Me: *Sprinkles fluff throughout this chapter like salt bae*

[Narrator's POV]

Carapace sits on a rooftop, swinging his legs over the edge.

"It's the weekend. Everyone should have heaps of spare time," He ponders. "So where are they...?"

.

"Tada!" Marinette whips out a large tray and places it on the kitchen counter. "It's the ultimate cheese soufflé consisting of camembert, gouda, cheddar, brie and topped with mozzarella."

"It's...It's..." Plagg's eyes sparkle as he whispers, "Plaggnificent!"

"You spoil him too much Mari." Adrien says.

"Nonsense! You could learn a thing or two from her you know." Plagg replies as he dives into his soufflé.

"And you could learn a thing or two from Tiki about manners and savouring your food!" Adrien yaps.

Tiki giggles as she nibbles on her cookie. "He's the kwami of destruction alright. He demolishes any food in sight."

"Who can blame him?" Marinette says. "No one can resist my cooking."

Adrien smiles and wraps his arms around Marinette's waist from behind, resting his head on her shoulder. "So...my father is organising this fancy dinner party, ball, dance, get together whatever you want to call it. A bunch of famous fashion designers and models get together to show off and talk about themselves. Of course it's obligatory for me to come as my dad's little ken-doll. I really didn't want to at first, I was gonna ditch, but...I knew you would want me to try and play nice."

"You are correct." Marinette smiles and pecks Adrien on the nose. "I'm proud of you, Adrien."

"Okay, then I'll agree to go if you come with me." Adrien continues. "I couldn't survive without you. It's so boring! And...I really need you there as support, otherwise I might not be able to handle my dad."

"Of course I'll come Adrien." Marinette says softly.

Adrien grins happily. "Great! There will be so many fashion designers there, you could show them some of your work. I know they'll love it!"

Marinette turns around to face Adrien, his arms still around her hips. "Oh Adrien, this'll be a huge opportunity for me!" She says, throwing her arms around his neck to hug him.

"I know—I'm so excited to show off how amazing my princess is." Adrien replies. "The event is next week but it's on a weekday so you might have to miss some school."

"Fine with me!" Marinette presses her lips against Adrien's in a sweet kiss, pulling away with a grin. "I have to start designing my dress!"

.

Nathaniel leaves the Louvre, staring at his phone as he walks. All of a sudden, a black car skids to a stop in front of him, cutting of his path. Nathaniel jumps back in fright. A man wearing a fine suit with gelled hair and a groomed moustache steps out of the car. He clears his throat before speaking,

"Madam Bourgeois requests your presence."

Nathaniel stares, still frozen with shock. "Bourgeois...Chloe?"

Chloe's butler opens a car door and gestures for Nathaniel to get in. Nathaniel stands where he is for a moment, eyeing the man uneasily, before slowly getting in the car. He sits in silence for about ten minutes before the car pulls up in front of the Mayor's hotel. The butler opens Nathaniel's door for him and holds out a VIP swipe card.

"The suite is on the top floor, you'll need this to get access."

"O-Okay then..." Nathaniel says as he gets out and takes the card.

Nathaniel gets in the elevator and presses the button for the tenth floor but nothing happens. There is a thin strip next to the button pad. Nathaniel swipes his VIP card and then presses the top button. This time, the elevator begins to move.

"Nice security...I guess." Nathaniel mumbles as he waits for the elevators arrival.

The large doors open with a chime and Nathaniel steps out into an exquisite hallway with only a few doors. One of them has a golden label that reads, 'Chloe'. Nathaniel grips the shoulder strap of his satchel nervously as he approaches the door. He takes a deep breath and gives the door a gentle knock. It almost immediately swings open. Nathaniel blinks in alarm as he met with an unfamiliar sight.

Chloe's silky, golden hair is let down past her shoulders. Her face is bare with no makeup; her bright blue eyes seem much larger and more vibrant with no eye makeup to compete. She is wearing a simple oversized shirt with black and white stripes.

Nathaniel blushes like crazy. He has never seen a casual Chloe before. This must be what she looks like in a home environment. This must be what you would see waking up to her in the morning...

Wait what is he thinking?!!

"What took you so long?" Come's Chloe's familiar yapping. So, this is in fact Chloe and not some secret twin.

Nathaniel is still staring, his cheeks reddening each time he looks her up and down.

Chloe raises an eyebrow. "What's your problem?" She asks shortly.

"I-I, um—Nothing! I-It's just seeing you in a, uh, domestic environment, it's different—It's, it's n-nice." Nathaniel stutters.

Chloe rolls her eyes and grabs Nathaniel's arm, "Just get in here!" She hauls him inside and slams the door shut behind them.

Nathaniel stumbles to regain his balance and looks around the room. Chloe's bedroom...

"Y-You're bedroom...A girl's..." At this point, Nathaniel's face had gone redder than his hair.

"Never been in a girl's room before?" Chloe asks teasingly.

Nathaniel squeaks. "I-I-Is it really okay to just bring me in here—Alone?!"

"As if you'd try anything on me." Chloe giggles.

"Of course not!" Nathaniel says.

Chloe smirks as she creeps closer. "So what; you're scared that I'll try something on you?"

Nathaniel leans back and gulps nervously. "N-No..."

Chloe seems amused by Nathaniel's innocence. She pushes a finger against his nose ever so slightly, causing him to wobble and fall backwards onto the seat behind him.

"Okay then, so just relax and take a seat." Chloe says as she sits on the chair across from him.

"Why am I here?" Nathaniel questions anxiously.

"Seriously? Argh, what am I even paying you for?!" Chloe criticizes.

"You're not paying me." Nathaniel says.

"Only because you wouldn't accept the money!" Chloe replies. "You're obviously here to help me strategize. You've committed to being my new most trusted adviser—"

"You could just say friend you know." Nathaniel cuts in.

Chloe sighs impatiently. "Are you gonna work with me or not?"

"Well, most people go visit their friends or maybe call them, they don't send a chauffer to fetch them." Nathaniel says. "How did you even know where I was?"

"I'm the daughter of the mayor. I have a lot of resources at my fingertips." Chloe answers.

"Right. So you stalked me and then you kidnapped me." Nathaniel retorts.

"You got in the car willingly Nathaniel stop being such a drama queen! Yeesh!" Chloe crosses her arms and looks away stubbornly. "Besides...I...I don't have your number."

"You're the daughter of the Mayor, surely you could—"

"But I want you to give it to me!" Chloe freezes, her breath hitching from embarrassment.

"What difference does that make how you get it?" Nathaniel asks, tilting his head slightly.

"I-It's personal..." Chloe says, her cheeks blushing. "Just—Just give me your number!" Chloe throws her phone at Nathaniel before burying her face in a pillow.

Nathaniel fumbles to catch the phone. He blushes as he stares at Chloe, who is clutching a pillow to her burning face and twiddling her toes anxiously. He suddenly realises what exactly he is doing...He is giving a girl his number.

Nathaniel quickly tosses Chloe her phone once he is done typing in his number. "There, now you can, uh...c-call me, I guess—or text, or...whatever..."

Chloe's big blue eyes peek over the top of her pillow, the hint of a blush across her nose slightly visible. The sight makes Nathaniel's heart skip a beat.

"S-So, Alya..." Nathaniel starts.

"Right!" Chloe tosses her pillow aside and leans forward in concentration. "What should I do?"

"I think inviting her into friendly activities is your best bet. Talk to her more, hang out with her more—One of the nicest things you've ever done was inviting everyone to that grand ball you threw for Marinette's birthday last year." Nathaniel says.

Chloe taps her finger on her lips. "Gabriel Agreste is holding a ball in Daddy's hotel next week. I could invite her to that then...?"

"Yes that's a brilliant idea!" Nathaniel replies. "Now, remember what I said about friends contacting each other."

"No spontaneous chauffers," Chloe says as she dials up Alya. "I should call her!"

Nathaniel gives Chloe a thumbs up as she brings her phone to her ear.

"Hey this is Alya, I'm probably blogging right now so call me back later. Bye!"

Beeeeep!

Chloe frowns. "She didn't pick up. That girl is literally always on her phone. What could she possibly be doing?"

.

Alya is wondering the streets of Paris, weaving in and out through alleyways and searching the rooftops for some superheroes. She was hoping to get some interviewing done today.

Sunlight shines across the surface of a large black car as it slowly rolls past the entrance of the alleyway Alya is currently in. She watches it pass before turning to leave another way. Alya comes out onto a different street and walks for a few blocks before feeling the need to look behind her. A familiar black car is cruising along the road at a steady pace...stalking her. Alya narrows her eyes, surely this isn't a coincidence. She takes a sharp turn and picks up her pace but the car continues to follow her.

This neighbourhood is rough and doesn't inhabit a lot of people. Alya came here in the hopes to find some crime to be fought by superheroes, but it looks like she should find a way out fast because if she finds herself in some trouble there isn't anyone here to help.

Alya picks up her pace to a jog when all of a sudden another car pulls out in front of her. She backs up a few steps before bumping into the hood of the car that had been following her from behind.

Two large men step out from the big black car. Another man and two burly women get out from the other car. Alya's eyes flicker from face to face as they slowly close in on her. She can't transform in front of them...but she can't handle five against one in her civilian form.

"Alya Cesaire." Says one of the women.

"Get in the car." Orders a man.

Alya's eyes widen fearfully. This isn't some random kidnapping, someone is after her specifically.

"Ladybug, help!" Alya screams. "Ladybug! Cat Noir! Queen Bee! Carapace—Anyone, help!"

Alya fumbles for her bag but one of the men slaps it from her hands. He reaches towards her when all of a sudden a shield comes hurling through the air and smacks him square in the face, causing him to fall backwards with a bleeding nose. Carapace catches his shield and leaps down in front of Alya.

"Step off the lady!" Carapace throws his shield, which spins round in a circle and knocks aside the attackers, giving him and Alya some space in the midst of the fight.

Alya's mouth drops to form an O shape as she stares up at Carapace. She has never seen him looking this serious before. His usual cool smile has twisted into a concentrated frown. His eyebrows are furrowed, his mellow eyes now blazing with fury.

The largest man of the group growls as he launches his fist forward. Carapace quickly holds up his shield. The man smashes his fist into the metal, his eyes shooting open in pain. He lets out a high-pitched wheeze as he slowly retracts his trembling hand. Carapace smirks and whacks his shield over the man's head, knocking him out cold.

"Idiot." Says one of the women. "Just go, go, go!"

The last two men and the two women each split off towards the two cars. The two women grab Alya along the way, hauling her towards their vehicle.

"Get your hands off her!" Carapace yells as he slings his shield.

The shield curls round Alya, knocking the two women on either side of her. Meanwhile the other pair of men had already started their engine.

"They're getting away!" Alya shouts.

Carapace sprints after the escaping vehicle. He runs up a parked car and leaps into the air, hurling his shield at the wheel of the getaway car and then landing back onto the road. Sparks fly as the speeding car swerves out of control, flips and goes tumbling towards Carapace. But he is preoccupied with something else. One of the women had recovered, picked up a scrap of metal from the ground and is approaching Alya from behind while she is distracted.

"Carapace, move!" Alya screams.

"Alya!" Carapace throws a hand in her direction. "Ultimate Shield!"

SMASH!

Alya's eyes widen in horror as the car crashes into Carapace against a building wall. Something bright and green suddenly clouds her vision. The attacker behind her raises the piece of metal above her head and tries to smash it down over Alya but it hits Carapace's shield and ricochets, smacking into her own face and sending her falling backwards. Alya looks down at the fallen attacker in surprise as the shield around her slowly flickers away.

Alya's head snaps up when she hears a groaning from nearby. She sprints towards the crashed car, her heart pounding.

"Carapace!" Alya calls out as she desperately pulls and shoves the car to no avail. "Carapace a-are you okay?!"

"Alya..." Carapace wheezes weakly.

"Carapace! You idiot! Why—Why didn't you shield yourself? Why did you use it on me?" Alya is struck with a sudden idea and she begins to look around frantically. "Shield! Shield, shield, shield...AHA!"

Alya picks up Carapace's fallen shield off the ground. She shoves it in between the car and the wall and pushes down on it like a lever. Carapace coughs as the weight begins to lift from his chest.

"A bloody car headed straight for you!" Alya mutters. "Doesn't even think to use his own bloody shield. Idiot..."

"She was going to hurt you...I-I had to save you." Carapace says.

Alya's heart skips a beat. "Thankyou..."

Once he has enough room, Carapace helps Alya push the car off him until finally it falls over and smashes on the ground. Carapace's chest heaves in and out with heavy breaths. He rests a hand on the wall to steady his aching body.

"Carapace, are you okay?" Alya asks as she rests a hand on his shoulder.

Carapace suddenly lunges forward and wraps his arms around Alya.

Alya freezes up awkwardly. "Uh...what's happening?"

Carapace's arms tighten around Alya as he hugs her silently. There is something oddly comforting about his embrace...

"C-Carapace?"

"S-Sorry! Sorry..." Carapace says.

Alya's eyes widen as Carapace pulls away. His eyes are shimmering with tears, his expression riddled with concern.

"I was just...so scared." He says, his voice quivering.

Alya stares at him in shock. Sacred? Scared of what? Or...was he scared for something? Scared for her?... Genuine tears are rolling down his cheeks. For her.

"Looks like they got away." Carapace's bracelet beeps as he reaches up to wipe his eyes. "I should go now..."

Alya watches silently as Carapace quickly scales the building wall. She still can't make any sense of what just happened, but seeing Carapace cry struck something in her heart. Even though she barely knows him, that moment when she looked into his eyes felt intimate. She felt so pained to see him sad.

"W-Wait!" Alya speaks up, but it is too late. Carapace has gone. Alya slowly falls to her knees and clutches the fabric over her pounding heart. "What the heck...?"

Alya flinches in fright as a sudden ringing sounds out. She exhales to relax herself as she crawls over to her bag and takes out her phone.

"Missed call from Chloe?"

.

Chloe grabs Nathaniel and shakes him back and forth. "She's calling! She's calling! She's calling!"

"Well pick it up!" Nathaniel says urgently.

Chloe takes a deep breath to compose herself before answering her phone. "Hello?"

"Yeah, hi, it's Alya." Alya says dazedly. "Sorry...Why did you call me?"

"Well, Gabriel Agreste is holding a ball at Daddy's hotel so Adrien's gonna be there and I've just heard that's he's bringing Marinette." Chloe says. "S-So...I..."

Nathaniel nods in encouragement.

"I was wondering if you would like to go as well." Chloe finishes. "You could bring that boyfriend of yours and, if you want, since the party's not till the afternoon you and Marinette could come over and we could all get ready together, have a little girl time...I could do your makeup?"

Chloe tenses as she waits for Alya's response.

"Oh, um...yeah, sure, I guess."

Chloe squeals and throws her phone up into the air before tackling Nathaniel. "It worked! She said yes! You are the best adviser ever!"

"C-Chloe!" Nathaniel says, his cheeks blushing. "The phone!"

"Oh, right." Chloe quickly scrambles off of Nathaniel and snatches up her phone. "I'll see you then, Alya!"

Nathaniel smiles as he gets up. "Mission accomplished then."

"Wait!" Chloe leaps up and grabs Nathaniel's hand. She immediately blushes and lets go. "Sorry! But, but you should come too!"

"To where?" Nathaniel questions.

"To the ball—with me!" Chloe says. "I-I'll need you there...for emotional support."

Nathaniel blushes as he clasps the hand that Chloe had touched. "Okay."

.

.

Alya sighs and flops down onto her bed.

Trixx leisurely floats her way out of Alya's bag with a cluster of grapes. "So...someone's out hiring people to kidnap you, that's exciting."

"What was up with Carapace today?" Alya says abruptly. "It's only natural for a superhero to be concerned over a civilian's safety but he was acting weird don't you think?"

Trixx raises an eyebrow. "I find that you are acting weird."

"He looked so genuinely sad...It was heartbreaking." Alya continues. "What's with that?"

Trixx smirks. "Maybe he's got a soft spot for you."

"Don't be stupid." Alya says.

"Hmm...?" Trixx pokes Alya teasingly. "Maybe the feeling is mutual? Got a thing for the cry baby do you?"

"Oh, bite me."

A high-pitched scream rings out from the Cesaire household as Trixx sinks her teeth into Alya's arm.

"NOT LITTERALLY!!!"