[Narrator's POV]

A girl with pink hair and ripped clothes struts up to the front doors of the Bourgeois hotel. She puts her hands on her hip and blows a bubble with her gum.

"I'm sorry...madam," The doorman looks the girl up and down. "There is a dress code for tonight."

"You serious? I've been waiting in line for an hour." The girl says angrily. "What's wrong with my look? You gotta problem?"

"Yes." The doorman answers flatly.

"Argh." The girl rolls her eyes and storms off. "Rich prissies think they're better than everyone."

She clenches her packet of bubble gum in her fist. As a little black moth flutters by and lands on it, a voice speaks to her.

"Bubble-gum, I am Hawkmoth..."

.

[Adrien's POV]

Marinette and I were peacefully dancing in each other's arms when a girl with pink hair burst into the ball. She laughs and starts blowing an enormous pink bubble. My instincts kick in and I immediately grab Marinette's hand to haul her away. What am I going to do? I can't leave Ladybug to fight alone again, but I also have to stay and protect Marinette...

Marinette seems to make the decision for me. She peels her hand away from mine and starts running in the opposite direction.

"I have to find Alya!" She yells.

I reach out longingly but I let her go. Marinette is such a selfless person, running into danger for her friend like that. I'm sure she can handle herself.

Pink bubbles are exploding everywhere, covering the ballroom in pink gum. I run through the sticky battlefield and into the boys bathroom.

"Plagg, claws out!"

I burst out of the bathroom as Cat Noir and approach the pink-haired villain.

"Evening, Pinky-Pie." I greet coolly.

The girl sneers. "My name is Bubble-gum."

"Buttercup?" I question mockingly.

"Bubble-gum." She repeats through clenched teeth.

"Alright, Blossom." I chuckle as I lean on my staff. "So what chya doin here?"

Bubble-gum growls angrily. "I'm here to destroy this ball, obviously—I've already covered the place in gum."

She's right. The entire hotel has been coated in pink goo. There are guests plastered to the floors and walls.

"Ew. All this gunk has been in your mouth." I say. "Do you realise how unhygienic that is? Nasty!"

"It's what these snobs deserve." Bubble-gum replies. "And now that I've had my fun, it's time to get Hawkmoth what I promised."

Ladybug flips down beside me just in time.

"Ladybug, glad you could join us. I was getting sick of stalling." I say.

When I turn to greet my partner, my jaw drops. Ladybug's beautiful, midnight locks are falling free, just below her shoulders. I've never seen her hair out before! She's so pretty...

"L-Ladybug..." I slur as I stare in awe. "Your hair...you look...amazing..."

Ladybug looks confused for a second before realising that her hair is down.

"Oh...I forgot I was wearing it out." She mumbles as she tucks the loose strands behind her ears.

This feeling is familiar. Maybe Ladybug only puts up her hair to fight evil? Maybe she usually wears it out and I've seen her as a civilian without realising.

"Earth to Cat Noir?" Ladybug shouts.

I snap out of my daze to see her in combat with Bubble-gum. Well...she's trying to fight. Ladybug's hair keeps whipping around wildly, getting in her eyes and her mouth. It is blinding her from Bubble-gum's attacks, resulting in her taking quite the beating.

"Pleh! Pleh!" Ladybug spits as she swats her hair out of her face.

Bubble-gum is about to swing a punch when I smack her with a round-house kick.

"Thanks." Ladybug huffs.

Bubble-gum begins blowing one of her giant bubbles.

"Watch out!" I say.

I wrap my arms around Ladybug and use my own body as a human shield. The bubble bursts and the force sends us toppling to the ground. Next thing I know, I'm not only on top of Ladybug but I am pressed against her quite tightly, stuck there by a layer of gum.

Ladybug's cheeks go red as she stares up at me. Our faces are just inches apart. I can feel the warmth of her blushing cheeks. The stubbornly confident Ladybug getting flustered, how fun.

"Surrender." Bubble-gum demands.

"Are you kitten me? I'm enjoying this way too much!" I reply smugly. I lower my voice to a seductive whisper, "You feline the heat between us, bugaboo?"

Ladybug frowns, her face burning redder than her suit. "If I could move my hands right now, I would slap you."

Bubble-gum scoffs impatiently and begins walking over to us. Ladybug panics and starts wriggling around.

"Chat, my earrings are exposed. Get us out of here!" She stresses.

"No sweat," I say confidently. "Cataclysm!"

The gum around us glows black and explodes. Bubble-gum stumbles back a bit.

"Why didn't you just do that straight away?" Ladybug pesters.

"Why would I want to?" I respond cheekily.

Ladybug rolls her eyes and performs her signature move. "Lucky Charm!"

A spotted hairband falls from the air and lands in her hands.

"Well, this will come in handy." Ladybug says as she ties her hair back lazily.

A messy ponytail—even hotter! Just imagine Ladybug tying her hair up before working out in some cute little gym shorts. No, wait, but I don't want her to be exposed like that in a gym full of buff young men! What have I done? What started out as something so amazing is now giving me anxiety.

"Chat, honestly, get your head in the game!" Ladybug scolds.

I join Ladybug in fighting Bubble-gum. I notice every now and then she has to flick another piece of gum into her mouth. It comes from the same clenched fist.

"Her gum packet!" I holler, pointing at Bubble-gum's enclosed hand.

Ladybug reaches back and pulls the hairband from her hair. I feel as though I'm watching it in slow motion, though it happens in one swift movement. Her silky locks slip out gracefully. She pulls back the hairband around her thumb and squints one eye as she aims. My god she looks so badass. Then Ladybug slings the band at Bubble-gum's hand, causing her to drop the gum packet.

I manage to tear my eyes from Ladybug to dive for the gum packet. I crumble it in my hands and the akuma flutters out.

"Time to de-evilise!" Ladybug yells as she captures the akuma in her yoyo. She then releases the purified butterfly and throws the hairband up in the air. "Miraculous Ladybug!"

Bubble-gum and all the guests return to normal, and the hotel is cleaned as if nothing ever happened. Everyone cheers and claps for Ladybug and I but once the music starts up again, the party resumes.

I search the crowd for Marinette, wondering if she is okay, but I can't see her. I'm sure she's fine, though I can't help but worry. Marinette did say she wished I could come, Cat Noir that is.

I feel a tap on my shoulder and spin around happily.

"Mar—M-My Lady..." I stumble upon realising that it was Ladybug who tapped my shoulder.

Ladybug smiles and fiddles with her hair. "W-Wonna dance?"

"Me...To dance...you...?" I stammer.

Ladybug giggles and takes my hand. I can't believe this. Ladybug asked me to dance. I'm dancing with Ladybug! All of my troubles have melted away.

"I...I'm sorry about what happened after our battle with She-wolf." Ladybug says timorously. "I want you to know that I trust you with my life, I do...but I was scared of what you would think of me."

"You don't have to explain yourself." I reply softly. "I should be the one apologising. I wasn't even there during the last akuma attack. S-Something came up, and I didn't even know where the akuma was...by the time I found out there was an attack—"

"It's fine. It's hard leading a double-life. I know there will be situations when you can't transform. You should have time for your personal life too." Ladybug says.

Having a secret identity does make it easier to lie, seeming as Ladybug can't really ask for my excuse. Thank goodness she forgave me for not being there...but...there is still Marinette...

"No...I should have been there." I say guiltily. "I...I heard that a civilian girl got hurt."

"That's not your fault, Chat." Ladybug replies. "I was the one that was there. I was the one responsible. I was completely useless in the fight."

"I'm sure that's not true." I say, holding Ladybug tighter.

I know that Marinette doesn't blame Adrien or Ladybug or even Cat Noir, she told me so earlier tonight. Both Marinette and Ladybug view it as their fault, I should have been there for the both of them.But for now, I'm here with Ladybug and that's all that matters. I want to enjoy every second before we have to change back. If only our miraculouses would never run out.