Adrien stood in front of the mirror, Chat Noir beside him, as he straightened his cat cufflinks and checked his tie. It had been a week since the showdown at the House of Humphries, and even though Marinette was now safely out of the Dragon's Den, he couldn't help feeling the war wasn't over. They thought Lila was just taking her time to regroup and prepare...and his gut feeling was telling him D-Day would be tonight. She'd want a crowd. She'd want to be in the spotlight, with all eyes on her.

"So, once you're inside with Marinette, I'll find Scarabella and hide in the rafters," Chat Noir said, sitting on the bed and throwing a ball of yarn up and down.

Adrien nodded in understanding. Chat Noir caught the yarn and stood up, making his way to the mirror with an unimpressed expression.

Adrien eyed his counterpart curiously. "What?"

With his lips scrunched, Chat Noir reached out to straighten his tie. "It's going to be okay, you know. We've tested my cataclysm and Alya is crazy talented with the Ladybug Miraculous. She's even managed to change her look so she's almost identical to M'Lady. We're all going to be okay..." They caught each other's eyes in the mirror, and Adrien was sure Chat could read the uncertainty in his mind. "She will be okay."

It didn't take much to realise they were both a lot more worried about Marinette than they were for themselves. As always, they had Marinette's protection at the forefront of their minds. They'd love to say it was just a man madly in love with a beautiful woman, but they knew it was more than that.

It was a warrior on the first line of defence.

A bodyguard protecting his mark.

A knight protecting royalty.

A man making sure the most important thing in his life wasn't hurt.

Yes, she was strong, arguably the strongest out of all of them, but that didn't mean they didn't worry. Especially when Adrien knew he wouldn't be helping.

"I promise," Chat Noir said, "I'll keep our girl safe."

And Adrien felt every single word.

A clacking of heels suddenly sounded through the open door, gaining volume as the sound grew closer and closer to the bedroom. Adrien and Chat looked at each other, one eyebrow raised and their mouths turned up slightly on one side. Their Lady was coming.

Adrien continued checking the fit of his suit as Chat Noir made his way towards the door, grasping the handle and pulling it open.

"For what do we... Woah!"

Chat Noir's sudden gasp was met by the sound of the most sultry giggle he'd ever heard. Turning from the mirror to the door, Adrien almost melted through the floor.

Marinette walked her way in, in such a Ladybug way that he could almost see her in black spots. Or he was seeing black spots and was about to pass out? She looked beyond beautiful, with smoky black eyes, her hair curled and draping over one shoulder, and the most luscious, kissable red lips. Adrien stood in shock as he watched her grab Chat Noir's bell and play with it – just like he had done back in Belfast with her zip.

"What do you think, Kitty?" She lifted onto her toes, the extra push allowing her to meet his height. Her lips skimmed over Chat Noir's and phantomed over Adrien's. He couldn't take his eyes from them as he brushed his fingertips over the soft feeling on his lips. He wasn't slightly surprised his alter ego's emotions were heightened. His own were about to explode in heart-shaped bubbles.

Then she spoke again, her lips practically on his. "Oh dear, what's wrong, Minou? Cat got your tongue?"

"It might have his, but mine is available." Adrien wasn't quite sure what he'd been thinking or why he'd said that out loud, but man he wanted her to leave the kitten and come to the lion.

She lowered from a very shaken Chat Noir and turned her smoky eyes onto Adrien. "Well, looks like the roles have reversed here." She looked back at Chat Noir and placed a quick kiss on his lips before patting him on the chest and making her way to Adrien.

He stood firmly on the spot – confident. One side of his lips twitched as he reached out and grabbed onto her waist, pulling her to his body. Her eyes widened, the Ladybug side morphing into pure Marinette as she stumbled forward and crashed her chest against him.

"I like the red lips," Adrien whispered, leaning forward. His gaze lingered on her crimson mouth, a hunger in his eyes that whispered of an unspoken passion, a desire to savour the essence of her with each stolen glance. He pushed his tongue out slightly, playing around with his swollen lips, before closing the last small distance and kissing her.

He kissed her like he was born to do it. He was.

With an upward lift of his head, he broke the connection between them and opened his eyes. She looked at him with unspoken longing, a silent plea that spoke volumes of the desire she felt for him, creating an intimate connection through the language of a gaze.

In that moment, their lips collided like a tempestuous meeting of fire and ice, an electric current passing between them. Each kiss was a sonnet, an intimate dance of passion, leaving the world behind as they melted into the warmth of shared desire.

"Okay, we get the point," Chat Noir huffed.

Adrien pulled away, throwing a smug look towards his alter ego. "Well, you seemed to get stage fright, and we can't leave a lady waiting, now, can we?"

"I think I need a sit down." Marinette stumbled backwards collapsing onto the bed, her eyes glazed over in a way which Adrien hoped meant he'd blown her fuse.

"Look what you've done now, Numbnuts! It's her debut night and you have to go all King Kong possessive." Chat Noir made his way to kneel in front of their dazed girlfriend as Adrien reached to rub the hair at the nape of his neck.

Sheepishly, Adrien stepped forward too. "Who are you calling an ape?"

"Guys! Seriously, stop! It's fine! Just — woah!" She giggled, causing both guys to look at her and smile.

"Come here." Chat Noir held out a hand, allowing Marinette to slip hers into it and be pulled to her feet.

"How did we get so lucky?" Chat Noir asked, placing a delicate kiss against her cheek.

She smiled up at him. "Well, it helps that you're ridiculously hot!"

"I hope that goes for both of us." Adrien laughed, only for Marinette to glare at him.

"The way you look at yourself in the mirror, you know you're hot."

Chat Noir burst out laughing. "Caught in the act!"

"You can talk. I saw you admiring your ass the other day," Adrien said.

Chat Noir turned around in the mirror and gave it a hearty slap. "You know as well as I do, we've put a lot of time and effort into this."

A soft giggle was heard as Marinette hooked her arms between the two of them. "This could be the end of this today, and I think I'm actually going to miss having you both around. I mean, I know you're the same person, but I've grown used to having you with me all the time, Kitty."

Adrien unravelled his arm, allowing his alter ego to pull her into a hug. It was quite the sight, such a small, yet powerful lady engulfed by his super form. He was so much taller and broader, yet the two fit together effortlessly. Made for each other.

"I'm sure we could think about making this work in the long run...if you wanted to, that is. I mean, Adrien's apartment is ridiculously big for one person. Maybe we could..."

Understanding where Chat Noir was going, Adrien couldn't help but jump in. "You could move in with me." The smirk on his counterpart's masked face encouraged him. "If you want to, of course. It's not like you need to make a decision right now, but I lo— I like you a lot, and think this could work." His voice had gone from certain to uncertain, the high-pitched ending causing Chat Noir to facepalm.

Marinette smiled, her cheeks blossoming in a perfect shade of pink. "How about we put a pin in this and come back to it tonight or tomorrow? Unless the world rewrites itself again, and then we'll discuss it next time we're together."

Not knowing what else to do, Adrien nodded and stretched to the corner of the doorframe to grab his jacket, shrugging it on and giving himself one last glance over. It was time.

*****

The limo joined the queue lining up outside the venue, flashes already going off in preparation of their arrival. Marinette had clung onto Adrien's hand for the majority of the journey. The grasp grew tighter and tighter the closer they got.

"Are you okay?" he asked, twisting in his seat to look at her and noticing the way her bottom lip was being chewed aggressively by her top teeth.

"I think so," she replied, the wobble in her voice clearly indicating that she was lying.

"Listen, just think about the runway, okay? If Lila does decide to attack, the place is littered with Miraculous holders. She won't get away with it."

Marinette unconsciously reached up for her earlobe, playing with her fake Miraculous and stroking her thumb over the top. She missed Tikki; it was obvious. He could only imagine how it would feel not to have Plagg there tormenting him every minute of every day.

"I promise, Chat Noir is ready to rock and he's doing a great job leading the team. He'll make sure nothing happens." It still felt weird to talk about himself in third person. After all, Chat Noir was him. But there was that underlying ache in his heart that he wasn't the one out there fighting.

"I'm not sure if I'm more worried about Lila or the unveiling. I feel like your father's put a lot of effort into me, and if this doesn't work...I don't know what I'll do."

Adrien laughed. "Of course you'd be more worried about a fashion show than an evil villain."

Marinette smiled, rubbing her thumb over his knuckles. "What can I say? I have my priorities in order."

Lifting their hands, he placed a soft kiss to her knuckles before giving her an award-winning smile. "Let's go and introduce you to the world, M'Lady."

The car slowed to a stop before he opened the door. He slid out, straightening his jacket and waving to the crowds. He turned back to look in the limo, offering a hand to Marinette as Gorilla stood on guard. She smiled at him, slipping her hand into his and sliding out onto the sidewalk, only to misplace her heel and tumble forward into his chest. His arms grabbed her, lifting her from the floor and spinning her around, turning her misstep into the ultimate display of affection with his girlfriend.

Laughing, he set her down, taking both her hands in his and pressing a gentle kiss to the back. Her cheeks flushed into a pale pink, only a slight hint of being caught off guard, thanks to Leonardo's make up job tonight. Her hair had been restyled and her dress was undeniably perfect for the red carpet. She was made to be here and he couldn't wait to show her off.

Slotting an arm around her waist, he guided her forward, turning them when he heard his name, making sure the press had the best view of them. After this evening's event, there was no doubt in his mind that the whole of Paris was going to know she was his.

Guiding her over towards an enthusiastic Alya, Adrien took the time to view the scene. He checked around for any sign of Lila before glancing around the rooftops for their artillery. He caught Viperion and Carapace standing guard on one side as Chat Noir crouched hidden on the other. He sent Adrien a nod of reassurance, which was greatly appreciated.

His focus turned back to Marinette just as she was wrapping up her interview with Alya, allowing him to move them on and inside of the building.

"That seemed to go okay," she whispered to him, once again Adrien's attention being split between his girlfriend and the people surrounding them.

A quick look to the left brought Juleka and Rose into view, both catching his eye and delivering a nod. He continued to look around. This time, his father caught his eye and used it as an excuse to make his way over. Damn.

"Adrien," Gabriel greeted, holding out a hand for him to shake. So much for the caring father figure. Where was the hug?

"Father. Nathalie." Adrien stepped forward, pressing a quick kiss to Nathalie's cheek before returning to Marinette's side.

His father gave Marinette a once-over before stepping towards her, Adrien pulling her backwards on instinct and causing her to wobble on her heels.

"Adrien," she hissed, his body struggling to balance them both.

Gabriel frowned, looking at Adrien as though he had gone insane, and to be honest, over the past couple of weeks he'd agree with that diagnosis.

"Mademoiselle Dupain-Cheng, another original this evening, I see." Gabriel's voice was warmer than Adrien had ever heard, Marinette's design talent obviously bringing out something in his father that hadn't been seen since his mother was alive.

Marinette stuttered as she stepped forward and greeted his father with a la bise. "Yes, sir. This is something I made earlier this year."

Gabriel looked her over again, very much like a lion stalking his prey. Adrien didn't like it at all.

"Interesting lines and shapes. A little more on the provocative side than we'd usually produce, but it works, and my son seems to like it," Gabriel concluded.

Adrien almost choked as he gasped for air. What the hell?

"I – um – it's – I –" He coughed, spluttering out the words in an attempt at vocalising his thoughts – thoughts which seemed to have disappeared into the abyss.

"Risque, but in line with the pieces explored in both Milan and at New York Fashion Week," Marinette responded. While he'd sounded like a dying seal, she spoke with confidence and assurance, and he couldn't help but feel an overwhelming pride at her professionalism, something he was clearly lacking at the moment.

His father joined his hands behind his back, his head slightly tilting to the side as he examined her. "True."

The one word popped Adrien like a balloon, a rather large amount of air leaving his mouth and causing Marinette to look at him quizzically.

"Come with me," Gabriel said, directing Marinette out of Adrien's arms. "There are a couple of outfits which need checking. Adrien, stay here and make sure the investors are getting the correct...attention."

Unwillingly, Adrien allowed Marinette to be guided through the crowds, his eyes trailing her as far as he could before she disappeared through the backstage doors.

"She'll be okay." Alya's voice sounded beside him, his eyes reluctant to move from the doorway.

"She's alone," he replied, his voice stern.

Alya sighed, moving around in front of him, causing him to look around her to see what was happening ahead.

"Adrien," Alya demanded his attention. "She's going to be okay."

He would have loved to have believed those words.

His eyes remained firmly on the doorway, when a head of chestnut hair pushed through it. Hair he would recognise anyway.

Moving Alya out of the way, Adrien hurried past the crowds and to the doorway himself, only to be blocked by the security staff standing there.

"Identification," the taller man demanded.

Adrien tapped around his pockets trying to find something – anything – that would let him in. "The name's Adrien Agreste. I'm Gabriel's son."

The shorter man shook his head, crossing his arms over his body as he studied Adrien. "No ID, no entry. This is a closed event."

Yes, it was! But did they not know who he was.

"I must be on the list somewhere. This is my father's event."

The taller man looked down at the clipboard in his hands and Adrien swore he wasn't actually checking it over. "No name, no entry."

Bouncing from one foot to the other, Adrien considered what to do next. He couldn't exactly stampede in there. He'd just be thrown out. But if he didn't get in, there was no telling what Lila could do.

Heading back to Alya, he signalled for her to follow him into the main hall. It was grand, with arches and spotlights everywhere. People were still gathered in the hall, drinking the free champagne, which meant the main hall was empty and quiet.

"She's here," Adrien said.

"Who's here?" Alya asked.

"Lila."

Alya gasped, placing a hand over her mouth. "Where did you see her?"

"Heading backstage. You need to find the others. I don't trust –"

The lights shut off.

In the oppressive darkness, whispers of fear rippled through the crowds gathering in the hallways. The emergency lights flickered unpredictably as they illuminated the walkways, casting a fleeting glimpse of terrified faces. The chatter continued, each and every person unsure of what was lurking in the shadows – until a stage light came on, featuring a silhouette of a woman on a chair.

A woman he would know anywhere.

"Get to Chat Noir now," Adrien hissed to Alya. "It's time."