[Narrator's POV]

"Mmmnnggghhhh!" Nino groans. "Alya's not answering her phone!"

"It is 9am on a Sunday morning." Wayazz reasons.

"My Alya is an early riser, she would be up by now. What if she got kidnapped?!" Nino stresses. "Nope, that's it. I'm going over to her house."

Nino hops off his bed and changes out of his pyjamas.

"Is this really necessary?" Wayazz questions.

"Yes. I'm worried sick, Wayazz." Nino answers determinedly. "She hasn't called me to tell me about what happened yesterday. What if she is in shock? What if she needs comforting?"

"She's more likely busy blogging about it." Wayazz replies as he settles himself into Nino's bag. "Not to be a pain, but there is no more food in here."

"This is all I have left." Nino says as he puts a small iceberg lettuce into his bag. "You and your vegetables, making me smell like sprouts. Don't you have any tastebuds? You even spend your time drinking leaf water!"

"It's called tea!" Wayazz replies. "And supposedly I'm the one without a palate..."

"Mama! I'm out of kale!" Nino shouts as he slides down the stairs.

"Look at my big boy, finally eating his greens." His mother says affectionately.

"Er, yeah, sure." Nino replies before leaving.

.

Rena Rouge hops from rooftop to rooftop. As soon as she woke up she headed out in the hopes to find Carapace but he is nowhere in sight.

"Well, it is 9am on a Sunday morning." She reasons with a sigh.

Rena Rouge heads back towards her house to see Nino walking in the same direction with his eyes glued to his phone. Rena gasps in alarm as he begins to cross the street with a car speeding round the corner.

"Watch out!" Rena Rouge yells as she jumps down.

She scoops Nino up in her arms bridal style and hops over to safety just before the car whizzes past. Rena Rouge looks down at Nino, eyes filled with concern.

"Are you okay? You should really be more careful." She says softly.

Nino blinks up at Rena Rouge with wide eyes. He is not used to this soothing voice of hers, this gentle kindness, any of this. Her arms wrapped around him feel strangely protective, but he feels...warm. Rena Rouge carefully places Nino on the ground but keeps a hand on his shoulder for support. Her behaviour is completely different from his interactions with her as Carapace.

"Sorry, I should have been looking where I was going..." Nino says, looking down at his phone worriedly. "I was trying to get through to someone."

Rena Rouge smiles at her cute little boyfriend. "Don't sweat it, hot stuff!" She replies with a wink.

Nino shudders, his cheeks turning red. Rena Rouge is flirty now?!!

"I-I-I..." Nino stammers. "I have a girlfriend!!" He blurts, backing up a few steps.

Rena Rouge looks at him in surprise before giggling. "Well, she's a very lucky girl. You make sure you treat her right—and watch where you're walking next time, it'd be a shame to wreck that pretty face of yours."

Rena Rouge gives Nino a little wave before leaping away.

"What...What just happened?" Nino asks weakly, his heart racing.

"I believe Rena Rouge hit on you." Wayazz answers from inside his bag.

"The world is a crazy place..." Nino mutters before continuing on his way.

.

Rena Rouge slips in through her bedroom window. "Trixx, tail in."

Orange light illuminates her room as she transforms back into Alya.

"Tut, tut, Alya; cheating on Carapace like that." Trixx says, shaking her head.

"Nino is my actual boyfriend!" Alya snaps.

"Don't get too foxy, he might fall for Rena Rouge and ditch you." Trixx says slyly.

"Nino is the sweetest guy on earth, he would never cheat on me." Alya replies with a smile.

Trixx rolls her eyes. "Oh please, he's a guy!"

"Alya, Nino's here!" Alya's mother calls from downstairs. "He's coming up!"

"There's berries in my bag, hide in there." Alya tells Trixx.

Trixx zips into Alya's bag just as Nino opens the bedroom door.

"Hey babe!" Nino says. "Hope you don't mind my surprise visit."

"Of course not!" Alya wraps her arms around Nino's neck and gives him a kiss. "Sorry for not answering my phone, I only just woke up. Had a big day yesterday..."

"Oh, what happened?" Nino asks casually.

Nino sits on Alya's bed, with Alya lying in between his legs and resting on his chest. She traces the arms wrapped around her with her finger as she tells him everything that had happened.

"You're saying that they knew your name?" Nino says worriedly. "Alya, that's serious. You should file a police report."

"Carapace was there, surely he'll tell Ladybug about it. I trust Paris's protectors more than it's police department." Alya replies. "I still have no idea who these people are or what they want. I'm not in the mood to get interrogated by policemen who don't have any intentions of actually taking action."

Alya is confident that she can do her own investigations as Rena Rouge but Nino is left even more worried than before. He tightens his arms around Alya and kisses her on the head.

"Just be safe, Alya." Nino says softly as he hugs her. "If you're ever in trouble, call me, okay?"

"I will," Alya replies. "It'll be okay, don't worry. You know that I can handle myself."

"I know...I'm just so scared." Nino whispers.

Carapace's quivering voice ripples through Alya's mind, "I was just...so scared."

Why is she thinking about that now? She is in the arms of her boyfriend, not Carapace.

"I'm sorry that I can't be brave for you." Nino apologises. "I just don't want you to get hurt. There is someone out there trying to hurt you, that's terrifying."

"I know, Nino," Alya hushes softly. "I know...it's okay. Thank you for being here for me."

"Alya! It's time to go!" Alya's father yells.

"Oh shoot, I'm supposed to be visiting my cousins today. I'm so sorry Nino, I wish I could stay with you." Alya clasps Nino's head in her hands and kisses his forehead. "Don't worry about me, okay? I promise I'll be safe."

Nino smiles weakly. "Okay."

Nino and Alya walk out together. She gives him a little wave before splitting off onto her separate path. Nino watches her walk away uneasily. He turns into an alleyway and opens up his bag.

"Wayazz, arm shell."

Green light slices through the shadows of the alleyway as Nino transforms into Carapace. He quickly climbs up a gutter pipe onto the roof where he follows after Alya. He trails closely all the way to her cousins house where he sits and waits for a few hours before she emerges to go back home. Carapace doesn't take his eyes off of Alya once, so he gets a little confused when she turns into an alleyway instead of heading home.

"What's she doing? It's dangerous in here..." Carapace mumbles as he leans closer to peer through the darkness.

"You can come out now!" Alya speaks up.

Carapace flinches in alarm.

"I know you're there, Carapace. Don't think I didn't notice you tailing me all day." Alya continues.

Carapace hesitates for a moment before hopping down in front of Alya.

Alya rests a hand on her hip. "Why are you following me?"

"I...I wanted to be there in case something happened like yesterday..." Carapace admits.

Alya double-blinks. "O-Oh...So you've spent your whole day watching over me?"

Carapace scratches the back of his neck. "Yeah? I had to protect you."

"I guess that's slightly less creepy than what I had in mind." Alya says.

Carapace's face flushes. "W-What kind of person do you think I am?!"

Alya giggles, causing Carapace to stop and stare in awe at her beauty.

"Well, actually I'm glad you're here." Alya says. "I didn't get a chance to properly thank you yesterday. And...I wanted to make sure you're okay."

"What? That's my line." Carapace replies. "I'm the superhero. You're the one that almost got abducted."

"But you were crying—"

"Let's not talk about that." Carapace chuckles nervously as he scratches his head.

"But why—?" Alya starts.

"Nope!" Carapace interrupts. "Look that was a traumatising experience that I would not wish upon anyone. Some emotions surfaced. That's it."

Clearly there is more to this story than Carapace is letting on. Alya will never forget the way it felt to look into his tear-brimmed eyes. But what else besides secrecy can she expect from a superhero...

"Well, whatever." Alya huffs. "I just wanted to thank you. You were actually pretty cool yesterday with your shield—like captain America! You've gotten much better at using it since I first met you and you hit yourself in the face."

Carapace laughs. "I hope that I have grown as a hero and I hope that I keep growing." He says. "Listen, could we...I dunno restart or something? I'm a different person than whatever impression you first got of me. I know you're not easily won over, but...people can change, you know?"

Alya looks at Carapace as if she is undecided.

"Look, that truth is, I'm a huge fan of your blog." Carapace says with a sigh. "Being a new superhero, I just really wanted to impress you, but when I tried to act all cool I ended up looking like a doosh..."

"Really? You like my blog that much?" Alya replies, her eyes sparkling.

"Yeah!" Carapace answers. "You're amazi—Your blog is amazing, I mean! Uh, so, yeah, sorry if I...acted weird and made you uncomfortable or something..."

"Well in that case," Alya says with a smile. "I guess I could allow you to impress me from now on. I may have misjudged you...I'm sorry."

Carapace looks at Alya with a mixture of surprise, relief and happiness.

"But that doesn't excuse you stalking me!" Alya adds quickly. "I can take care of myself thank you very much. A girl needs her privacy!"

"O-Okay, alright, I'll leave." Carapace says as he turns to walk away. "Just...promise me you'll be careful alright?"

Alya smiles. "Don't worry, I've already got my own special sweetheart looking out for me."

Carapace's heart flutters. He smiles and gives Alya a wave before leaving. Alya waits until Carapace is long gone before transforming herself.

"Trixx, tail out!"

Rena Rouge finds Carapace sitting on a rooftop, staring at the Eifel tower.

"Hey there shelly." She greets as she sits down beside him.

Carapace sighs, accepting that this will most likely catch on as his new nickname. "Hey, Rena."

"So, confession time," Rena Rouge says. "I saw you with that blogger girl yesterday."

"What? You were there?" Carapace exclaims. "Why didn't you help me?"

"I only came at the last minute!" Rena Rouge defends. "All I saw was you crying as you embraced this girl and I thought it best not to interrupt."

Carapace frowns. "So you've come to make fun of me. What kind of superhero cries, right?"

"No, not at all!" Rena Rouge says sadly. "I-I know that I haven't been the nicest to you but this time I genuinely want to know if you're okay. You looked pretty shaken, what's the story?"

"There is no story." Carapace answers shortly.

"Do you...care about this girl or something?" Rena presses on.

"I told you I have a girlfriend." Carapace replies, deciding that Rena Rouge is getting uncomfortably close to his secret identity.

"Oh, that's right. So you wouldn't care about that then..." Rena Rouge ponders aloud.

Carapace sighs. "I never said that. Of course I cared! A wonderful, innocent girl almost got taken right before my eyes. Of course I was shaken...it was terrifying. Her life was in my hands, you know?"

He has that same sad look in his eye again...It pains Rena's heart.

"Carapace...I...I'm so sorry, come here."

Rena Rouge pulls Carapace into a hug. He freezes in surprise at first before awkwardly returning her embrace.

"Uh...that's okay. Are you feeling alright, Rena?"

"Yeah, I'm just...sorry." Rena Rouge says softly. She smiles as she pulls away from Carapace. "I-I think I know why you were chosen to be the guardian now."

"And why is that?" Carapace asks slowly, still unsure as to why Rena Rouge is behaving so tenderly.

"Because you're so caring." Rena Rouge answers genuinely. "You care about others so, so much. You wouldn't hesitate to put someone's needs before yours, even if you don't know them. You care about each and every life, and now you can help and protect them all. It only makes sense that you would be chosen to watch over the people who are too busy to take care of themselves."

Warmth rises in Carapace's chest as he listens to Rena's words.

"Wow, Rena...thanks." Carapace frowns slightly as he lowers his eyes. "A-Actually, I'm sorry too. I'm sorry for calling you hot-headed."

Rena Rouge gives a light-hearted laugh. "It's only true!"

"But it's not a bad thing!" Carapace says, looking Rena in the eye. "Honestly I just think you have a really strong character, which I admire. You're courageous and self-righteous and completely undaunted, you're not scared of anything. Sure, you're a little stubborn, but...well, actually you kind of remind me of someone I know who's extremely stubborn but I would follow her anywhere, I completely trust in her, so I don't mind. She has every right to be confident in herself."

"Oh? And who's that?" Rena Rouge asks.

"My girlfriend," Carapace answers, smiling dreamily as he thinks of Alya.

Rena Rouge double-blinks. Upon realising her shock, Carapace turns red from embarrassment. Now that he knows Rena has a flirty side, he feels really flustered getting this close to her.

"Not to compare you to the girl I love, that would be weird!" Carapace says quickly. "B-Because I don't love you, I love her—Very, very much. So, uh, don't think—I-I wasn't flirting or anything, sorry if it came off that way but I have no intention of ever leaving my girlfriend! She means the world to me!"

Rena Rouge cracks into a laugh. "Don't worry, I'm not falling for you any time soon. You sure are a dork when it comes to girls," Rena's giggles die down and she smiles. "But you must love your girlfriend very much. She's a lucky lady."

Carapace smiles nervously. What was he supposed to think with Rena Rouge taking an immediate liking to his alter ego? He just wanted to make sure there are no misunderstandings; Alya is his woman.

Just then, a slow clap starts from behind Carapace and Rena Rouge. They both turn around to see their other teammates, Ladybug and Cat Noir looking like proud parents while Queen Bee applauds.

Ladybug clasps Queen Bee's hands to make her stop clapping. "Why did you interrupt them? They were going so well!"

"That was," Cat Noir sniffs and wipes his eye. "Beautiful you two."

"I can't believe you guys already have your wedding vows all written out." Queen Bee says with a smirk.

"I am a taken man!" Carapace replies in annoyance.

"How long were you three standing there?" Rena Rouge questions.

Ladybug grins giddily. "The whole time!"

Queen Bee pinches Rena Rouge's cheek affectionately. "Rena you little cutey! I had no idea you were so sentimental."

"It's called being nice, you're probably not familiar with it." Rena Rouge retorts as she rubs her cheek.

"Look at us all, like a little family!" Queen Bee smiles and gives Carapace a wink.

Cat Noir smiles approvingly, happy that Chloe has developed so many friendships.

"So, what were you two talking about when you referred to yesterday with Alya?" Ladybug questions. "You said she was in danger, Carapace. Anything I should know about?"

Carapace's smile fades. "Yeah, actually, something quite serious. A group of people tried to kidnap Alya; they knew her name and everything."

"What?" Ladybug gasps. "Who could they be? What do they want?"

"I don't know..." Carapace says with a frown.

"Well that settles it. We need to up our security." Ladybug announces. "Our bond as a team has grown stronger. This is good, it will intimidate the enemy. Can I count on you all to be patrolling the city every second of spare time you have? To make your presence known? We need eyes and ears throughout Paris if we want to find those kidnappers."

"We're with you, Ladybug." Cat Noir says strongly, holding up his fist.

The others nod in agreement. Ladybug smiles determinedly and gives Cat Noir a fist bump.

Over the next week, the five heroes did exactly that. They went out on patrol every chance they got. The people of Paris got to know their new heroes and the new heroes got to know each other; their friendships growing stronger with all their time spent together. It was a fun week...Too fun. The city was quiet and undisturbed. Rena Rouge had no leads for the kidnapping investigation, and no new crime turned up, so there was not much to do except wait. And wait they did...

Until that day.