The next day Adrien stood on the school steps scanning the crowd, checking each girl he saw for a hickey on the left side of her neck. He'd almost given up when the bell rang. As he turned to go in an explosion rocked the city.

He turned back to scan the skyline when someone crashed into him from behind. His arm shot out and caught the figure that was about to fall past him down the stairs.

He turned to steady her and his eyes met the deep red and purple bruise on the side of her neck. Adrenaline shot through him as he lifted his eyes and met the wide blue eyes of Marinette Depain-Chang.

"Oh! Excuse me!" She gasped. He held her arms tightly as he stared into her eyes. With a smirk he quipped, "Going somewhere, milady?" Her eyes widened at the name Cat Noir always called her. "I, uh, I have to, go." Marinette mumbled.

She pulled away and ran down the steps in the direction of the blast. Her dash toward danger confirmed any lingering doubt. He smiled, waited a beat, then took off after her.