Jazik made his way back to the corner of the square, where Alya stood, holding Manon's hand. He ran a hand through his hair, feigning a slight dishevelment that might explain his sudden absence. He kept his expression carefully neutral, a skill honed from years of hiding his true feelings.
"That was quite the spectacle," Alya said, her eyes bright with excitement, still staring toward the KIDZ+ building. "Did you see that new hero? The one who showed up on the candy-powered scooter?"
Jazik sighed, a quiet, almost theatrical sound. "No, I missed it. I was just, uh, looking for someone to help." He shrugged lightly, as if the whole event was a minor inconvenience. "Was it really that impressive?"
"Impressive?" Alya scoffed, a wide grin spreading across her face. "He was incredible! Ladybug and Cat Noir had Stormy Weather cornered, but the candy hero, Gavv, just swooped in, kicked her across the roof, and then shattered her parasol! Ladybug still purified the akuma, of course, but Gavv definitely stole the show."
Alya gestured with her free hand, animating the scene for him. Jazik nodded slowly, a small, inward smile touching his thoughts. He found her enthusiasm charming.
Marinette joined the group then, her pigtails swaying with a slight bounce that suggested a renewed sense of purpose. Manon, spotting her, launched herself forward, wrapping small arms around Marinette's legs.
"Can I have a lollipop?" Manon asked, her voice bright with childish insistence. "Can I? Can I? Can I?"
Marinette gently detached Manon, a faint blush dusting her cheeks. She smoothed down a stray strand of Manon's hair, her gaze drifting toward Adrien, who was still posing.
"No, Manon," Marinette said softly, her voice holding a practiced patience. "I have something important to do." She turned to Alya, a silent plea in her eyes. "Alya, you will watch her, yeah? I am ready for the photoshoot!"
Vincent, the photographer, spun around, his eyes landing on Manon. He had the intensity of someone who saw the world in apertures and shutter speeds.
"Wait," Vincent exclaimed, his Italian accent thick with sudden inspiration. "Who is that angel?"
…
Vincent gestured enthusiastically, directing Adrien and Manon into various poses. The little girl, thrilled by the attention, struck a dramatic superhero stance, while Adrien, ever the professional, adjusted his smile to match her energy. Cameras flashed. CLICK!CLICK!
"Hohoho!" Vincent exclaimed, his voice ringing across the square. "Stupendous! Magnifico! Perfecto!"
Jazik watched Adrien, his face perfectly composed for the camera, and then glanced at Marinette. She stood stiffly beside Alya, a faint blush creeping across her cheeks, a quiet sigh escaping her lips.
"Ughhh..." Marinette murmured, her shoulders slumping just a little.
Alya patted Marinette's arm reassuringly, a knowing look on her face. Jazik felt a quiet amusement at the scene.
…
A vast, dark chamber, bathed in the sickly purple glow of a stained-glass window. The window depicted a monstrous moth with outstretched wings, its eyes burning with an inner light. Hawk Moth stood before it, his form cloaked in shadows, his hand gripping a cane made of dark, gnarled wood. A faint, almost imperceptible shimmer of purple light flickered across the room, projecting the chaotic scene of Paris onto the wall before him. He saw Ladybug and Cat Noir, small figures against the backdrop of the city, celebrating their victory. His jaw tightened, a hard line beneath the purple mask he wore. Then, a new figure entered his view, a blur of blue and magenta, shattering Stormy Weather's parasol. A strange energy emanated from this new presence, sugary and foreign, completely unlike the Miraculous energy he sought. This unexpected variable, this Kamen Rider, introduced an unwelcome complication into his carefully constructed plans.
The connection to Stormy Weather snapped shut, plunging Hawk Moth's lair into a silence that felt heavier than the shadows themselves. He slammed the base of his cane against the polished floor.
CRACK!
The sharp sound echoed, momentarily breaking the oppressive quiet.
"This changes nothing," Hawk Moth declared, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. "They may send new heroes, but I will send stronger monsters."
He gripped his cane tighter, the knuckles of his hand white beneath his glove. "Paris will drown in despair. No amount of candy armor or lucky charms will save them."
His eyes, cold and determined, fixed on the faint reflection of his own masked face in the dark glass of the window.
"I will have those Miraculouses," he whispered, a promise and a threat interwoven. "And I will crush anyone who stands in my way."
***
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