him in the bathroom. He wasn't wearing a shirt, and his back…" She paused, as if struggling to find the right words. "It's covered in scars. Whip marks. Some old… some fresh."

Marinette's eyes widened in horror.

Whip marks?

Her heart started pounding.

Tikki continued, her voice quieter now. "He was treating a wound on his shoulder too. It was bleeding."

Marinette felt like the air had been sucked out of the room.

That explained everything. The way he winced when Adrien clapped his back. The way he limped when he thought no one was watching. The way he never defended himself, like he was used to taking pain in silence.

Her hands clenched into fists.

Who did this to him?

And why wasn't he telling anyone?

Marinette couldn't believe it.

Gurvinder was a joker. A smart, hardworking, relentless joker.

He was the guy who made jokes between classes, who flexed his arms to shut up Chloe, who made Mari-cons just to mess with her.

He was the guy who woke up at four in the morning to work in the bakery without being asked.

He was the guy who did fifty pull-ups like it was nothing.

How could that guy be hiding something this painful?

She shook her head, gripping her arms. "No… No, that doesn't make sense."

Tikki looked up at her sadly. "Mari…"

Marinette pressed her lips together. "Tikki, I saw him yesterday. Laughing with Adrien and Nino. Teasing me. Just being normal. How can someone like that have…" She trailed off, unable to even say it.

Tikki sighed. "I don't know, Marinette. But he's hiding a lot more than you think."

Marinette swallowed hard.

Her stomach twisted.

She thought she was just investigating a mystery.

But this wasn't a mystery.

This was a secret.

And secrets that deep… always hurt.

Marinette clenched her fists.

If Gurvinder wasn't going to tell her what was going on… then she'd find out herself.

Not as Marinette.

As Ladybug.

She took a deep breath, her decision made. Tonight, she was going to spy on him. She would watch where he went late at night, what he did, and—most importantly—what he was hiding.

Tikki hesitated. "Mari… are you sure about this?"

Marinette looked at her kwami, determination burning in her eyes. "Tikki, I have to know. If he's in trouble… if someone's hurting him…" Her voice tightened. "I can't just look away."

Tikki sighed, but she could see there was no stopping her.

"…Alright."

Marinette exhaled, her heart pounding.

Tonight, she was going to uncover the truth.

Ladybug swung across the rooftops, her yo-yo gliding smoothly through the night air. Paris was quiet—no akuma attacks, no disturbances—just the usual glow of streetlights and the occasional honk of a late-night car.

But her mind wasn't quiet.

She was supposed to be patrolling, but her thoughts kept drifting to him.

Gurvinder.

She had been watching the time all evening, waiting for when he would slip out. If Tikki was right—and she knew she was—then he had somewhere to go. And she needed to find out where.

"You seem distracted, My Lady," Chat Noir's voice broke through her thoughts.

Ladybug blinked, turning to see him crouching on the ledge beside her, his green eyes studying her carefully.

She forced a small smile. "Just… a lot on my mind."

Chat tilted his head. "A lot, or a certain someone?"

She tensed slightly. "What do you mean?"

Chat smirked. "Come on, Bugaboo. You've been weird all night. Not even a single eye-roll at my puns. That's serious." He leaned in a little. "So… what's up?"

Ladybug hesitated. She couldn't exactly tell him—not yet, not without knowing more.

"I'm just… keeping an eye on something," she said vaguely.

Chat's ears twitched. "Something or someone?"

Ladybug didn't answer. Instead, she turned back toward the streets, her eyes narrowing.

And then—

A shadow moved below.

Her heart jumped.

There you are.

Without another word, she shot her yo-yo forward and leapt.

Chat blinked. "Hey—Wait! Ladybug?!"

But she was already gone.

"You go, Chat. I have something to take care of," Ladybug said quickly, not even turning back.

Chat Noir blinked, clearly confused. "Wait, what? Ladybug—"

But she was already gone, darting across rooftops, her eyes locked onto her target.

Gurvinder.

It was 3 a.m.

And he was running.

His pace was strong, steady, his breaths controlled—like someone used to pushing their body to the limits. He wasn't just out for a jog. He had a destination.

Ladybug silently followed, her heart pounding as she leapt from rooftop to rooftop, keeping her distance.

Where are you going, Gurvi?

Finally, he stopped.

She crouched low, peering down.

A neon sign flickered in the dim streetlight—

"FIGHT CLUB MMA GYM."

Her eyes widened.

MMA?

She had known he was strong. She had seen it firsthand. But this?

This was something else entirely.

Gurvinder took a deep breath before stepping inside. The doors shut behind him.

Ladybug clenched her fists.

It was time to find out what he was doing in there.

Ladybug's breath hitched as she crouched by the high window, peering into the gym.

Gurvinder said he trained in MMA… said he worked for his uncle…

But at this time?

Inside, the dimly lit gym had an underground feel to it—worn mats, the sound of fists hitting pads, the occasional grunt of exertion. But her eyes locked onto him.

Gurvinder stood in the center of the mat, his posture strong but tense.

In front of him, three massive, jacked fighters loomed, muscles tight, ready to strike.

And then—her stomach dropped.

Beside them, a man stood with a whip coiled in his hand.

Ladybug's fingers dug into the window frame.

No…

The fight started.

Gurvinder moved fast—dodging, weaving, striking back with precision. He wasn't just fighting. He was surviving.

Then—he hesitated for just a second.

CRACK!

A sharp sound split the air as the whip lashed across his back.

Ladybug's heart stopped.

Gurvinder barely flinched, gritting his teeth and stepping back into position.

The man with the whip—his uncle—spoke, voice cold. "Again."

Ladybug's fists trembled.

This wasn't training.

This was punishment.

Ladybug couldn't move.

She watched in stunned silence as Gurvinder kept going—kept fighting.

For hours.

Every mistake—every hesitation—earned him a sharp crack of the whip. His skin was already bruised, already torn, but he didn't stop. Didn't fight back.

He just endured.

Her nails dug into her palm. Why?

By the time the clock hit nearly 6 a.m., Gurvinder finally stopped. His breathing was heavy, his body glistening with sweat and streaked with fresh wounds.

He didn't complain. Didn't react. He just bowed to his uncle, then turned and left.

Ladybug swallowed hard and followed, her heart twisting with every step he took.

He ran back through the quiet streets, pushing his exhausted body forward like it was normal.

Like this was just routine.

As the bakery came into view, she landed on a rooftop nearby, watching.

Gurvinder didn't hesitate.

He slipped inside, moving silently up to his room. Minutes later, he came back down, fully dressed, face wiped clean, hair and turban neatly set.

And then—like nothing had happened—he got to work.

By the time the Dupain-Chengs woke up, he had already opened the shop, cleaned the dishes, set up the display, and was kneading dough like he hadn't spent the entire night being tortured.

Ladybug gritted her teeth.

This wasn't just hard work.

This was survival.

And she needed to know why.

Ladybug landed softly in front of the bakery, her mind racing.

She had so many questions.

She needed answers—now.

Without thinking, she pushed open the door, stepping inside.

And then—

Gurvinder turned, wiping flour off his hands, and his hazel eyes locked onto hers.

Her breath hitched.

Oh no.

She was still in her Ladybug suit.

Not Marinette.

His expression barely changed, just a small raised brow. "Oh? The great Ladybug graces our little bakery this morning?"

Marinette froze, mind scrambling. Think, think, THINK—!

Then—she forced a sheepish smile. "Uh—yeah! I was on patrol all night, and I got super hungry, so I thought… why not grab a pastry?"

Gurvinder chuckled, shaking his head. "A superhero needing a snack break, huh? Guess even Paris's savior needs sugar to function." He turned to the counter, grabbing a fresh croissant. "Here. On the house."

She hesitated before taking it. "Thanks…"

She should've felt relieved that he didn't suspect anything. But watching him now—so casual, so normal—after what she'd seen just an hour ago…

It made her sick.

How could he pretend like this?

How could he smile?

Her fingers tightened around the croissant.

This wasn't over.

Not even close.

Marinette rushed into her room, slamming the door shut behind her.

"Tikki, spots off."

The glow of magic faded, leaving her standing there—no longer Ladybug, just Marinette.

But her heart was still racing.

She grabbed her phone, fingers trembling as she typed.

Marinette: Alya, I need to tell you something. It's about Gurvinder.

A few seconds later, her screen lit up with a reply.

Alya: Girl, it's 6 AM. What's up?

Marinette hesitated, then typed the words before she could second-guess herself.

Marinette: I saw whip marks on his back.

The typing bubble popped up instantly.

Alya: WAIT WHAT?!

Alya: Mari, what do you mean whip marks?! When did you see this??

Marinette swallowed. Should she tell her everything? That she spied on him? That she followed him to that gym?

She took a shaky breath.

Marinette: This morning. He was getting ready, and I saw them. They weren't just old scars, Alya. Some of them were fresh. Someone hurt him.

Silence.

Then—

Alya: Mari… this is serious.

Marinette: I know.

Alya: What are we gonna do?

Marinette clenched her jaw.

She didn't know yet. But one thing was clear.

She wasn't letting this go.

should i ask him right away asked mari

Alya: No way, girl. You can't just ask him straight up!

Marinette: Why not?! He's hurt, Alya! Someone is doing this to him!

Alya: I get that, but think about it—if he's hiding it, there's a reason. If you corner him, he might just shut down or push you away. You have to be careful.

Marinette bit her lip. She hated this. Every second that passed, she kept picturing those fresh wounds, the way he winced when her dad patted his shoulder, the way he never fought back when he was scolded.

She wanted answers.

But Alya was right. If she pushed too hard, he might never tell her anything.

Marinette: Then what do I do? Just pretend I don't know?

Alya: No. But you need to get him to trust you first. If he's been dealing with this alone for a long time, he's not gonna open up just because you ask. You have to make him feel safe.

Marinette sighed, lying back on her bed, staring at the ceiling.

She wanted to help.

But first—

She had to earn his trust.

Marinette watched him carefully from her seat.

Gurvinder wasn't his usual self.

His witty remarks were missing, his energy drained. His eyelids drooped, and every few minutes, his head would bob down before he jerked awake again.

The exhaustion was catching up to him.

Marinette's grip on her pencil tightened.

She knew why.

The hours of brutal training. The fights. The whip. Then running straight back to the bakery and working before school. No one could keep that up forever.

And today, it was showing.

Nino nudged him at one point. "Yo, man, you good?"

Gurvinder blinked rapidly, rubbing his face. "Yeah, yeah, just... long night."

Adrien frowned. "You sure? You don't look so great."

Gurvinder waved them off with a tired grin. "Just need a nap... or twenty."

The teacher called his name, snapping him back to attention. He straightened up immediately, answering the question with sharp precision, but the moment she moved on, his shoulders slumped again.

Marinette hated seeing him like this.

The carefree, confident joker she knew was drowning under exhaustion.

She had to do something.

And it started with getting closer to him.

The next class started, and Marinette kept sneaking glances at Gurvinder. His head drooped lower and lower until, eventually, his eyes shut completely.

That's when it happened.

BANG!

The teacher slammed a book on the desk.

"Excuse me?" her sharp voice rang out.

Gurvinder jerked awake, blinking in confusion.

"You dare to sleep in my class?" The teacher crossed her arms, looking down at him with thinly veiled disgust. "Not even a month here, and you already think you can slack off?"

Marinette felt her stomach twist.

She had heard the rumors. This teacher wasn't just strict—she had a problem with outsiders.

Gurvinder straightened in his seat, rubbing his eyes. "Sorry, ma'am. Won't happen again."

The teacher scoffed. "I should hope so. Since you clearly have so much free time to nap, I assume your homework is done?"

A tense silence settled over the room.

Gurvinder exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. "No, ma'am."

Marinette's heart sank.

The teacher smirked, as if she had expected that answer.

"Of course not." She tapped her nails against the desk. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. Some students just don't care enough to put in the effort."

Marinette fumed.

He was exhausted because he was working himself to the bone. He cared more than anyone here!

But he just sat there, jaw tight, not saying a word.

The teacher gave him a long, cold stare before turning back to the board.

Marinette clenched her fists.

She had to do something.

At lunch, the guys couldn't stop laughing.

"Dude, that was brutal!" Nino chuckled, nudging Gurvinder's shoulder. "She hates you, man."

Adrien shook his head with a small smile. "You really have the worst luck with teachers, huh?"

Kim leaned forward, grinning. "Nah, I think she just saw how jacked he is and got scared. Probably thought he was gonna suplex her if she gave him more homework."

The table burst into laughter.

But Marinette didn't laugh.

She watched Gurvinder closely. He smirked at the jokes, even added a few of his own, but his usual energy was missing. His shoulders slumped, and there was something off in his eyes—like he was just pushing through the moment instead of actually enjoying it.

She stabbed at her food, her frustration growing.

They were joking, but none of them knew what he was going through.

How much of his exhaustion wasn't just school stress but something worse.

She had to talk to him.

She had to get through to him.

For an entire month, Marinette followed him.

Every night, as Ladybug, she would silently track his movements.

And every night—it was the same.

At exactly 3 AM, Gurvinder would slip out of the bakery, his steps quiet but determined. He'd run through the empty streets, heading straight to the same underground MMA club.

The moment he entered, the routine began.

Brutal training. Fights against bigger and stronger opponents.

And every time he made a mistake—the whip came down.

Marinette's grip on the rooftop edge would tighten each time she heard it. The sound of it cutting through the air, followed by the brief, barely noticeable flinch from Gurvinder.

But he never fought back. Never flinched for long. Never stopped.

He just kept getting up. Kept pushing through it.

By 6 AM, he'd leave—sometimes limping, sometimes with fresh bruises, but always silent.

He'd run back, clean himself up, and start working at the bakery before anyone even woke up.

Then he'd go to school, exhausted but still smiling.

Still joking.

Still acting like everything was fine.

But Marinette knew the truth now.

And she couldn't just watch anymore.