Of all the Akumas that Ladybug has ever handled, Adultrino was the first case that confused her the most.

"Why would a three-year-old kid wish to become an adult?! Aren't they supposed to aspire something else?" she exclaimed as a laser beam shot just above her head.

"Maybe he was reprimanded by his parents to take an afternoon nap? We don't know," Tikki suggestion buzzed on her earpiece "Besides, he's not the only child that has been akumatized for some ridiculous reasons. Take Gigantitan, for example."

"Goes to show that Papillion is willing to go low and play dirty for the sake of his selfish agenda," the spotted heroine huffed as she ducked for covers. She waited for a few seconds before popping her head out to check the area "Got any updates, Tikki?"

"I received a signal that the Target has been neutralized. The Akuma is now on Green for attack."

Ladybug blew a sigh of relief as she unclipped her yo-yo from the side "Perfect timing. Location?"

"Seven o'clock, three hundred meters. Backups are now ready to be deployed. Would you like me to proceed?"

"Just keep them at bay, Tikki. I think I can manage this alone," she answered while running towards the scene.

"Be careful, Ladybug."

The heroine hurled her yo-yo towards the Akuma to call its attention.

Adultrino was literally a human-sized teddy bear and based on what she observed, it has an ability to transform people into adults; to be more specific, it can add a decade or two to their actual age. She was glad that the police and medics were immediately deployed to clear the area and assist some confused victims, as well as those who were screaming for their parents. That way, she didn't have to mind her surroundings while blasting the Akuma into pieces.

Ladybug was able to tear off one of its laser-shooting limbs but the Akuma wasn't fazed a bit as it regenerated another one. Its big, stuffy body cushioned her punches and blows like a pillow, and with its soft landings, her frustrations only grew enough to drop her stance.

And that vulnerability was hastily used by Adultrino to its advantage.

"Ladybug, watch out!" a frantic voice caught her attention, but before she could respond to it, the Akuma shot its laser beam towards her direction.

Her knee-jerk reaction was to cover herself, but she was standing in an open area with no Lucky Charms at hand, so she huddled to the ground and succumbed to her pending doom.

That doom never came.

Her eyes widened with incredulity when a male figure towered on her as he used his body to shield her from Adultrino's attack. She barely realized that the laser beam has dissipated, leaving a burnt smell and a smoke on its wake.

"Are you alright?" her savior asked.

Hot was pretty much an understatement. He was in his thirties with unruly blond hair, piercing green eyes and a roguish jawline that Ladybug almost swooned if not for the situation. Her bluebell traced the beautiful lines of his neck crevice, down to the luscious shapes of his biceps, and when she reached his bare torso, she screamed.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The man was taken aback when he saw how horrified Ladybug was, especially when he crouched down to check her condition. He flinched when she slapped his arm and shrieked "Don't touch me, you pervert!"

"Pe – Pervert?!" he croaked, but before he could even ask about it, the heroine already scrambled away and left him alone in that open field together with a storming Akuma.

He stood up then gulped nervously when a menacing voice behind him uttered "Magus...I smell Magus...Magus..."

Today was a very shitty day for Adrien.

His father grounded him for his snarky attitude yesterday, so he escaped as usual and went out with Nino and their male classmates to chill, but the Akuma attack caused the group to split up. It was fortunate for him to find a shelter, but after seeing Marinette – no, Ladybug in trouble, he immediately leaped towards the danger to save the love of his life.

Only to backfire on his face disgracefully.

He couldn't believe how his Jagged Stone shirt ripped off from his body when Adultrino's laser beam hit him. His skinny jeans were left in tatters because of his longer toned legs and had to plop a button to breathe because his waistline became broader.

At least his Gabriel boxers were stretchable enough to cover his precious jewels.

The dark bubbles that were frothing on his hands and the gnashing sound of the Akuma brought him back to reality.

"Magus...I smell Magus...a delicious Magus...Magus...I want..." snarled Adultrino as he charged at his way.

Welp, Adrien thought as he ran for his life, I guess losing the effect of my suppressor was the last nail in my coffin.

The blond yelped when a yo-yo string wrapped around his body that yanked him out of the Akuma's sight. He knew it came from Ladybug as he landed to an unknown balcony yet unsure why the spotted heroine was nowhere to be found. While surveying the place, he noticed the black hoodie dangling near the rails with a pink note stuck on its sleeve.

"Please wear this garment to protect yourself from cold and take the suppressor that I placed inside the pocket. Thank you for saving me. Signed, Ladybug," read Adrien as he plucked the paper from the garment then chuckled "That's so Marinette of you, my Lady."

A red light swirled around his body a minute after he took the medicine, restoring not only his destroyed garments but also his physical body to normal.

"Okay," he raked his head with a sigh "Now, how can I get out of here?"

.

.

.

.
"Ladybug, wait up!" the red Kwami shouted as she chased her Chosen who was marching blankly to her quarters "Where do you think you're going?"

"I'm planning to bleach my eyes," was her automatic reply "There was this naked man – "

"A what?!"

"He was naked, Tikki," the spotted heroine shuddered as she wrapped her arms around her body "And I'm so disgusted with myself for ogling at him but he reminded me of Ad..."

Ladybug darted a beady look then scowled indignantly when her Kwami laughed at her demise "You're not supposed to make fun of me!"

"Bu-but I can't help it!" she snorted much to her student's chagrin "You're such a confused little bean who doesn't know if you like the person – "

"There's no 'liking a person' here, Tikki!"

"Oh yeah?" the Kwami cocked a brow with a smug "Then why are imagining Adrien – "

"I'm not imagining him as Adrien!" her student bewailed "Besides, Adrien's not a magus!"

This made Tikki sobered immediately "Wait, you mean..."

"Yeah, the person who saved me has a magus blood. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to douse myself with holy water. I'll be in the briefing room later." Ladybug muttered as she slammed the door shut.

The Kwami was left outside the room and wondered if her Chosen was just in denial or simply an oblivious bug.