Marinette and Adrien bowed together then departed the stage trying to hold back giggles. Hand in hand they disappeared behind the curtain.

"I think we couldn't have done it better!" Adrien remarked proudly, posing out his chest.

"You did great, but you'll be back on soon." Marinette reminded. "Just be prepared."

"I will M'lady." He took both his hands and looked beneath Hey mask, deeply into her eyes. She felt her cheeks heat up. Her fingers Her haha tenderly, standing outside the entrance of the waiting room. "Marinette I-"

"Adrien your on in 3!" Mrs. Geritz screeched like a banshee.

"Oui madame!" He called back.

"Good luck Adrien." Marinette pulled h herself from his grasp and went to leave.

"Wait!" He grabbed her shoulder. She looked at him in surprise. "Marinette every since I met you, my life has been so much easier. You make everything enjoyable, and I want to stay like that forever. When I'm around you.. I feel like... like..."

"I know." Marinette hushed him. "I feel the same way." She simply started. Then slipped through the door into the waiting room leaving Adrien dumbfounded.

He shook himself from his trance, never feeling happier. His smile was so broad you would have mistaken him for the Cheshire Cat. Here quickly turned back to the curtain and waited for his part to come up.

———

Meanwhile large black vans were being loaded with people off the government, asWell as the most powerful of them all. The Handicapper.

Her name was Diana Moon Glampers. She was the one in charge of dumbing down and disabling those who are above average. It is her minions who enforce the handicap laws and create new hindrances for superior beings. She was the Handicapper if France, and any one who broke the law served a life long sentence or execution.

She was the reason people lived in fear behind their masks.

The vans engines rotated to life as they made their way through Paris, to the dance recital. If any one called themselves a party crashed it would be these guys.

As well as the Handicapper general, was a scientist of mechanics and chemistry. He would defuse the bomb.

It took fifteen minutes for them to get to the theater and there was no parking. But her, their the government the can park on the side walk should they wish. They sent some officers out to make sure no one came in as the rest came up with a plan.

———

Word had spread that the army was just pause the building. It was 11:30 Christmas Eve, and the recital was going swimmingly. The crowd was huge but now Marinette didn't care. SheHad moved past that.

Three last balcony scene approached. Marinette and the Nurse were on stage performing a costume change into Juliets "pajamas" but it was really just a black topped dress with a pink skirt. This was the scene Juliet was going on and on about how much she loved Romeo to the nurse who had to suffer through her girlish talk.

Marinette would dance circles around the bed set as the nurse twirled with various props, getting Juliet's room ready for the night. Marinette grabbed the professional ballerina's hands and they danced together. They drew closer and closer to the side of the stage until the murder disappeared through the curtains, leaving Marinette alone.

Marinette took a deep breath and glanced at the cameras, which were focusing on the opposite of the stage were Adrien purposely was stumbling in. Marinette had a hard time with this scene since she didn't Practice it a lot. But the audience didn't have to know that. She elegantly rushed to Adrien's side to "help" him into her bedroom.

"Don't be nervous." Adrien whispered in her ear. He obviously could tell she was scared. Marinette nodded and took another breath. They swiftly turned to both face the audience with their arms outstretched.

Then Marinette bounced away with Adrien chasing her. He scooped her up in his arms and lifted her up in the air like a swan. She raised her arms up and down slowly to fit the melody of the orchestra.

Out of the corner of her eye, Marinette saw some one enter the auditorium. The light from the doors was kind of bright, but Marinette sense that their was way more than one person there.

Abstiens placed her on the floor and she slipped and fell. Her head hit the floor, and she wanted to die in shame. But something stood out to her in the brief seconds she was their.

Ticking.

Adrien helped her up so it screamed like her fall was intentional. They moved around each other in harmony, but Marinette was thinking about it. What could be ticking that loud?

Sure looked up at the doors that were still open, and recognized who the person was. The handicapper general. Marinette only knew this because the woman had been on TV dozens of times. Marinette took a sharp breath, for She feared the woman.

She continued the dance, which was really long. But they were only a minute into it. The doors shut and Marinette realized that many figures had stepped inside.

"Cut the air!" Diana Moon barked.  But the cameras were still on live. She marched down the aisles, looked unlikely at the two performers on stage. This whole dance was going to ruin their mission, and she felt spiteful hated to the two teenagers on stage. It was unexplainable. She raised a finger up to her ear where the radio sat. "Eyes only the it yet?"

Mrs. Cheng was sitting next to the aisle and saw Diana Moon. Instant Siri folded in her. "Excuse me, what is going on?" She whispered which only received a glare from the General. She got know answer from the woman who was walking to the stage.

Marinette and Adrien both saw her. Marinette started getting uneasy.

"Ignore Her Marinette, we haven't done anything wrong." He whispered to her, so soft Marinette barely was able to hear it.

"Adrien Im scared." She actually looked at him this time.

"Don't be." He said back and hoisted her into the air. She made her body into a plank and speed her arms as if she were a flying aircraft.

"Stop playing. And cut the air." The handicapper sais loudly to the orchestra and cameramen of the newscast.

"We can't-" the News manager cut in bravely.

"Do it now because there will be a bloody mess." She hissed back.

"Yes ma'am." The manager said shapely. He signaled them to stop playing and filming.

Instantly the music vanished.., all except for one cello. Diana Moon widened her eyes at the cellist warningly. Instead of stopping, the man stood up. His face stirring into a brave expression of power. He never stopped playing a beautiful tune as hoe stood up.

Marinette speed dancing to watch. Adrien place on her shoulder. "Don't stop. We're still on air." He eyeballed the last cameraman hidden in the balcony. He swept her into a dance they hadn't practiced, but it seemed more natural suddenly.

"Stop playing now." Diana place a hand on her pistol. But the man never stopped. His playing only got a bit sloppier.

"I will not! I am a man who is tired of your rules, I WANT TO LOVE MY OWN LIFE!" He yelled Bravely though his voice quavered.

"You will now!" She shrieked ans pulled out the gun. The man seemed un phased. He looked up at Marinette and Adrien and smiled.

Marinette looked au Adrien. "Adrien please we have to stop!" She stood still.

"Marinette, that handy carpet is only Jets because of a bomb. They deprive its protesters which it might be." Lilles flashed into his mind. He ignored it. "I've always wanted to put that woman in her place, this might be that chance."

Marinette studied his mask then nodded. "Your right."

They listened to the cello and continued dancing, their faces were so close. There are aware of the Handicapper General steppingstones on stage. Rage filled within Marinette.

This was the woman who'd sentenced people to death.

This was the woman who put this mask on her face, who prevented her from seeing who she loved.

This was the woman who weighed her down.

This was the woman who made people dumb.

This was a killer. And a fearful enemy.

But she would no longer be afraid.