Between Masks And Worlds
Ch-1
It was a normal morning in the Dupeng-Cheng household.
And a normal morning here meant—
Marinette Dupain-Cheng
Aaaaaaahhhhh!!
A young girl’s scream echoed through the house, followed by loud thuds, clatters, and the sound of things falling from upstairs.
Sabine, Marinette’s mother, sighed and looked at her husband.
Sabin Dupain-Cheng
She’s late again.
Tom nodded, glancing toward the staircase that led to Marinette’s room.
Both parents sighed together and went back to working in the bakery like this was nothing new.
Marinette was hopping around her room in pure panic.
Marinette Dupain-Cheng
Aaahhh! Tikki, where are my socks?!
Tikki flew over calmly and handed them to her.
Tikki—the Ladybug Kwami
Marinette, calm down. You still have five minutes before the bell rings.
Marinette’s eyes widened in horror.
Marinette Dupain-Cheng
WHAT?! Only five minutes?! I’m late—no—super late, Tikki!!
She stretched her socks way more than needed while wearing them, grabbed her bag, and rushed toward the door.
Tikki—the Ladybug Kwami
Marinette, wait!
She froze and turned around.
Marinette Dupain-Cheng
Huh?
Tikki pointed toward the desk.
Tikki—the Ladybug Kwami
You forgot your homework.
Marinette gasped, hopped clumsily to the desk, grabbed the book, and shoved it into her bag.
Marinette Dupain-Cheng
Thanks, Tikki. I don’t know what I’d do without you.
She ran downstairs as Tikki flew into Marinette’s side bag—her usual hiding spot.
The class was quiet as the teacher took attendance.
Nino Lahiffe
Is Marinette gonna come or not?”
Alya Césaire
*whisper*
Of course, Look.
Alya Césaire
*She tilted her head toward the door.*
Sneaking into the classroom.
Tiptoeing. Bending low. Trying very hard not to be noticed.
She was almost at her seat when—
Marinette jumped straight up, nearly knocking over the table. Books and pencils crashed onto the floor.
The whole class turned to look at her.
The teacher had only called her name for attendance—but Marinette thought she was caught.
The teacher stared at her.
A stare that could bury someone alive.
Marinette gulped, about to explain, but—
Teacher
Principal’s office. Now.
Alya and Nino sighed helplessly.
Alya was lecturing Marinette.
Alya Césaire
You seriously need to start waking up on time.
Nino just kept eating, enjoying the drama.
Suddenly, he waved at someone.
Nino Lahiffe
Hey, dude! Come here! Join us!
The person smiled and walked over.
Nino and Alya were sitting side by side, leaving only one empty seat.
Adrien Agreste
How are you guys doing?
Marinette’s brain crashed into itself.
Alya and Nino replied casually.
Alya Césaire
We’re good. What about you?
Nino Lahiffe
We’re good. What about you?
Marinette Dupain-Cheng
💭 OH NO—NO—NO!!!
HE’S SITTING NEXT TO ME.
HE ASKED HOW I’M DOING.
ADRIEN ASKED ME.
WHAT DO I SAY?!
Adrien Agreste
Marinette? Are you okay?
Marinette Dupain-Cheng
Y-YES! YOU’RE FINE—NO—I MEAN—I’M FINE WITH YOU—NO—AAAH—I’M FINE!!
She nearly fell over, striking poses no human should be capable of.
Adrien just smiled and nodded.
They continued eating and chatting.
Everyone except Marinette.
Because her mind was still stuck on one fact—
Adrien Agreste was sitting right next to her.
Ch-2
The rest of the school day passed like it usually did.
Teachers talked.
Students pretended to listen.
Friends whispered, laughed, and argued over absolutely nothing important.
Marinette spent most of her time trying not to look at Adrien—
and failing.
By the final bell, everyone was more than ready to escape.
Alya Césaire
See you tomorrow!
*slinging her bag over her shoulder*
Nino Lahiffe
Try not to get late again.
Marinette Dupain-Cheng
*Groaned*
I make no promises.
They waved goodbye and went their separate ways, each heading back to their own normal lives.
Or… what passed as normal.
Adrien stepped inside his house, the heavy doors closing behind him with a familiar echo.
Nathalie replied, standing nearby with her tablet.
Nathalie Sancœur
Welcome home, Adrien.
Nathalie Sancœur
I hope school went well.
Adrien Agreste
It did.
*he said with a small smile.*
She began listing his schedule for the rest of the day—piano practice, fencing, homework, photoshoot prep.
Then, as always, he asked the question he already knew the answer to.
Adrien Agreste
Will Dad have dinner with me tonight?
Her expression softened, eyes filled with something close to sympathy.
Nathalie Sancœur
I’m afraid not.
*she said gently*
He’s very busy. Maybe another time.
Adrien nodded, though his shoulders drooped slightly.
His eyes drifted toward the large, closed door leading to his father’s study.
Silent.
Unmoving.
Unreachable.
With a quiet sigh, Adrien turned and headed straight to his room.
The moment the door shut, he dropped his bag onto the table and fell backward onto his bed, staring at the ceiling.
Same answer.
Same silence.
Same loneliness.
A flash of black emerged from his pocket.
Plagg floated out, stretching lazily before zooming straight toward his hidden stash.
Plagg—the Cat Noir kwami
Ahhh, my beautiful cheese.
Plagg sighed happily, pulling out a piece of camembert.
Plagg took a bite, then glanced at him sideways.
Plagg—the Cat Noir kwami
You know.
*Plagg said, chewing*
Plagg—the Cat Noir kwami
Kids your age usually go outside. Hang out with friends. Have fun.
Plagg—the Cat Noir kwami
Not wait years for their dad to show up for dinner.
Adrien sighed and sat up.
Adrien Agreste
Kids my age don’t have full schedules planned for them.
Adrien Agreste
And bodyguards following them everywhere.
Plagg paused, looking at him properly this time.
For a moment, there was concern.
Plagg—the Cat Noir kwami
Suit yourself.
*he said, taking another bite*
Plagg—the Cat Noir kwami
More cheese time for me.
Adrien stood up and walked toward the window.
Outside, Paris glowed under the evening sky.
He wondered, not for the first time, what it would feel like to live like a normal kid.
Something streaked across the sky.
Another figure followed it—red, fast, unmistakable.
Adrien Agreste
*whisper*
Ladybug…
Adrien Agreste
*His eyes lit up.*
Plagg.
Slowly, he turned and saw that look on Adrien’s face.
Plagg—the Cat Noir kwami
*groaned*
Oh no.
Plagg—the Cat Noir kwami
Absolutely not. Not again.
Plagg—the Cat Noir kwami
NO.
Plagg—the Cat Noir kwami
I said—!
Plagg’s camembert slipped from his grip and landed on the floor with a soft thud.
Green light burst from the ring, wrapping around Adrien as power surged through him.
Black suit.
Bell ringing.
Mask forming.
The transformation completed in a blink.
Cat Noir stood by the open window, the city reflected in his green eyes.
Behind him, the room remained quiet—unchanged.
Ahead of him, Paris waited.
Out there, he wasn’t a scheduled son or a lonely heir.
With one last glance back, Cat Noir bent his knees and leaped into the night.
The bell at his neck rang softly as he disappeared into the Paris sky—
chasing purpose, movement,
and the hope that tonight might be different.
Ch-3
Screams echoed through the streets of Paris.
People crowded the roads in confusion, heads snapping upward, eyes drawn against their will toward a single point above them. Conversations broke mid-sentence. Movements stuttered, then stopped entirely.
Above the city, a lone figure bounded across rooftops. Each time his boots struck concrete, a pulse of pale light rippled outward—not explosive, not violent, but pulling.
Attention itself bent toward him.
Akumatized villain
LOOK AT ME!
The villain shouted, voice cracking as he threw his arms wide.
Akumatized villain
JUST ONCE—LOOK AT ME!
Below, civilians froze where they stood. Their eyes glazed, faces tilted upward, expressions strained—like invisible strings were tugging at their minds.
They were trapped watching.
As if ignoring him was no longer an option.
Ladybug swung in and landed firmly on the rooftop ahead of him.
She said, calm but sharp.
Ladybug
You’re hurting people.
The villain skidded to a stop.
For a moment, his shoulders sagged—
then he laughed.
Akumatized villain
*He said hoarsely*
Oh… now you see me.
Ladybug
You don’t have to do this. Whatever happened to you—
Akumatized villain
*he snapped*
—You mean whatever made me invisible?
The light around him flickered violently.
Akumatized villain
They talked over me. Walked past me. Treated me like I wasn’t there.
Akumatized villain
So now—no one gets to look away.
Below them, civilians groaned softly, struggling as if trying to tear their gaze free.
Ladybug
*Clenched her fists*
Forcing people to notice you won’t heal what hurt you.
Akumatized villain
Stop talking, Ladybug.
Akumatized villain
I deserve attention—and I will get it. No one can stop me. So hand over your Miraculous… and your attention.
Before ladybug could answer—
???
Did anyone say attention?
A familiar black figure landed beside her.
Without looking at him, Ladybug said.
Ladybug
What took you so long?
Cat Noir straightened, staff resting over his shoulders.
Cat Noir
Oh, that? I was waiting for the perfect dramatic moment.
Ladybug let out a slow breath, shaking her head slightly—half exasperated, half relieved.
Akumatized villain
Oh look who’s here. Paris’s biggest attention seeker.
Cat Noir
*tilted his head*
Oh really? Then you’re already losing to me.
Ladybug
*sighed*
Cat Noir. Focus.
Cat Noir
Right.
*stepping forward.*
Before either of them could move, the villain hurled a blast of pale light toward them.
Ladybug and Cat Noir leapt in opposite directions, barely dodging the attack.
Ladybug landed smoothly and nodded.
Ladybug
Yes. He’s controlling attention. People can’t look away.
Cat Noir’s expression hardened.
The villain slammed his foot down. Another wave of light surged outward.
Akumatized villain
*Screamed*
No more being ignored!
Akumatized villain
Everyone watches me!
Cat Noir planted his staff into the ground, steadying himself.
Cat Noir
*firmly said*
You know, being seen only matters when it’s real.
The villain faltered—just for a second.
Ladybug moved, swinging in—
But he twisted away, panic flashing across his face.
Akumatized villain
*Yelled*
Don’t turn away! Don’t stop looking!
Ladybug landed hard, ready to strike again—
The scream tore through the air.
Ladybug
*her breathed hitched*
Cat Noir…
Two figures were plummeting from the sky.
The villain saw his chance and lunged toward her, power flaring wildly.
Cat Noir
Ladybug—WATCH OUT!
He threw himself between them, blocking the attack with his staff and forcing the villain back.
Before she could think, her body moved on instinct.
She sprinted toward the edge of the rooftop and leapt—without looking down. For a split second, she was weightless, the city rushing up beneath her as the wind tore past her ears.
The yo-yo snapped free, streaking upward in a sharp red arc. It spun fast, catching the falling figures mid-air. The line went taut with a violent jolt, yanking her forward.
Ladybug swung wide, her body twisting with the force, then pulled hard—redirecting their fall. She slammed onto a nearby rooftop, rolling once, twice, before skidding to a stop on one knee.
Cat Noir joined her seconds later.
On the rooftop lay a small girl with soft pink hair, eyes wide with terror—
And beside her, a large, white, fluffy dog, massive and solid, curled protectively around her like a living shield.
The dog growled low—not aggressive, just alert.
The girl clutched his fur, trembling.
Ladybug
Hey—hey. You’re safe now.
Cat Noir looked up at the sky, then back at them.
Cat Noir
…Okay, Important question.
Cat Noir
How did they fall from the sky?
The dog pressed closer to the girl, letting out a soft, uneasy whine.
Far behind them, across the rooftops, the akumatized villain laughed again—
Completely unaware that something far beyond his need for attention
had just entered their world.
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