The rooftop shoot buzzed with life—soft wind, golden light, flashes clicking around Adrien and Marinette as they posed. Marinette wore a sleek red outfit, but her signature earrings were gone, left behind for aesthetic reasons. You were just a student tagging along with Nathaniel, hanging back with your sketchbook, watching it all unfold from a quiet corner.

Then, the explosion.

Screams echoed. A violet light tore across the sky. An akuma burst through the skyline, its shrill laughter reverberating through the buildings. The calm shattered in seconds.

Adrien disappeared. Marinette froze. Her hands searched frantically through her bag, pockets—nothing. You saw the panic in her eyes before she turned to Luka and whispered something. He nodded grimly and vanished.

In the chaos, you noticed a red box lying near the toppled makeup case, slightly open.

Inside were the earrings.

A red light flickered—and then a voice, high and urgent: “Please, we don’t have time.”

A small creature hovered in the air. Big eyes. Gentle expression.

—“I’m Tikki. Ladybug can’t transform. But you can help.”

You hesitated. You weren’t a hero. Just a student. But the city screamed again, and Marinette—she looked so afraid.

Tikki floated closer.

—“I believe in you.”

You reached down, heart pounding, and put on the earrings.

Light swallowed you.

When it cleared, your reflection stared back from a shattered mirror panel—black and red suit, sharp boots, a yo-yo coiled at your side. You didn’t know what you were doing, but you ran.

Paris was chaos. The akuma—massive, armored in jagged glass—was tearing up the plaza. You weren’t graceful, but instinct kicked in. You jumped. Dodged. Swung the yo-yo like it was part of you.

And then the billboard cracked.

A metal frame came crashing down—directly toward Marinette.

You didn’t think.

You dove.

The impact threw dust everywhere. When it cleared, she was beneath you, eyes wide.

—“You saved me,” she whispered.

You gave a small nod, already rising to face the akuma again.

Chat Noir landed beside you mid-fight, panting.

—“You’re not Ladybug. What’s going on?”

You didn’t answer. Just moved.

A melody sliced through the tension. Viperion arrived, spinning his weapon with calm focus. Together, you brought the akuma down.

When it was over, Viperion approached quietly.

—“You did it,” he said. “She trusted you.”

You looked at him, still trembling. The earrings weighed more than they should.

—“It’s time,” he added, holding out his hand. “Paris is safe now.”

You slowly removed the earrings and placed them in his palm. Tikki hovered near your shoulder, eyes full of something like pride.

—“Thank you,” she said. “Truly.”

By the time you returned to the rooftop, the photoshoot had resumed like nothing happened. Marinette had the earrings back on. Her posture was calm. Steady. But when she walked past you, she stopped.

—“You were there,” she murmured. “Thank you.”

You blinked.

—“For what?”

—“For helping Nathaniel,” she said quickly. “He told me.”

You nodded slowly, not sure why your chest felt tight.

She smiled. Not polite. Not casual. Something warmer. A secret smile, like she remembered more than she said.