Nino struggled against the ropes that kept him bonded to the chair. He was at the Kidz+ TV building, where the Peacock girl planned to broadcast in order to get Ladybug and Chat Noir's attention.

His mom, no, Assaultress caught him trying to text for help. She had told him he didn't need protection from his own mother. Assaultress's obsessive desire to protect him reminded Nino of a PTSD victim, forcibly protecting their children from an imaginary foe. But really, in this case, the only thing that was a danger to Nino was Assaultress. But she refused to see it, refused to believe she actually terrified her own son.

Nino stopped struggling when he heard the door to the studio he was tied up in open.

"Nino, darling, I've returned!" Assaultress called out. "And I've brought you some company!" She threw Volpina's limp, unresponsive form at Nino's feet.

"A- Volpina!" Nino cried, stopping himself from saying Volpina's real name.

"Assaultress, what have you done to her?!" Nino asked, raw desperation leaking through his words.

"Call me mom, dear." Assaultress chided. "And all I did was give her insight."

"Insight? Of what?"

"A vision." Assaultress grinned. "Of the one she loves most hurting her."

Nino was horrified. Alya really cared about him... And if Assaultress wasn't lying... And looking down at her wide-eyed, unblinking, unmoving form, he felt helpless to save her. He wasn't a superhero. What could he do?

"Assaultress, please stop all this." Nino begged, tearing his gaze from Volpina.

Assaultress let out an exasperated sigh. "Nino, how many times have I told you to call me mom?"

"No." Nino swallowed hard. "I won't call you my mom. You lost that title when you started hurting people. You're not my mom anymore, you've become a monster. You're Assaultress now."

Nino's words hurt her more than her husband's abuse ever could. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

Steel Peacock, who had been hiding in the scaffolding for the stage lights, growled in frustration and pressed the gem on her Miraculous.

"We're losing her, Hawkmoth! Step in, or I will!" She hissed, but there was no answer.

"Must I do everything myself?!" Steel Peacock growled and jumped down from the scaffolding.

"Assaultress, stop this. All he's doing is manipulating and guilt-tripping you! All he is, an ungrateful little brat who's caused you nothing but trouble and grief. If it weren't for him, you could've left years ago! Why should you listen to a word coming out of his mouth?" Steel Peacock spoke as manipulatively as Hawkmoth when he was Akumatizing others. "Remember: who is the adult here?"

Assaultress nodded to Steel Peacock. "You're right." She turned back to Nino. "I'd hold your tongue, if you don't want me to rip it from your mouth." She snarled, her previous remorse forgotten.

Nino clamped his mouth shut. He didn't believe Assaultress's threats were empty.

Assaultress grinned at her son's fear with a dark glint in her eyes, and then she turned around to speak with Steel Peacock.

The jewel on Steel Peacock's miraculous faintly glowed, and Steel Peacock cleared her throat. "Excuse me." She stepped away from Assaultress and pressed the jewel.

"Fabulous timing, ane." Steel Peacock emphasized on that last insult. "Where were you two minutes ago?"

"I was testing you." Hawkmoth disregarded her remark. "You did quite well to regain our control on Assaultress."

Steel Peacock blinked in surprise. "Thank you, Hawkmoth." She pressed the jewel again, ending their exchange. She walked back to Assaultress. "Where were we?"

Nino searched around desperately for a means of escape when he heard a small buzzing noise. He swiveled his head around, trying to see what the noise was and where it was coming from, when he saw a bee had landed on his lap.

He almost jumped, but then remembered Alya's text. She was right about the bee... But what did it even mean?

Then the bee flew off of him and lazily flew upwards. Nino's gaze followed the striped bug until he notice what it was flying towards.

It was the silhouette of three lithe figures hiding in the scaffolding for the stage lights. When Nino noticed a pair of bright green cat-eyes, he immediately knew the figures were Ladybug, Chat Noir, and one other girl Nino didn't recognize.

Nino tried to shift his chair so that Volpina was visible to them, but Assaultress heard him. She whipped her head around and stormed towards her son.

"What are you doing?!" She snarled, grabbing the collar of his shirt and pulling his face towards her.

"The...ropes hurt." Nino scrounged for an excuse she'd believe.

"Ugh! How pathetic." Assaultress let go of his collar and marched back to Steel Peacock.

Nino was relieved Assaultress believed his excuse, but he had more important things to worry about. He saw that his chair was a few meters away from Volpina, and Nino gestured wildly with his foot towards her.

Then, Ladybug, Chat Noir, and the other girl dropped down from the scaffolding.

"We'll hold off Assaultress and Steel Peacock." Chat Noir called out. "Queen Bee, go get Nino and Volpina out of here!"

"On it, Chat Noir!" Queen Bee ran towards them.

She ripped through the ropes that tied Nino to the chair and helped him stand up.

Nino brushed himself off and looked at Queen Bee. "Thanks." Then he remembered Alya. "Volpina!" He ran up to her, with Queen Bee following close behind. Nino fell to his knees and pulled her closer to his chest.

Queen Bee looked to the battle between Ladybug, Chat Noir, Steel Peacock, and Assaultress. "Guys, something's wrong with Volpina!"

"Of course there is! I made her like that!" Assaultress hissed. "She's having visions of the one she loves most hurting her! And the only thing that could save her is a kiss from her love!"

Steel Peacock growled in frustration. "Stop monologuing!"

"But that's the best part! These heroes know practically nothing about each other! They can't save her!" Assaultress let out a fit of maniacal laughter.

Nino looked at Volpina's distant, blank expression. Ladybug, Chat Noir, or Queen Bee couldn't save her... But perhaps he could. Nino looked up to see that the three were completely focused on the battle. He picked up and carried Volpina's limp body out of the broadcast room and ran towards the nearest room he saw.

As it turned out, it was a costume design room/changing room. At least there probably wouldn't be any cameras. Nino placed Volpina down on the soft carpet.

He knew he had to kiss her, but he was still nervous. She hadn't given him permission or consent, but how else could he help her?

As if on cue, the building rumbled. Nino looked back to Volpina. He had to do this.

Nino leaned down and kissed Volpina.

After a second, Volpina's eyes shut as she returned his kiss, melting into it.

After a minute, Nino broke away from the kiss. "Alya! You're okay!" He pulled her into a hug.

Volpina was surprised by the hug at first, but she returned that gesture as well. "Yeah, I'm okay now." She pulled away from the hug and smiled at Nino.

"I'm glad." Nino grinned, but the grin faded as the building rumbled again. "Oh man, I almost forgot about those guys. Ladybug, Chat Noir, and... I think Queen Bee are still battling Steel Peacock and-" Nino choked on his words. "Assaultress." He paused. "Knowing her, the Akuma's probably in her wedding ring."

Volpina placed a hand on his shoulder. "Nino, are you gonna be okay?"

Nino rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Yeah, I mean, I'll hide out here, and-"

"Nino." Volpina interrupted him softly. "Are you going to be okay?"

Nino shut his eyes. "I don't know yet." His voice broke. "It's all really complicated."

Volpina placed her other hand on Nino's other shoulder. "Can we talk after?"

Nino nodded mutely.

She rested a hand on one side of Nino's face. "Promise me."

Nino opened his eyes and let the tears slip out and roll down his cheeks. "I promise, Alya."

Volpina leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on Nino's lips. "I'll see you when this is over, mon Chèri."

Volpina gently pulled away from Nino and ran back to the battle.

Nino stared after her, a smile forming on his lips. "See you there, ma Belle."