It'd been a week since the incident.

Nino let out a breath, saying "For the last time, Trixx, we can't just go along and attack Hawk Moth!"

"Why not?!" The fox Kwami whined.

"If I lose, he knows where you all are! I can't take that chance, not even if it might cost me! As the guardian of the miraculous, it's my job to protect all of you!" Nino responded.

"Here's a thought, why don't you take a break? You're acting like how you were in our first few weeks, you need sleep!" Duusu said,  getting into his face.

It was true, he didn't look like it, but he was more tired than others thought. He'd barely even spoken with Alya since what happened. He hasn't even realized it, but he's been more snappy, more irritable than usual. It didn't help that his schedule is swamped with schoolwork, working at the bar, and being Furor.

"I know, Duusu, but I can't stop now. Hawk Moth is still out there, and it's my job to find him before he does something to hurt even more people.... It's what I have to do, in order to save everyone."

.

"And he hasn't spoken to you?" Marinette asked, seeing Alya type away on her phone.

"Nope, not a word. I know that he's been shouldering on more than he can handle, if I could just get him to talk to me, then-"

A ding interrupted her, Alya looking hopeful for a moment before seeing it was just another boring old notification from the Ladyblog.

"Why can't we just talk like a normal couple?" Alya whined, wishing that her boyfriend would just speak to her.

*Later that day*

Nino yawned, thanking whatever god out there that he could finally do home and sleep.

"Nino!" Alya called, getting his attention.

"Oh, hey Alya."

"Could we talk for a moment, please?"

Nino shrugged, everyone else leaving. Before long, the two were alone in the classroom.

"So, I noticed that we haven't talked in a while. I just wanted to check up on you, we haven't hung out much ever since Miracle Queen."

"Well, that'll happen when you've become the new guardian of the miraculous." Nino responded, chuckling a little.

"Hey, about that.... I think you should take a break, you've been working nonstop, ever since that day. You can afford to slow down." Alya says, hoping to convince him.

"Alya, I can't."

Right, like Alya of all people is gonna give up that easily.

"Nino, this isn't healthy for you! You're going to shut down at some point, and I won't be able to help you!" Alya tried to reason, raising her voice slightly.

"I won't stop, not until he's finished. Why does everyone keep telling me to take it easy?! I'm the guardian, not anyone else!"

"Nobody wants you to stop doing what you're doing, we just want you to take it slow!"

"Right, because clearly the bad guy's gonna take a vacation! I won't let myself get distracted from my goal!"

"Even if it ends up killing you in the end?! Are you crazy?!"

The two were full on screaming at each other at this point, Marinette, Adrian, Luka, and Chloe standing outside the door, ready to step in if things got too crazy.

"What's going on in there? I can't here anything!" Marinette said, concerned for her friend.

Back inside the room....

"You're being stupid, Nino! Do you want to get caught when you're too exhausted to do anything?!"

"At least I didn't hunt down my friend!"

"Oh yeah?! Well I didn't fall into such a sorry piece of shit when things got rough!"

Alya shoved him, Nino too clouded by his rage.

"AT LEAST WHEN MY PARENTS DIED I DID SOMETHING!"

*SLAP*

Nino froze.

Alya lifted her hand to her cheek, Nino realizing what he just did.

"I see.... So that's how it is." She said slowly, glaring at him.

"Alya, I didn't mean to-"

"You don't want a break? Fine then. But this relationship needs a break. I don't wanna see you until you get your shit together, Lahiffe!"

Alya turned around, tears threatening to spill over. She opened the door to see the four of the other students. She let out a choked sob, pushing past them.

"Alya?!" Marinette called, grabbing Chloe's hand to drag her along.

Luka and Adrian both went into the room, the two glaring at Nino. Nino looked down in shame, not wanting to meet their eyes.

"What is wrong with you?! Slapping Alya, are you out of your goddamn mind?!" Adrian sneered, his friend flinching at the tone.

"That was so, so stupid! Why would you hit your girlfriend?! Are you that desperate to get dumped?!" Luka questioned, wondering where his friends sanity had gone.

Nino didn't respond, opting to let out a frustrated groan.

"I need to tell you both something. You can't tell anyone, and you gotta avoid getting akumatized afterwards...."

*At Nino's apartment*

"This is where you live?" Adrian questioned.

It was a small two bedroom two bathroom apartment. Nino bought it immediately after Master Fu gave up his title as guardian. Nino let out a sigh, nodding.

"I haven't had the time to do much decorating, but if we're gonna do this, you've gotta know the full story." Nino said, having the two sit down.

He had several beanbag chairs lying around, pulling a black and teal one over for Adrian and Luka. He sat down on a purple one, a coffee table sitting in between the three.

"So, what is so important that you dragged us all the way here?" Luka asked, confused.

".... This is why."

He placed down the record player, Nino and Adrian staring at it.

".... Nino, this is-"

Adrian could even finish as Nino stood.

"Duusu, spread my feathers!" He commanded, undergoing his transformation.

The boys stared, still processing the new information.

"YOU'RE FUROR?!"

*Where the girls are*

The ladies were in Marinette's room, Alya chewing on a macaroon, enjoying the comfort food.

"So, now that you're feeling better, what do you want to do?" Marinette asked, wanting to keep Alya happy.

The three girls had talked (and admittedly cried) about Nino and Alya's issues. On a sidenote, they had to stop Chloe from hiring a hit man.

At the question, Alya looked in a mirror, hand reaching up at her hair.

".... How good are you girls at hair?" She asked, already forming a plan.