Mosmordre

     Adrien sat on his windowsill one evening gazing out at the sparkling cityscape of Paris. Ladybug and he were a team—partners who fought side by side for a year trying to protect this city. But something had changed. He had started noticing subtle shifts in her behavior that began to nag at the back of his mind. It all started when Ladybug first recruited someone new into their ranks: Rena Rouge. At first, Adrien brushed it off, chalking it up to the necessity of dealing with stronger and more complex Akumas. After all they needed occasional help.

     But as more temporary wielders joined the fray, Adrien couldn't ignore the growing unease gnawing at him. He began to feel as if he were becoming a secondary character in his own story—a sidekick to Ladybug. He'd catch glimpses of her treating the new recruits with a level of admiration and patience that left him feeling displaced. He thought back to each encounter, each mission where Ladybug subtly positioned herself as the leader, giving orders and instructions while he stood by.

     Late one night, Adrien voiced his thoughts aloud to Plagg. The small Kwami, usually so nonchalant, hovered closer with an uncharacteristic seriousness.

     "Plagg... have you noticed how Ladybug's been treating me lately? She's different. I mean, she's always been the leader, but now... it's like she's treating me as less than everyone else," Adrien murmured, his voice wavering with uncertainty.

     Plagg sighed. "Kid, I've noticed it too. I think it all started when Master Fu lost his memories and handed Ladybug the Miracle Box. She's been taking on a lot more responsibility and it's like... you've been pushed to the sidelines."

     Adrien frowned, staring at Plagg. "You think it's because of that? I mean, maybe it makes sense... Maybe she just feels like she has to take control now that Fu isn't here."

     Plagg floated closer and placed a tiny paw on Adrien's shoulder. "I'm not sure, Adrien, but it's not right for her to push you aside like this. You were supposed to be equals."

     Adrien swallowed the lump forming in his throat, the words 'supposed to be equals' echoing painfully in his mind. Yet, he let it go, convincing himself that it was just the new dynamic they were settling into, but as the weeks went on, more and more temporary heroes were summoned, and Ladybug continued to lean on them for help while Cat Noir was increasingly relegated to the background.

     The breaking point came one day after a particularly tough battle. As Ladybug and the temporary heroes gathered to celebrate their victory, a civilian approached Ladybug and asked, "How does it feel to be such a great leader, Ladybug? Cat Noir makes a good sidekick, doesn't he?"

     Adrien's heart clenched painfully at the word sidekick, and he looked at Ladybug, desperately hoping she'd correct the person. But Ladybug simply smiled and nodded, brushing off the comment as if it were of no importance.

     Adrien felt something shatter inside him. He turned away before anyone could see the tears pricking at his eyes. From that moment on the hurt grew, festering as the people of Paris began to regard him as merely a secondary hero—Ladybug's shadow. The citizens praised Ladybug and her group of temporary wielders, completely forgetting that Cat Noir was supposed to be her equal, her partner, her second-in-command.

     Adrien's heart twisted every time he heard the whispers, every time he noticed Ladybug's subtle yet distancing demeanor. His mental state began to deteriorate. He started questioning his place in her life, in their team. Did she even want him there anymore?

     It wasn't just Ladybug who confused him, either. Marinette, a friend he always saw as sweet yet shy, began to behave strangely around him too. At first he thought her odd behavior was just anxiety, but then he began recalling little details he'd missed before. She was always there whenever he was around and not just by coincidence. The incident at the pool, the wax museum, even his fencing classes—Marinette always seemed to be present. Possessive glances would flit across her face whenever other girls approached him. He remembered people being akumatized during times when he had thought it was his fault, only to now realize that Marinette had been nearby, seemingly triggering the incidents.