[Narrator's POV]

Lila checks the time on her phone and sighs in annoyance before slamming it down on the table. "Why am I alone with you?"

"Rose and Juleka are having a picnic this break, Alex is away today and Marinette is missing." Nathaniel says monotonously without even looking up from his paper.

"What do you mean Marinette is missing? I only joined this stupid art club because she said it would be fun and now she's not even coming?" Lila rants.

"Uh-huh." Nathaniel responds in a bored tone, clearly not listening.

Lila snatches the paper from Nathaniel's hands. "What are you doing anyway?"

"Hey!" Nathaniel shouts.

Lila stares at Nathaniel's drawing in awe. It is a beautiful sketch of none other than Lila herself, though her amazement immediately ceases when she notices a few added features including devil horns and fangs.

Nathaniel grabs his paper back and holds it to his chest defensively. "Don't be so disruptive in my safe haven!"

"What the hell is that?" Lila says bluntly, pointing a finger at his drawing.

"I get inspired by what's around me." Nathaniel answers with a shrug.

"Since when do I have horns?!" Lila shouts.

Nathaniel picks up his pencil and continues his work. "Maybe Marinette suggested you join this club because art is supposed to be relaxing and therapeutic, and you could seriously use some therapy."

Lila's jaw drops in offense. "You—What did you say? I'll give you some therapy!"

Lila rolls up her sleeves and clenches her fists threateningly. Nathaniel calmly places aside his sketchbook as she storms up to him. He knows that she is merely trying to intimidate him but his lack of response to her effort only makes her more mad. Lila towers over Nathaniel with flaring nostrils and he looks up at her silently. She takes a deep breath but before she can start yelling, Nathaniel slips an apron over her head and shoves a paintbrush into her hand. Lila's eyelids flutter in surprise as she looks down at what he had given her.

"What is this?" She asks unpleasantly.

Nathaniel picks up his sketchbook and begins drawing again. "There are canvases and paints over there. I think you'll have fun going wild with them."

Lila huffs and straightens her apron aggressively. "You know what? I will." She spins on her heel and charges over to the painting corner, smashing her brush down in the red paint. "Stupid Mari leaving me along with stupid Nathaniel. Stupid art. Stupid therapy. I don't need therapy. This isn't fun at all." She mutters as she lashes her brush around crazily, flicking paint everywhere.

Nathaniel briefly looks up at Lila and then back down at his paper but he then pauses and quickly looks at her again. "Well what do you know. Anyone with feelings can put their heart into art, even if they are psychotic feelings."

"I'm just good at everything, obviously. Art isn't that hard." Lila says proudly, jabbing her brush at the canvas.

Nathaniel puts down his sketchbook and scoots his chair closer to watch Lila work. "Marinette made a good choice. She knows you well."

"You're the one that knew I would enjoy painting the most out of everything in this room." Lila says casually.

Nathaniel smiles in amusement. "So you admit you're enjoying art club after all?"

"It's alright I guess. I'll have to show Mari my painting when she comes back," Lila says. "Do you...think she'll like it?"

"I know that she'll love it." Nathaniel replies.

.

Alya rests her head on Nino's shoulder as she scrolls through her ladyblog. Her thumb stops on the screen when she comes across a well-photographed picture of Rena Rouge. Alya smiles slyly.

"Hey babe, who is your favourite superhero?"

Nino grunts something indistinguishable. This time, Alya sits up to face him and presents her phone screen proudly.

"Mine's obviously Ladybug, but don't you think Rena Rouge is cool? And gorgeous? Isn't this photo of her so glamorous?" Alya asks with a grin. "What do you think?"

Nino shifts uncomfortably, averting his eyes from the screen as he clears his throat. "I don't like her that much."

Alya's smile fades. "No?"

Nino notices his girlfriend's hurt expression and quickly corrects himself. "I mean, she's alright I guess. I don't particularly dislike her, especially if you like her. But I'm nothing more than indifferent about her, I swear! You'll always be my number one hero, Als."

Alya giggles. "I'm not a superhero."

"You are to me." Nino says.

"Alright then," Alya places her hands on either side of Nino's face and squishes his cheeks affectionately. "As your hero and your girlfriend, I would like to help you with your problems. So what's making you so gloomy today huh?"

Nino sighs. "I just feel so bad about Lila. Everyone seems to be getting closer to her except me."

Alya's hands slowly slip down from Nino's face. "Nino, I'm sure this will pass...Lila is just a cranky person, you don't need to be so concerned about her having a grudge against you." She says with a frown.

Nino doesn't reply because he is busy being deep in thought when all of a sudden he gasps and claps his hands together.

"I have an idea!" He exclaims. "Yeah, that's it! I'll visit her straight after school. Hopefully this won't get me punched..."

"Woah, woah, wait," Alya says. "What is it? You're gonna go to her house?'

"I'm gonna give her a present. Ah, I should probably make a call first to reserve it." Nino answers. "Don't worry, I'll let you know how it goes."

Alya reaches out a hand pointlessly as Nino hurries off.

"Hey Alya!" Chloe comes jogging over with a wave. "Have you seen Marinette or Adrien? They were both here in the first period but then they didn't show up for any of our other classes."

Alya shakes her head. Maylene, who happened to be walking by, stops to share her input.

"Those two were acting kind of weird this morning. I think they were trying to make each other jealous because Adrien kept praising Ladybug right in front of Marinette," She explains. "I wouldn't be surprised if Marinette got upset and went off somewhere."

"That doesn't make any sense." Chloe says, knowing their identities.

"What about Adrien? He went missing too. And why would he tease Marinette like that? Talking about his love for Ladybug so openly. He knows that would upset Mari, he wouldn't. Unless they're having a fight somewhere. But I dunno, they were acting pretty strange this morning. Something was different." Alya ponders. "Something is definitely fishy about this..."

"Oh, right!" Chloe says. "Marinette does art club with Nathan so she should be there."

With that, Chloe heads off towards the art room and Maylene continues on her way. Alya crosses her arms, her brows furrowed.

"Something is stirring in the love square, I can feel it in my bones. But I don't have time to get involved in that when I have my own love troubles..."

.

As Chloe reaches the art room, she hears loud voices and laughter from inside. She smiles to herself, thinking that Marinette and Nathaniel must be having fun doing their favourite thing, but when she opens the door she is instead met with Lila and Nathaniel. Lila grins as she twirls round and splatters paint on a canvas.

"That's a lot of reds," Nathaniel comments. "It's very fiery. Like you!"

"This is how I imagine the crime scene of your murder." Lila answers.

Nathaniel laughs heartily. "Oh, I see. Very nice."

Chloe's heartbeat quickens, though she can't tell if her heart is racing because of Nathaniel's wonderful smile or if it is panicking because he is smiling at someone else. Her hand tenses around the doorknob. She musters up her strength to inhale deeply and clear her throat.

Nathaniel turns and, if possible, smiles even wider. "Chloe! What brings you here?"

"I'm looking for Marinette," Chloe's eyes shift to Lila sceptically. "Would are you doing here? I didn't know you were interested in art."

"Marinette said I should join her club but she isn't here." Lila says.

"Why are you looking for her?" Nathaniel asks.

"No particular reason," Chloe replies. "I just haven't seen her or Adrien since this morning so I was curious."

Lila puts a hand on her hip. "Don't tell me they've sneaked off to make out somewhere."

"Of course not, those two are super responsible. As if that pair of goody-two-shoes would wag school." Chloe says, waving her hand to dismiss the idea.

"Marinette has wagged school with me before," Lila points out. "You don't think if Adrien asked her to come along she would? She was acting all gooey this morning when she saw him."

Chloe pauses to reconsider the idea.

"How could they just disappear without anyone noticing? Where have they gone?" Nathaniel questions.

Chloe runs a hand through her hair, her fingers stopping to fidget with her hair comb subconsciously. "They wouldn't..." She mutters. "This is supposed to be a super responsibility not a scandal safe-pass. Maybe I should check on them...Catch those dirty cheats in the act. Wait, don't I want them to get back together? Ah, but not like this. Mom said she would fix everything for me. They can't go sneaking around now, it'll ruin the greatness of their reunion."

Nathaniel tilts his head in curiosity. "What are you mumbling about?"

Chloe retracts her hand from her hair comb when she notices the others watching her. "I think I'll go find them." She decides with a nod.

"How would you know where they are?" Lila asks.

Nathaniel's eyes flicker up to Chloe's hair comb.

"Because I'm their best friend and I know everything." Chloe declares proudly.

"Alright then, have fun." Lila says before going back to painting.

"You too," Chloe replies automatically. "No wait!" She quickly corrects, her eyes frantically flickering between Lila and Nathaniel. "Not too much fun! Don't have any fun without me! In fact, you shouldn't be slacking off in here—go look around the school for Marinette and Adrien!"

"I thought you were gonna find them?" Lila responds.

Chloe huffs. "Never mind."

With that, she steps back out the door and slams it behind her.

"What was that about?" Lila says. She then looks up from her painting suddenly and turns to Nathaniel. "Oh! I see. Nathan, you probably should have offered to go with her."

Nathaniel's gaze still lingers on the spot where Chloe had stood. "I don't think I can go where she is going."

Lila raises a brow quizzically. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know honestly," Nathaniel heaves a sigh. "Just a feeling. Like she's crossing into a different world that I can't reach."

.

Ladybug is sitting in Cat Noir's lap, rested back against his sturdy chest.

"It has been so hard to sleep lately..." She says. "But I'm so comfortable here with you."

Cat Noir smiles as he plays with her hands, admiring how tiny her delicate fingers look in his large palms. "Hey bugaboo, do you prefer gold or silver?"

"In terms of fashion, silver is more complimentary to my complexion, but personally I think rose gold is so gorgeous." Ladybug says. "Why?"

"No reason." Cat Noir replies, caressing her ring finger with his thumb.

Ladybug squints up at the sky. "I wish it was cooler. Where have the clouds gone?"

"You said you will always be here to lay beneath the sky with me, no matter what time of day. Whether it be on the beach in summer or under the stars in the dead of night." Cat Noir says wistfully.

"And I mean it, I'm just a little worried about us getting tan lines around our masks." Ladybug giggles.

Cat Noir wraps his arms around Ladybug and turns her face into his chest to shield her. "I'll protect you! No one shall harm my lady, not even the sun."

Ladybug's giggle grows into bubbly laughter. A sweet sound that makes Cat Noir's heart sing.

"I used to wish for rain every day so that I could go walking and feel the pelting water and hear it's relaxing rhythm...I used to wish for rain every day, because it reminds me of you." He says softly. "But I don't care what the weather is like now because I have you right here in my arms."

Ladybug shifts so that her big blue eyes peer up at Cat Noir, shimmering and glistening in the sunlight. Cat Noir smiles and gently brushes aside her fringe. Without any words, the two lean in in sync, Ladybug craning her head up and Cat Noir tilting his down, their eyes slowly closing. Their lips gently brush each other and then Cat Noir snakes a hand behind Ladybug's neck to press them together more firmly. Ladybug breathes a sigh and opens her mouth for more. Cat Noir matches her movement, slipping his tongue inside. It was a slow and seductive kiss, with hands roaming leisurely but the pace never quickening. The two were simply enjoying their time together. That is until—

"Ehem."

Ladybug and Cat Noir jolt apart in alarm and whirl round to see a Queen Bee standing over them with her hands on her hips crossly.

"What exactly is going on here?" She demands.

Cat Noir clears his throat. "Well you see, we're superheroes and it's our job to save lives so it's only reasonable that we would have to practice CPR—"

"Cut the crap, cat!" Queen Bee snaps. "I expected no less from you but I thought Ladybug would at least have some sensibility. What on earth do you think you're doing?"

"I know, I know!" Ladybug whines. "I just couldn't stand it any longer! I was so miserable as Marinette—"

"What do you mean was? You are still Marinette!" Queen Bee interrupts.

"No, no, we have it all sorted out," Cat Noir explains. "We've decided to live separately from our civilian lives. Together. Two separate lives with four different people and one couple. That's us."

"That's stupid." Queen Bee retorts.

"Oh just let us have this Bee, please!" Ladybug begs. "This is the only way we can be together, when we are disguised from the dangers of our other life. I know we shouldn't be keeping secrets but, but—"

"We love each other!" Cat Noir steps in. "Don't separate us again, Chloe."

Queen Bee falters. "A-Again? Are you still blaming me for my mother?"

"Oh, no, I—" Cat Noir stammers awkwardly.

"Whatever, it doesn't matter." Queen Bee concludes, crossing her arms. "My fault or not, I've fixed it. I'm upset you kept this relationship from me after I pleaded and negotiated with my mom for you. Well, if you want to continue dating in secret for the thrill of it then I guess I can talk to her about changing her decision yet again—"

"Woah, woah, woah—" Cat Noir starts.

"Wait, Chloe, wait," Ladybug urges. "What are you talking about? You've spoken to Audrey? About what? What negotiations?"

Queen Bee's mouth curls into a smile. The two have taken her bait and now she can finally reveal her good news. Her attitude immediately shifts from cool to buzzing with excitement.

"Mom's giving you back your bakery! And Adrien!" She announces happily, her eyes alight. "We totally had a proper bonding and now she's had a change of heart, I'm telling you. She's going to correct everything. Marinette, you're free. Adrien, you're free. You're both free! You don't have to disguise yourselves or your relationship anymore!"

Ladybug gasps sharply. "You—Are you serious?"

Queen Bee nods vigorously. "Serious! Totally serious! Completely! Deffinitely! I promised you I would fix it, didn't I?"

Ladybug and Cat Noir turn to each other in surprise, their mouths stretching into wide grins. They seem to share the same thought through a spark between them, as they both jump up to hug Queen Bee tightly, lunging onto her with such force that they practically tackle her to the ground.

"Aha-ouch! Ehahahaha!" Queen Bee hollers.

Ladybug and Cat Noir laugh and kiss her on either cheek, repeating themselves over and over.

"Thankyou! We love you so much, Bee! You're our hero! Thankyou Chloe! Thankyou so much! You're a Queen! Thankyou!"

Queen Bee left the two lovebirds after that, letting their scandal slip just this once because it's such a special and momentous day. School had finished by then anyway, so she transformed back into Chloe to go and support her mother at the press conference. She practically skips through the city, earning a few strange looks from those who have never seen a Bourgeois exert energy. Though along the way she happens to stumble upon something strange. Alya, snooping around looking suspicious. Well, considering that she is an independent detective that probably isn't so strange after all, but it is definitely intriguing.

"Hey Alya," Chloe says casually. "What chya doing?"

"Shhh!" Alya spits.

Chloe looks around for something that may require their silence but the only thing she notices in the empty street they occupy is Nino walking by. All of a sudden, Alya grabs Chloe's wrist and ducks behind a bush. She then slowly peers out, her eyes trailing Nino.

Chloe leans in to whisper awkwardly, "Why are you stalking your own boyfriend?"

"I'm not stalking Nino per say, I'm just looking out for him." Alya insists. "If anything I'm observing his company..."

Chloe peeks over the top of the bush. "You mean that bunny rabbit he's holding? Why would that little thing be a threat?"

"Because he bought it as a present for Lila." Alya grumbles bitterly.

"Ohh! It's that one from the pet store that she cried over." Chloe says. "So what? Nino's tryna make Lila cry again?"

"No! He's trying to get closer to her." Alya replies in frustration. "So much so that he was willing to blow his alliance on a pet for her."

Chloe gasps. "You're jealous!"

"I'm not." Alya denies quickly.

"You totally are!" Chloe smacks Alya's arm. "Alya how dare you suspect that your mellow little sweetheart of a dork is cheating on you!"

"I don't think he's cheating on me!" Alya snaps. "But I do think that there is a possible danger that Lila will want him to cheat on me."

Chloe squints her eyes, clearly confused.

"With her." Alya clarifies with a sigh. "I suspect Lila has feelings for my boyfriend, thus I feel uneasy leaving him unguarded."

"What you think she's just gonna pounce on him?" Chloe asks with a snicker.

"I don't know, he's going to her house with an adorable bunny present how could she not fall in love with him? It's Nino! Oh, look how cute he is I'm so anxious..." Alya whines.

Chloe snorts with laughter.

"SsshhhHHHH!" Alya hisses furiously.

"Sorry, sorry," Chloe says. "Well, it'll at least make you feel better to know that Lila totally has a crush on Nathaniel not Nino."

"Why would she like Nathaniel?" Alya questions.

"Why—? Why would she—?" Chloe stammers in bewilderment. "Ah, maybe because he's the most kind, awesome and amazing person in the entire world. He's way cuter and sweeter than Nino for sure—He's the cutest!"

"What?" Alya scoffs. "No way! Nino is the nicest guy. If anyone could thaw Lila's frozen heart it's him."

"Nathaniel thawed my frozen heart!" Chloe continues. "Everyone loves him, even Lila has to. He's so loveable! And they have talked on multiple occasions whereas, newsflash, Lila hates Nino. They aren't even close."

"You know Lila is a tsundere." Alya argues. "This morning when she saw Nino she got all embarrassed and hid behind Marinette. Have you ever seen Lila blush? I witnessed it in the presence of Nino!"

"Yeah well I saw Lila laughing and smiling and actually having a good time in the art club alone with Nathaniel today." Chloe retaliates.

"Lila won't hate Nino for long, she's just being stubborn. As soon as she sees his most thoughtful gift for her, she will realise her feelings." Alya says. "I have to be ready to step up my game when that happens and keep my man's eyes on me. We all know how sneaky and persistent Lila was when she went after Adrien."

"You are awfully mean when you're threatened." Chloe says bluntly. "I thought you liked Lila."

"I do but she and I are a little too similar you know? There is nothing wrong with being aggressive for what you want." Alya replies.

"Geez you too are alike—" Chloe gasps suddenly. "If Lila thinks like you then following that logic she has the right to snatch Nathaniel from me!"

"She's not gonna snatch Nathaniel, she's making a swipe at Nino." Alya says stubbornly. "You and Nathaniel aren't even dating anyway so it's not like it's cheating. I'm the one who should be distressed here!"

Chloe's jaw opens and closes in shock. "N-Not cheating? It's totally—I mean we are practically—B-But if not then...what are we?"

"Go hyperventilate somewhere you won't blow my cover." Alya says.

"You're the one who's made me paranoid now!" Chloe snaps.

"Look Lila won't go for Nathaniel, Nino bought her a bunny!" Alya stresses.

"And why do you think she likes that bunny so much?" Chloe replies. "It looks just like Nathaniel!"

"How can a rabbit look like Nathaniel?"

"Because it's adorable with big, shiny eyes and a lovely copper coat like Nathaniel's soft and fluffy hair and, you know, he likes vegetables a lot too—"

"I'm thinking that you could just see Nathaniel in anything."

"I'm thinking that you're blind because it looks just like him!"

Alya begins slapping Chloe frantically. "Sh, sh, it's happening!"

"Alright, alright," Chloe says. "I have an event to attend so you have fun creeping in the bushes by yourself."

Chloe stands up, dusts herself off and walks away. Alya pays no mind to her leave, all of her attention focused intensely on Nino and Lila.

Nino knocks on the door and holds the bunny up as Lila opens it.

"Who's there—" Lila freezes, her eyes widening in a mixture of surprise and confusion.

"Hewwo Wiwa!" Nino says in an acute voice. "It's me, your best fwiend—Bunny!"

Nino grins and wiggles the bunny's ears. Lila's eyelids flutter as she tries to compose herself. Her first instinct is to squeal and squeeze that little fluffball into a hug but there is no way she can let down her defences when that tuft of happiness is being held in the hands of her current mortal enemy.

Lila narrows her eyes and looks Nino up and down. "What are you doing?"

"I'm here to make peace," Nino says. "So I, uh, bought you a bunny? It's an offering, but please don't eat it it's not a sacrificial offering."

"Why would I eat it?" Lila asks.

"You look like you're ready to bite a head off all the time." Nino answers before quickly backtracking. "But you know that might just be because whenever I see you, you have to look at my annoying face haha! S-So I got you something nice and cute to look at instead. The one that you liked at the pet store."

Lila's fingers twitch. She so desperately wants to stroke that bunny but she has to hold herself back. Lila clears her throat and crosses her arms uncomfortably. "And why would you do that?"

"Because I want to be your friend so I need to make it up to you since I upset you. I'm sorry, Lila, that prank wasn't cool." Nino says.

Lila shifts, her arms tensing more. She is clearly straining herself trying to resist the loveliness of this situation, so Nino decides to change his approach.

"Actually, I was just worried about this poor little bunny because it seemed like love at first sight when it saw you in the store and it must have been devastated when I chased you away by so meanly frightening you into collapse. It must have been so hard living without you. Couldn't you spare some grace and mercy for this pitiful creature and care for it in your radiance?"

Lila's eyes linger on the bunny for some time when finally it wiggles its tiny pink nose and she immediately snatches it up in her arms.

"W-Well, when you put in that way..." She says, cradling her precious pet close to her chest. "I suppose I can't help being generous."

Nino smiles brightly. "Yeah!"

Lila looks down timidly, rubbing a finger on the bunny's soft belly. "And...I suppose it was also generous of you to consider this rabbit's well-being. I might be able to overlook your previous offence."

"Thank you, Lila," Nino says happily. "I look forward to being friends!"

"Begrudging acquaintances." Lila corrects.

"Amicable associates?" Nino tries.

"Indifferent peers." Lila replies. "That's my final offer."

Nino sighs in defeat. "Alright, I look forward to being indifferent peers then."

Nino waves goodbye and turns to leave. As he walks away, he looks over his shoulder to see Lila talking to her bunny with a smile and lifting its little arm to wave at him.

"So that's what she is like when she thinks my back is turned." Nino laughs.

Alya inhales a sharp gasp in panic. "He's coming this way, he's coming, he's coming right for me!"

"You're a citizen of Paris, you are allowed to be here." Trixx comments.

"Squatting behind a bush?!" Alya says. "I need to get out of here, I need to make a fun for it. Trixx, tail on!"

Trixx groans in annoyance as she gets swept away into Alya's necklace. Rena Rouge leaps from the bush with a flash of orange light only to smack right into Nino.

"AH!" They shout in unison.

"What are you doing pouncing at me like that? Were you hunting me or something?" Nino questions, his breathing shallow. "You seriously need a bell like Cat Noir."

Rena Rouge giggles, a slight nervous quiver in her voice. "That's funny, you're funny, no, ah, I was not stalking you I was just..."

Nino heaves a sigh. "Look, I know you saved me from getting run over that one time and you kinda hit on me after but I'm not really interested."

Nino scratches his head and looks away uncomfortably but Rena Rouge mistakes it as a glance to Lila's house. She peers over Nino's shoulder and then looks at him urgently.

"W-What? Are you—Was that your girlfriend? That girl who is your friend, do you like her?"

"I thought you said you weren't stalking me." Nino says.

"Do you think she's attractive is that why you're not interested in me?" Rena Rouge continues. "You should find me attractive, I'm your real girlfr—Ah! Your real...A real girl. I am the realest girl. That, that chick was Lila, she's totally fake right? The one with all the lies."

"Hey, don't say that when you don't even know her." Nino says, crossing his arms.

Rena Rouge feels a flicker of insecurity. "Well, come on, I'm just saying that if you like foxy ladies, you've got the real deal right here." She replies stubbornly.

"My heart already belongs to someone else." Nino says firmly.

He steps around Rena Rouge and walks away hastily when all of a sudden, the house next door to Lila's bursts in a fiery explosion. Rena Rouge's eyes widen in horror. Her feet push off the ground and sprint for Nino, but the soaring debris travels faster. A brick flies from the cloud of smoke and hits Nino, sending him toppling to the ground.

"No!" Rena screams, skidding on her knees to his side. "Nino! Nino, Are you okay?"

Nino groans. His expression is strained with agony but he is at least conscious. Rena Rouge exhales a shaky breath of relief but her tears won't stop falling. The one she loves so dearly in pain...She just wants to hold him and never let go. For now, she settles on grabbing his hand tightly to help him sit up a little.

"Did you get hit in the head?" Rena asks with a sniff.

Nino shakes his head weakly. "No, just the shoulder. I'm alright."

"I'll take you to a hospital—"

"No." Nino pulls from Rena Rouge's grip and stumbles to his feet. "Lila...that was her house beside the explosion. We need to see if she's okay."

Separation anxiety courses through Rena Rouge. "No!" She cries, latching onto Nino's hand once more.

"I thought you were a hero?" Nino says. "I need to go to Lila!"

"It's because you were with her that you got hurt!"

Rena Rouge yanks on Nino's hand and smashes her lips onto his. She places her other hand on the back of his head and kisses him passionately before he can shove her away. Nino's eyes are wide with terror and rage. Seeing his disgusted expression, Rena Rouge's eyes well up his tears.

"P-Please..." She whispers. "Stay with me."

"No!" Nino shouts, anguish stinging his voice. "What's wrong with you? You've made me into a cheater!"

"What...?" Rena Rouge breathes before gasping suddenly. She had been so distressed that she had completely forgotten that she is transformed. "Oh Nino, I'm so sorry, but if you would just let me explain—"

"Save it!" Nino says. "Actually, how about you do your job and save whoever was involved in that explosion? You better take care of it because I have to leave, I can't be anywhere near you."

"Nino!" Rena Rouge cries out.

Nino runs off and a rush of firetrucks skid into the street. Rena Rouge searches frantically but she can't find Nino amongst the chaos.

"Rena Rouge," One of the firefighters says. "There has been a gas leak. If you could multiply yourself and search for any residents...Miss Rouge?"

Rena Rouge stares ahead blankly, her heart in shatters. She has never lost her cool before. Why isn't she helping? Why isn't she responding? She just feels...empty. Helpless. Useless.

"The family that lives in that house is on vacation so no one was inside," Says another voice. "Last time I checked that was your job anyway so how about you hurry up and put out that fire before it burns down my house instead of putting the pressure on a woman who is clearly distraught."

"Right." The fireman clears his through and walks away.

Rena Rouge slowly faces Lila, who is holding her new bunny securely.

"Poor thing," She says as she strokes her pet. "First day here and it's been traumatised."

"Did you...say I'm distraught? How...?" Rena Rouge trails off.

"You kind of look like my bunny right now." Lila answers.

"I'm a fox." Rena Rouge says groggily.

"I meant the shock and fear in your eyes. Honestly you look more like a helpless bunny being hunted by a fox." Lila replies. "Actually, no, you're not being hunted. You've already been cut down."

Rena Rouge's lip quivers. She throws her arms around Lila and sobs, "I've made a terrible mistake!"

"Oh! Okay, uh, there there." Lila says awkwardly. "Let's not squish my little bunny. How about we go talk this over some sweet crepes?"

Rena Rouge nods with a hiccup. "Mkay..." She agrees miserably.

Lila smiles gently and wraps an arm around Rena Rouge's shoulder, paying no mind to the blazing fire behind them.