Beyond the Mask | Miraculous

vi. chapter 6

The rest of the week moved along smoothly. Marinette was happily establishing herself into all her classes, eagerly trying to make new friends. However, Monday had dawned again, meaning Marinette and Adrien found themselves side by side, their attention focused on the front of the room where their professor stood with a smile.

"Good morning, everybody." Mme. Laroche began, her voice projecting with warmth. "I usually don't start off this early with a partnered project, however, in the fashion industry, you need to be able to work alongside others."

Marinette exchanged a quick glance with Adrien, their eyes meeting briefly before returning their attention to the front.

"For your first project, you will be working in pairs to create a collaborative fashion design that reflects both of your unique perspectives." Mme. Laroche continued. "Your partner is the person next to you. Think of this as an icebreaker to get to know each other."

Marinette silently gasped. "I'm working with Adrien?" She thought to herself. Suddenly, her mind whirred with ideas. She had always admired Adrien's ideas anyway, and the thought of collaborating with him sparked a sense of excitement she couldn't deny.

Adrien's thoughts mirrored Marinette's. He was intrigued. Despite his modeling career, he had never been deeply involved in the design process, so to be collaborating with Marinette, whom he has before, Adrien knew this was going to be interesting.

Mme. Laroche concluded her explanation of the project, leaving Marinette and Adrien with a clear understanding of their task.

"So, let's put some of our ideas on the table." Marinette began, taking charge. This was her element. "This needs to be something that reflects both of our perspectives- Maybe we can do something cultural based?"

Adrien's eyes widened before nodding in agreement. "Yeah, I like that idea, Marinette! We can find some way to incorporate your heritage from Shanghai with my heritage from- well, here."

Marinette subtly blushed, impressed that Adrien remembered where she was from. She thought back, recalling the time they spent together in Shanghai when they were kids. "But how can we build off that?" Marinette added.

Adrien thought for a moment, drumming his fingertips on the tabletop. "Maybe we could do something that supports something important to us? Like world peace, poverty, or-"

"Hamsters!"

"Huh?"

"I don't know! I thought of hamsters!" Marinette said with a giggle.

"Well uh, yeah, let's keep brainstorming that." Adrien added, scratching at the back of his neck with an awkward smile. The remainer of class seemed to fly by quickly, and as the end neared, the two said their happy goodbyes and parted.

- - -

Outside the classroom, the sun bathed the university campus in a warm glow. Marinette decided to take a walk through the courtyard to clear her mind, as well as brainstorm ideas for her project with Adrien. "Oh Tikki! Why would I say hamsters? We were having a real conversation about work and I just- Gahh!"

Suddenly, the ground beneath her trembled, and Marinette stumbled as the world around her shifted. Students nearby cried out in alarm, their faces contorting as if time itself was being rewritten.

It didn't take Marinette long to realize what was happening. She looked around for a place to transform, but she was completely out in the open with nowhere to hide. "Oh no, Tikki, what do I do?"

A menacing figure in a clock themed suit, who had already made his name known as Timewrather, stood nearby within the courtyard, cackling wickedly. It appeared he had the power to rewind the ages of anyone he touched.

Marinette was trapped, unable to transform and protect her peers. Her heart raced as she watched her fellow students fall victim to the akumatized villain's powers, growing younger with each touch.

Just as Timewrather extended his hand toward her, a flash of movement caught her eye. A black and green streak raced across the courtyard, and before she could react, a familiar voice shouted, "Look out!"

Suddenly, Marinette found herself lifted off her feet and carried to safety by none other than Chat Noir. He landed gracefully in a nearby alleyway, his green eyes filled with concern.

"Are you okay, Marinette?" he asked, setting her down gently.

Marinette's heart pounded as she caught her breath. "Yes, thank you, Chat Noir."

He grinned, his playful nature shining through. "Just doing my duty as your friendly neighborhood kitty."

Before she could respond, Chat Noir leaped back into the chaos to confront Timewrather. Marinette watched in awe as Chat Noir engaged in a dance of agility and speed with the akumatized villain. Their movements were coordinated and precise.

As Timewrather attempted to rewind Chat Noir's age, the hero closely avoided the attack, his agile movements a blur.

Marinette shook her head, snapping out of it. "Tikki, spots on!" She quickly transformed into Ladybug and joined the battle. With Chat Noir by her side, they formed an unbeatable team.

They continued to deflect Timewrather's attacks, playing off each other's strengths and devising a strategy to outsmart the villain. Ladybug used her Lucky Charm, receiving a toy wind-up key. Confused at first, she realized its purpose when she saw Timewrather's pocket watch.

With Chat Noir's distraction, Ladybug managed to stop the villain's watch with the key, causing Timewrather to freeze. It was perfect for Chat Noir to use his Cataclysm to destroy the watch, effectively ending Timewrather's reign.

As the akuma fluttered away, Ladybug used her Miraculous Ladybug charm to fix the damage caused by the villain's rewind, returning everything to normal.

Once the city was safe, Ladybug returned to her hiding spot and detransformed back into Marinette. She watched Chat Noir from a distance, appreciation for him growing in her heart.

Within seconds, Chat Noir appeared, his green eyes filled with concern. "Marinette! Are you alright?"

She smiled, touched by his care. "I'm fine, thanks to you."

Chat smiled his playful grin. "Well, I have to admit, it would have been so cute to see what you would have looked like when you were younger. But not enough that I'd want you to disappear."

Marinette chuckled in return. "Aw, thanks kitty. I appreciate the kindness." She replied sarcastically.

Suddenly, a familiar beeping sound begins to come from Chat Noir's ring. He offers Marinette a final goodbye before vanishing into the distance.

The walk from the alleyway to the campus is not too far away, and Marinette was grateful to have that little time alone to think and talk to Tikki.

"Chat Noir seems much more pleasant to you in your civilian form." The pink kwami joked.

"I think that's because he's in love with Ladybug. In my civilian form I'm-" she pauses to take a heavy sigh.

"I'm just another person to save."