"Purrincess?" Chat slowly came up behind her.
"Sshh!" Marinette shushed him without even turning back. She was focusing on how to bring down the akuma in the classroom. It was then that she realised what she had done. She turned back to see a confused Chat Noir.

There was an awkward silence as the two stared into each other's eyes. Marinette was uncertain if Chat knew Ladybug's identity. Chat was unsure if he had seen this bold side of Marinette. She was always the awkward, shy and yet adorably cute girl in class. What was she doing here at a time like this!?

When the silence was too much to take in for both of them, Marinette looked away. "What?" She whispered, her heart beating faster now. "P-Princess? What are you doing in here? Don't you know there's an akuma out there?" Chat asked, keeping his voice low so that the akuma wouldn't hear them.

Marinette sighed in relief. Of course, Chat was an idiot sometimes and she's glad that he was one. "Chat Noir, I think I know the akuma's powers!" She turned back to the classroom, ignoring Chat's questions. He shook his head. "Forget the akuma! Ladybug and I will take care of it." He then remembered about the scream. "Where's L-Ladybug?"

"I don't know, Chat. But what I do know is that this akuma is more powerful. It can do a lot of things unlike the ones you've saved before." Marinette ignored him. Again.

Chat wasn't listening to her. He was wondering what happened to his Lady. And why was this girl out here alone? (I know, he's the purrince of oblivion!)

He narrowed his eyes at the girl who was unaware of the danger around her. He bent down and put his hands behind her knees. With one swift movement, he carried her bridal style and walked towards the entrance of the school.

"Chat! Wait, stop! What are you doing!?" No answer.

Marinette raised her voice as they neared the entrance. "You can't fight her, Chat! She's too powerful. You need a plan. I know what she can do. Chat, listen to me, please! Y-you'll get hurt!"

"Marinette! I can handle the akuma. You're the one who's going to get hurt if you stay here! You don't have superpowers, Marinette! Just look at yourself!" He yelled at her as he let her down from his arms. Marinette felt tears swelling up in her eyes. "But I've still saved us from the Evillustrator...without any powers." She turned her back to hide the tears as she said in a cold voice. She felt the insecurity take over her.

"Princess, be reasonable. You and I both know this akuma is dangerou-"
"Yes!" Marinette tilted her head but didn't turn to face him. "But there's something about it that I know and you don't! All I'm asking is to give me a chance. I can explain, Chat. I can help yo-"

"That's it!" Chat gritted his teeth. "Marinette, go home now! I don't take help from people like you! Ladybug and I will handle this akuma and I don't have time to take care of you right now!" His eyes were filled with rage when he said those words. He had let out all his frustration on her. Chat didn't know what to do. His Lady was missing. The last time they met, things seemed different between them. What if his Lady was in trouble? This girl was only slowing him down right now.

Marinette stood there, shocked. Was she that vulnerable without a red suit? She felt her tears streaming down her cheeks. Though she wasn't facing him, Chat realised what he had done. He tensed up a bit but didn't take back what he said. "If this is the only way you'd listen to me, we'll have to stay this way, Princess." He thought.

Chat sighed. "Look, the only way you can help me right now is to go back home." He walked away from her, back to the school. "I lost two important people in my life. I don't want to lose you too, Princess." He said under his breath as he made his way to the lockers.

Marinette turned around. Her gaze shifted from the now empty school to a blur of black running towards it. Her face went white. She managed to say, "Y-you can't go back there as Chat Noir!" But it was too late.

—————

"But...how? How did she manage to get away? Your powers are useless, Hawkmoth!" Predicta glared through her black mask as if Hawkmoth was standing in front of her. Surprisingly, she heard him again. This time, he seemed uncertain of something though. "Predicta, I want you to use your powers to find Adrien."

"Yes,Hawkmoth." She focussed on Adrien. She focused real hard. Predicta felt someone else getting impatient behind her mask. "Ugh! Where is he!?" Hawkmoth barked into her ears. "I-I'm trying, Hawkmoth. I can't!" Hawkmoth looked into his window. He should be careful with the akuma. After all, she didn't want to take orders and this was exactly what he was doing with her. Predicta was exceptional. He had given her more powers than any other akuma. Hawkmoth knew he couldn't control her if she went against his will. One wrong step and the akuma might come after him.

"Never mind."  He said in a calm voice. "Try to find", he paused and gave a wicked smile, "Chat Noir instead." Predicta nodded. Ladybug had been long gone from her senses but she still had hope on finding Chat Noir. She closed her eyes and when she opened them she had that same wicked smile as Hawkmoth. "Here, kitty kitty!"

—————

Chat Noir hurled himself over his pole, but the akuma threw him back. He hit his head badly and went dizzy for a moment. He could only see a blur of black and red until he heard a voice. "Too bad you hoped for Ladybug to save you, kitty cat!" The voice spoke as it neared him. Chat's eyes widened. The thought of his Lady getting hurt was enough for him to muster up his strength.

"Predicta!" A very impatient Hawkmoth roared through her mask. "His miraculous! You MUST take it now!" Predicta stopped midway, not sure of what she must focus on. It seemed like she couldn't sense Chat's next move while Hawkmoth was talking. She was taken aback when Chat gave her a surprise attack.

" No! Don't let him get away!" Hawkmoth screamed. Little did he know that he was only making it easier for Chat. Chat blocked the akuma with his baton. He pressed down the baton, holding Predicta against a wall. "What did you do to her!?" His anger was growing now.

Predicta attempted to stretch her hands out to use her red rays but was again interrupted by Hawkmoth. "He's too close! Grab his miraculous, his ring!" She nodded with a determined look. Predicta kicked him off sending Chat flying in the air. He hit his head again as he landed on the ground, but this time, he didn't move. He didn't attack her back. He simply laid there in pain.

"Now!" Hawkmoth said in a victorious tone. The akuma walked towards Chat, but stopped again. She began walking away.

"What do you think you're doing!? Take his miraculous!"

"Why should I?"

"Because I command you to-" Hawkmoth immediately regretted saying that.

"I don't take orders, Hawkmoth!" She said in an icy tone as she walked away from the classroom.

—————

Marinette knew she had to save him. Even if his words still hurt her.

Tikki flew out of her purse. "Marinette? You know it's not his fault that he doesn't know you're Ladybug."

"What do you mean, Tikki? That I'm just not good enough as Marinette?" She glared at her kwami. Tikki flew to her side. "Marinette, that's not what I mean. I'm just telling you that you're the same person with or without my powers. You can still save him as Marinette. You don't need a red suit and a yoyo to be yourself, you know."
Marinette looked at her kwami. She's right. Nothing changed when she was Ladybug except for her outfit. It wasn't her fault that Chat was always so over-the-top.
"He was an idiot anyway!" She thought.

"Besides," Tikki cringed when she said, "go save him before it's too late."

Marinette nodded. "C'mon Tikki!" She ran back to the school. Everything remained calm. Deadly calm. Not a noise was to be heard from her classroom.
"Oh! I hope I'm not too late, Tikki!"
Marinette opened the door and immediately felt regret taking over her mind.

"Chat Noir!"

Not too far away from her, Chat was laying still. Very still. His head was covered in what looked like a red liquid. His eyes were closed. He looked like he was frozen in time.

•••

Gahhh! I can't believe I did that to Chat!

*runs off before fangirls attack*
Claws in!