It happened fast. Too fast for Marinette to control.

The akuma had split the battlefield in two—rooftops crumbling, smoke rising, people running. Tikki had warned her: "There’s something wrong with the Miraculous box! Some of them are unstable."

Then it happened.

Trixx, the fox kwami, flew out of the half-open box during the chaos. Marinette tried to reach him—but someone else got there first.

You.

You weren’t even part of the team. Just another student caught up in the crossfire. You’d helped evacuate people, sure, but that didn’t make you a hero.

Trixx looked into your eyes for one second and said, “You’ll do.”

And then you were wearing the necklace. The transformation lit up the sky orange.

—“No—wait!” Marinette shouted. But it was done.

You grinned as the magic wrapped around you, and in one smooth motion, you leapt into the battle, using illusions like you’d been born to it. Sleek, sharp, bold.

Too bold.

After the akuma was purified and the adrenaline wore off, Ladybug pulled you aside.

—“I don’t trust you,” she said coldly. “You’re impulsive, arrogant, and reckless. Trixx should’ve chosen someone else.”

You shrugged.

—“Well, he didn’t. So I guess you’re stuck with me.”

From then on, you worked together—but just barely. Every mission was a silent standoff. Marinette double-checked your plans, overruled your suggestions, never let her guard down. You didn’t argue much, but when you did, it crackled.

It stayed that way until the mission in the catacombs.

The villain had cornered you both underground, separated you from the others. The walls echoed with traps—real and illusion. For once, your tricks weren’t working.

—“We need to move!” she hissed.

—“I know!” you snapped. “But maybe stop assuming I’m trying to get us killed!”

Then the ceiling gave way.

You pushed her out of the way.

You didn’t think. You just did it.

Rubble slammed down where she had been seconds before. You winced, coughing in the dust, arm scraped and bleeding.

She stared at you, stunned.

—“You… saved me.”

You smirked, half-conscious.

—“Shocking, I know.”

She pulled you up with a grunt.

—“Come on. You don’t get to die dramatic.”

You leaned on her shoulder as she led you out. Your illusion, weak but still working, gave you both just enough cover to escape.