The alarm went off once and was immediately crushed by the fist that had previously been hanging off the bed.

The owner of the hand was laying in bed on his back, blanquets kicked off, staring at the ceiling with blank eyes and furrowed eyebrows. He groaned. He did not want to stand up today.

But he had to. For one, there was school.

But he didn't want to.

Couldn't school just cancel for one day? Just let him sleep.

No, it's your own fault- no, it isn't- now you gotta live with it. Just get through the day. Maybe get some sleep during lunch-ah...no...he had that thing he had to do today.

Shit.

Don't tell me you forgot, he berated himself as he rolled out of bed with a dramatic groan and dressed. It's the whole reason you're feeling shitty today.

Mmmh shitty.

He paused and looked outside, as if waiting for something.

Nah. Not yet.

Of course not yet, he grumbled. How much is it going to take.

He swung his backpack over his shoulder, not even bothering to put in his homework or checking if he had all the books for the day.

His papis, who he was sure had some kind of empathy link with him, were perched all over him. They placed their little feet on his skin, trying to tickle him. But he was too tired to laugh.

He hadn't slept this bad since he'd left Amity park and boy was he not used to it anymore.

Danny trudged down the hallway as he mourned his ruined sleep schedule.

His dad was there when he sat down at breakfast. Always the early bird. He was munching happily on his toast.

Danny ignored the greeting that was sent to him and got himself some breakfast. Jack put his toast down and furrowed his eyebrows at the boy.

"What's up, Danny? You know you can talk to me about anything, right?"

The teen didn't even hold back as he rolled his eyes. "Yes." His parents had been acting kinda weird lately. Like they were in on a secret. As if preparing for some surprise party and being very bad at hiding their enthusiasm. Dancing around him like he was simultaneously made of glass or like they were excited teenagers and he was some amazing fireworks that would set off at any moment.

The last week or so they had thankfully kind of went back to normal. Though they would still randomly ask him if he wanted to tell them something. Danny wondered if they knew about the stash of candy he had hidden under his bed for some nice sugar. Speaking of...

His mom frowned when she entered the kitchen. For a moment, Danny assumed it was her morning expression, which she usually had along with some rumpled clothes and messed up hair. However, she was frowning at the can of coke in his hand.

"Danny," she warned.

"What," he challenged her.

"What did we say about surcose in the morning."

"That the perfect time to drink it is always."

She narrowed her eyes and he knew he was testing his limits here. But he forced himself not to care. He was so going to regret this tomorrow, though.

"Throw that away, Danny."

The boy didn't dare look at her. "Why?" He whined. "I'm not gonna throw away some perfectly good coke."

The woman frowned and stood in front of him.

Jack frowned in confusion at his son's attitude. "Danny, listen to your mother," was all he said. Knowing not to meddle too much with a fight between his son and wife. The boy had inherited her iron will and stubbornness.

Danny made another sound of protest and Maddie snapped.

"If you don't listen to me right now you're grounded."

That got his attention. He couldn't afford to stay home today. Not today. He sighed and threw the coke away just when his sister rushed in as she threw a book she had previously been reading in her backpack.

Breakfast was tense.

The mom was angry and frustrated. The father filled the silence in with a conversation with his daughter, who had long ago sensed the heavy air and responded to her father's words with distracted responses.

Danny grumbled and quickly grabbed his things and put on his jaquet and scarf, walking out to the cold morning air. He hadn't wanted to ruin everyone's moods. His mom would probably want to talk later, something he was NOT looking forward to.

Things weren't much better at school.

Danny was grumpy, snappy, had dark circles under his eyes and wasn't making jokes.

Everyone was worried.

And it just made his mood plumet more. He didn't want to worry them. He's probably ruining all kinds of friendships now. They'll never want to be hang out anymore. Or worse, they will, but it'll be tense and weird. It won't be the same.

He knew many things weren't going to be the same after today. And he hated it.

He just hoped it turned out alright. That it's worth it.

He groaned as he buried his head deeper into the backpack that he had resting on the lunch table. He could feel the butterflies restlessly flitting around him. They were scared. They knew something wasn't right.

Someone sat next to him and he raised his head to see Mylene and Juleka.

"Danny," Mylene started. "How are you feeling?"

Danny only gave her a grunt and turned his head away.

Please don't talk to me please don't talk to me.

"We know there's something wrong. You can tell us, you know?" She continued.

"I'm fine." He ground out.

"No, you're not." Nathaniel had entered the conversation. "What happened."

The black haired boy didn't need to look up to know more students had gathered around him and he tensed. Please go away.

"If it's just a bad night sleep, just tell us and we'll let you rest." Adrien chipped in. "But I think there's more."

Suddenly, Danny half stood and slammed his hands on the table. "I'm sorry ok? Maybe I'm not feeling well. Just stay away from me!"

The last one came out harsher than he'd meant and he had to watch the shock and hurt in his friends' faces. The people that had been with him for so long. Helped him through so much. People he was incredibly grateful for. They didn't deserve him snapping at them and doing this to them.

But it was too late.

He felt it coming.

He couldn't help the tears springing form his eyes, knowing what was gonna happen. His friends gasped and reached out to him. He yanked out of their grip and backed up. "I'm so sorry."

It was here.

Danny ran off, leaving his backpack behind. He didn't want them to see this.

But when his butterflies dispersed in a flurry and the akuma merged in with the scarf he knew it was too late.

A mask appeared around his eyes and he froze in his steps.

Hawkmoth seemed a bit incredulous of him and how his Akuma had deviated and flown all the way to Danny. "You must be feeling pretty down, Daniel."

"Just fuck off," Danny grumbled, trying to wipe away the flowing tears. He was hoping Hawkmoth was smart enough to sense an opportunity (or dumb enough to snatch onto the bait) "I'm so tired of you and this freak obsession of yours."

It was quiet for a moment until Hawkmoth spoke again. "If you're this upset about it, if you want to save these people from further suffering, you could help me."

If Danny wasn't as focused and stressed as now he would have realized how Hawkmoth admitted that what he did what ruthless. How there was a pleading undertone under his deal. As if he too wanted this over as soon as possible.

Danny frowned. "What do you mean?" He knew exactly what the other meant.

"Bring me Ladybug's and Chat Noir's miraculouses. And I will stop all of this." Danny was quiet, which gave the man the chance to continue. "You can save these people, your friends. Just give me two things. The superheros won't need it anyways because after I have them, I will stop. I will leave everyone in peace. They will all be safe."

Safe safe safe safe.

The word resounded in Danny. His core yearning for that. To give that to all these innocent people. Safety.

Hawkmoth knew how to get to him.

"You're right," Danny mumbled, unaware of the people around him that were asking him if he was alright and wondering what Danny and Hawkmoth were talking about. "They won't even need them, because everyone will be safe."

"Do we have a deal?"

Danny lifted his head. Finally looking at everyone. Their worried and slightly panicked faces. It felt like a stab to him. He hated having to do this. Absolutely despised it.

A few tears run down his cheeks, making the others panic more.

"Yes, Hawkmoth."

Black goop sprouted from the ground and enveloped him. It didn't feel like he thought it would. All sticky and squishy. No, instead it was cool and smooth. As if he was slowly being dipped in still water. He couldn't feel his legs anymore.

He threw the other students one last look. "I'm sorry."

And he was gone.