Adrien had always trusted his instincts. As Chat Noir, his senses were his lifeline, keeping him and Ladybug out of harm's way countless times. But as Adrien Agreste, those instincts were often overshadowed by the normalcy of teenage life. Today, though, those instincts screamed at him, louder than ever.

It started with a faint glow from his ring.

Adrien glanced at the Miraculous, a sense of unease settling in his stomach. The ring glowed intermittently, an ethereal pulse that sent chills down his spine. It was as if the ring itself was calling out, reaching for something – or someone. He looked around the classroom, most of the class were accounted for. Chloé was still with her mother in New York and Lila was still expelled from François DuPont. His eyes continued around the class, a void striking him hard as he fell upon an empty seat.

Marinette. The absence gnawed at him, amplifying his anxiety. This couldn't be a coincidence. Having the ring glow and Marinette absent must be linked, his mind throwing possibilities at him like they were running out of fashion—until they screeched to a stop. There could only be one reason his Miraculous had started this cheap Disco nightclub effect, and it just had to be linked to Ladybug.

The two faces crossed over in his mind, not stopping long enough on top of each other to piece it together.

Adrien studied the front of the room, Miss Bustier hadn't started yet, so he had a little time to try and figure this out. Turning in his chair, he called Alya closer.

"Where's Marinette?" he asked, Alya looking at him like he'd lost his mind.

"You know she's never on time, why would today be any different?"

He shrugged. His gut was telling him something different and the blinding light coming from his ring wasn't helping his mood.

"What's up with your ring?" Alya looked down at the metal object, eyebrows creasing as she studied his hypno-trance ring.

"Oh, it's - um - a new version of the Alliance ring. It lets me know when I have an email."

Alya's face told him she most certainly didn't believe a word he had just said. "Sure."

The teacher called attention to the class, starting the lesson right on time, but as the time progressed the unease in Adrien's chest tightened. She still wasn't here, and that could only mean bad news.

As soon as the final bell rang, Adrien was out of his seat and fleeing from the collège. Making up a lame excuse to Gorilla, he headed around the back of the building and freed Plagg, the kwami displaying the same look of worry.

"You'll find her," the kwami said, the confidence in Adrien a billion times more than what he had at the moment himself.

"Why do you think this is flashing?" Plagg shrugged. "Maybe it's tracking her. Start walking and see what happens."

Adrien followed the persistent glow. It led him to the outskirts of Paris, a place abandoned and desolate. His heart raced as the glow intensified, illuminating his path in the encroaching darkness. If he had sense, he would turn around and make his way back to the centre. Being out here, as a celebrity, was one of the stupidest moves he'd ever done. Thank goodness he was part superhero.

"Marinette!" he called out, his voice echoing off the crumbling buildings. Silence answered him. He pressed on, the fear in his chest growing with every step.

"Ladybug," he called out this time, the anxiety tightening in his chest. He released Plagg, the kwami hovering alongside him as the glow of his ring flickered quicker and quicker, until it was permanently on.

Then he saw her.

Marinette lay crumpled against a wall, her form barely visible in the dim light. Blood trickled from a gash on her forehead, and bruises marred her usually vibrant skin.

Adrien's heart stopped.

His breath hitched in his throat as he stumbled forward, every step feeling like an eternity. How had this happened? Guilt gnawed at him, a relentless beast whispering that he should have been there, that he should have protected her. He was a hero dammit! The sight of her, so broken and fragile, shattered the carefully constructed walls around his heart.

"Marinette," he whispered, his voice trembling.

He dropped to his knees beside her, hands shaking as he reached out, afraid to touch her and cause more pain. The glow of his Miraculous mocked him as it remained vibrant in his eyeline. The realisation hit him like a freight train – he could lose her. The girl who had always been a beacon of light in his dark world, the girl who loved him even when he couldn't see it, the girl who believed in him.

Tears blurred his vision as memories flooded back – her laughter, her kindness, her unwavering strength. How could this happen to someone so good?

Rage simmered beneath his sorrow, anger at himself for being so blind, at the world for being so cruel.

"Stay with me, please," he begged, voice cracking. He could feel his own tears mingling with the blood on her face as he cradled her head gently to his chest. Her blood painted his overshirt red. The weight of his own helplessness pressed down on him, suffocating him. He had faced countless villains, battled the darkest evils, but nothing had ever scared him as much as the thought of losing her.

Adrien's mind raced, searching for a solution, for a way to fix this. But all he could do was hold her, his fingers trembling as he brushed a strand of hair from her face. He leaned down, pressing his forehead against hers, a silent prayer escaping his lips.

"Marinette, I'm so sorry," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I should have been there. I should have protected you." The words felt hollow, inadequate to express the depth of his regret and despair. He wanted to take her pain, to bear it himself, anything to see her smile again.

As he held her, time seemed to stand still. The world faded away, leaving just the two of them in the dim light. He could hear her ragged breaths, each one a painful reminder of how close he was to losing her. The fear gripped him, squeezing his heart with icy fingers.

"Don't leave me," he pleaded, tears streaming down his face. "I can't do this without you." The confession hung in the air, a raw, unfiltered truth that he had been too afraid to admit even to himself.

As the silence enveloped them, a soft, warm light began to emanate from Marinette's side. Tikki, her tiny form glowing gently, emerged from her hiding place. Adrien's eyes widened in shock as he took in the sight of the small, floating creature.

"Tikki?" Adrien's voice trembled with disbelief. "What are you doing here? How...?"

Tikki floated closer, her eyes filled with sorrow and urgency. "Adrien, we need to help Marinette. She's...she's...."

Adrien's breath caught in his throat. "She's Ladybug, isn't she? That's why this is glowing." The realisation hit him like a ton of bricks. His mind raced, piecing together every moment, every close call, every hint he had missed. The girl he had loved from afar, the girl who had been his friend and confidante, was the same girl who had fought by his side as his partner.

Tikki nodded, her expression serious. "Yes. She's been fighting alongside you all this time. And now she needs you."

Adrien's heart pounded in his chest as he looked down at Marinette with renewed clarity. The weight of his ignorance pressed down on him, but there was no time for regret. "She needs us. We have to save her, Tikki. Tell me what to do."

Tikki hovered closer, placing a comforting paw on Adrien's hand, Plagg arriving a moment later too. A look of sadness coating his features. "First, we need to get her to safety. She needs medical attention, and quickly. She believes in you. And right now, she needs you to believe in yourself too."

Adrien nodded, his determination solidifying. "I can do this."

Calling on his transformation, Adrien coated himself in black, transferring his weight to lift his lady into his arms.

In that moment, he realised just how much she meant to him. She wasn't just a friend, a classmate, or a partner in their battles. She was his everything, the anchor that kept him grounded, the light that guided him through the darkness.

And he couldn't bear the thought of a world without her.

"M'Lady, please," he whispered, his voice breaking. "Open your eyes."

As though responding to his call, she stirred, a pained groan escaping her lips. Her eyes fluttered open, and the sight of her pain-stricken face broke his heart. She looked at him, confusion and relief mingling in her gaze. But he'd never been so grateful in his life, he huffed out a wet laugh, pressing his lips into her hair.

"Kitty?" she murmured weakly.

"I'm here," he said, his voice choked with emotion.

Marinette's eyelids fluttered weakly, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She managed to turn her head slightly, her eyes searching for his. "How... how did you find me?"

He swallowed hard, fighting back another wave of tears. "My Miraculous... it started flashing, like it was guiding me. I didn't know what was happening at first, but then it became clear. It led me to you. It seems our trackers work in dire situations."

Her eyes widened slightly with the realisation. "Our... trackers?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "You-you know who I am?"

"Yes, and I couldn't be happier." Chat Noir nodded, brushing a strand of hair from her face gently. "I think our Miraculous have some kind of connection, especially when one of us is in danger."

A weak smile tugged at Marinette's lips, though it was laced with pain. "I'm... glad you found me," she said, her voice trembling. "I was so scared."

His heart ached at her words. "What happened?"

Tears welled in her eyes. "Lila..."

Chat's blood ran cold. "Lila did this to you?"

Marinette nodded weakly. "She wanted to hurt me..I think, I think she followed me."

The revelation hit him like a punch to the gut. They had always assumed they were safe in their civilian forms, that the Miraculous only held power when they were heroes. But now, that illusion was shattered, and Marinette had paid the price. Lila must be the holder of the Butterfly now.

"I'm so sorry, Marinette," he whispered, cradling her in his arms. "This is all my fault."

She shook her head, her strength fading. "It's not your fault, Chaton. We couldn't have known."

His heart ached as he held her closer, feeling the fragility of her body. He had to get her to safety, to help. But more than that, he needed to protect her, to ensure that Lila could never harm her again.

With a determined resolve, his ring began to glow brighter than ever. He carried Marinette through the darkened streets of Paris, his heart pounding with fear and anger. He wouldn't rest until she was safe, until Lila paid for what she had done.

As he rushed to the hospital, the weight of his responsibility bore down on him. He was no longer just a hero protecting a city; he was Adrien, protecting the girl he loved. And he would stop at nothing to keep her safe, no matter the cost.

In the sterile, too-bright light of the hospital, Chat Noir held Marinette's hand, his own trembling. She was receiving the care she needed, but the emotional wounds ran deep. He could see it in her eyes, the haunted look that spoke of betrayal and pain.

When she finally fell asleep, Chat Noir stayed by her side, his heart heavy with guilt and determination. He would be her shield, her protector. He would find a way to keep their identities safe, to outsmart their enemies.

And he would never let anyone hurt her again.

As the night wore on, he whispered a vow to the girl who had become his world. "I'll always be here, Marinette. Always."