Marinette’s panicked gasps filled the air, The bombs hidden in Paris could explode, and it’s because of her. Her parents, Alya, what to do?

She never desired the phone, fearing the bad guys would learn its miraculous secrets, and now her world faces irrevocable danger.

Damian’s gentle touch, guiding her with reassuring ease. His stealth mask muffled his voice, yet the sound that emerged was soothing and encouraging.

”Marinette, breathe.”

His words snapped her to attention—they still had a chance: find the hideout, meet Lila, plan how to deal with those bombs.

Goliath’s massive wings created such a loud noise that the rats in the trash-filled alley fled in panic. They landed in a deserted alleyway.

She scrambled from the massive beast’s backs. Marinette’s legs, trembling uncontrollably, shook as she lay on the floor. She really missed being on solid earth.

It’s kinda comforting to be on the ground again after the brief chase in the Parisian skyline.

Marinette trembled, Goliath calmed her panic by gently stroking his fur, eliciting a small laugh from the previously frantic girl.

”Thank you Monsieur Wayne, Goliath, I am okay” As she stands up and wipes her tears that threatened to come down.

Approaching the beast, Damian reached out a hand to pet it.

“Goliath, you must seek immediate shelter and await my signal.”

The red beast is howling, looking agitated. Is he sulking?

“Be assured, Goliath, Maya will meet you later. She is undoubtedly looking forward to seeing you as well.….. You may now go.”

So Lila knows Goliath, huh? That’s some food for thought. She gets all shaky at the idea of Lila or Maya being with Goliath. She’s really not feeling that mental picture. That thought gives her the chills.

With his wings, Goliath flew, obscured by the shadows.

She breathes. “Let’s do this.”

Marinette is familiar with the entrance. They opened the manhole cover revealing a dark, damp smell and the 20-meter drop of the ladder slipping to darkness.

They descend in silence.

She found this old gate on the ground. It was musty and creaky as she opened it.

Observing her surroundings, she noticed the medieval carvings on the walls and the graffiti. The city of love conceals a mysterious underworld below its surface.

”It’s too dark here.”

He used his suit to create a bright torch.

She saw the illumination of his mask.

The eyes are glowing red and there’s an additional red glowing eyehole on the forehead. It totally looks like a cockroach, and she laughed. This guy is into animal themes too.

She asks.

“I find your suit rather fitting, much like a giant cockroach, Monsieur Wayne.”

He stared at her incredulously, shaking his head.

“It’s not designed to be a cockroach. This is a stealth suit. “

She can’t stop at her giggling. She muffled her stifled laugh, seeing the teen looking miffed at her teasing.

“Stop your prattling, Dupain-Cheng; it’s not.”

She, a mouse, and him, a cockroach. Hey it fits. She felt like a mouse. Bonding with Mullo the Kwami, they enjoyed to be here.

Oh, she missed her companion, Mullo, and hoped he was okay with the other Kwamis; but if someone took the Fox Miraculous and the box, the Kwamis were probably in danger.

Don’t panic. Breathe in.

They entered the sewers. Still water dripped into the canals.

“You seem to know this place well. Dupain-Cheng.”

She looked at him. Contemplating to answer his question.

“I end up here when I just want some alone time. Yeah, the world can be overwhelming, right? I’m kind of weird? Alya’s my only friend," she said, scrunching up her face.

“Thanks to your sister for that. “She sigh

seeing the teen would not bite back at her angry retort.

“This is how I unwind when things get crazy. I like it here, the damp. I don’t need to pretend.”

He listens,while they traverse the maze of small corridors.

”I can see the value, the concealment, it me reminds me of home. When my brothers are too much, I gone somewhere like this, deep, secluded. And keep my thoughts occupied.”

“So, you don’t get along with your brothers?” she asked, her curiosity picked in.

He stops.

“The issue isn’t that; it’s that there are three of them, and they’re capable of constant, incessant talking. I’ll only leave when I can no longer tolerate their foolish attitudes.”

She look at him.
”Wow, sounds like a chaotic family, but fun!”

While she wished for siblings, her parents’ busy bakery schedule and close extended family made it less of a concern.

A beep, crackle, the sound of phone call..

Oops, it’s stuck on her bra while she’s trying to get the phone out of her shirt in a panic.

Oh right, she gets it. Her habit of saying “Oui” took over, and she answered the phone. Her voice was heard.

”Dames, oooh, she’s in there? Is it in a bad time?”

Damian grabbed the phone in her hand, as he lift his mask and given her the torch.

”Grayson, what do you want?” He looks miffed.

”You haven’t updated us yet. I called earlier, and a girl answered it. Dames, So she’s the reason you're in Paris, right? I’m so proud, and she's still with you? Dames, don’t tell me you’re sleeping together. It’s already midnight there.”

His brows narrowed, his face red. She felt the heat on her cheeks, Gush, of course, his brother would misunderstand it.

”It’s no time for joke Grayson, Paris is in danger, I need Oracle here.”

A sharp crackle pierced the silence, followed by a choppy, distorted transmission.

”What? I can’t hear you?”

”I’ve told you that anything Miraculous-related won’t go through.”

Knowing this, for a million times they tried to contact the authorities, over France, overseas but to no avail. They were magically shielded.

”Tt. Nevermind.” he groans.

” So, would you introduce her to us?”

Damian looks at her, calculating.

”She’s Marinette Dupain-Cheng, an acquaintance, I’ve met her on the Gala earlier,…… seize your daydreaming, Grayson, we’re not doing anything. That’s only I’m going to give you, and I have things to do.”

A laughter. “Go Dames! Make us proud!”

”No, not like that!” His face full blown red now, as he end the call, cursing his brother.

”Why did you give my name?” She hissed. What a lunatic this guy thinking.

”Sharing your name with them will lead to a background check; there’s a chance they’ll find out about your miraculous business.” he stated.

”OH, that’s neat. Is there magic though? can they even bypass it?”

He didn’t answer, he just smile. And lifted his mask again. She will not get any answer, huh, this infuriating American.

“So, you told them you're meeting a girl in Paris? Is this related to Lila?”

”Yes…… I made an excuse to say that I'll meet up with someone. I did not inform them who's I'm meeting with.”

”Why, you can just tell them your meeting with your other sibling right?”

”They didn’t know about my relationship with Maya; we rarely discussed it, especially with my mother’s family.”

“I get it, so giving my name is a perfect excuse. So, I'm your secret girl or something?” she teases.

He did not reply.

“A flimsy excuse would be simpler than telling them the truth; my paternal relatives can be overbearing. If I give them the impression that I’m meeting a girl, they will stop prying into my personal matters.”

“Are you sure? I think they are even more curious when it comes to helping you find a girlfriend.” She asked, maybe it’s too forward.

“Tsk… I recently experienced a painful breakup….

Are you satisfied?”

”Oh, Sorry.” she smiled sheepishly. Not expecting the Wayne Heir's answer. It was hard to say if she felt pity or relief.

They just met today! Why is she making things so difficult? Is this going to be like the Adrien situation all over again?”

It makes sense, His brothers would give him privacy after that.

”I’m curious, but how did Lila become your sister, and what’s this mission she’s on?” this is the question lingers on her mind since earlier.

He sighed. He did not answer yet, as they continue to traverse the maze.

“Dupain-Cheng, I’m only telling you this because of the harm my sister caused you. In any event that it leaks to the media, I would not hesitate to silence you.”

His voice was steady, firm.

She gulped. “Yes, I promise. This stays between you and me.”

His voice muffled, yet the weight of it lingers as he persists.

”My paternal parent was acquainted with her dad, and she was my Father’s goddaughter; In the ensuing years, her Dad’s attempt to murder my father that compelled me to kill him.

I have no regrets, Dupain-Cheng, as I’ve already said, I’m a villain.”

A chill went right through her. The fact that Lila’s father died trying to kill the Waynes was simply unbearable.

“And doing so, by killing her father, she had tried to kill me, but failed. Our lives had been interconnected. Then, we formed a bond, and she assisted me in making amends.”

She gulped, taking in all the shocking news, feeling a cold dread as her heart started to feel a bit uneasy. He is incredibly dangerous.

”I lived with my mother's for 10 years before dropping to my father. I had no normal upbringing. My actions were inexcusable; from that point forward, I strove to live by my father’s ideals.”

She didn’t anticipate it being that complicated. Lila’s path from assassin to spy led to the destruction of her life. The Isolation, manipulation just to get to Adrien.

She can’t comprehend it; it’s simpler for her to believe she’s entirely the villain.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng, snap out of it and concentrate!

Faint sounds reached them: boots clicking, a struggle in the dark, gunfire, and a scream.

He looked at her, nodding. The Wayne Heir is moving forward and preparing for what’s to come.

“Stay close, Dupain-Cheng.”