Chapter Text
Well, not exactly froze, more like someone had dumped the world into a vat of invisible molasses. The air felt thick, heavy, like I was trying to breathe underwater. Colors seemed brighter, sharper, like someone had cranked up the contrast on reality. Even the sounds around me stretched out weird and distorted, car horns in the distance turning into long, drawn-out moans.
I glanced around. Everything hand gone all Matrix-style slow-motion. The gang's movements slowed to a crawl, their sneers frozen in time. Even a pigeon nearby hung suspended, its wings barely moving as it hung there in mid-air like someone had hit pause on reality.
Before I could process what was happening, it felt like someone had flipped a switch in my brain. A glowing purple light appeared around both our eyes like a mask, (mine and the kids). It was shaped like a butterfly and hovering in front of our faces. Think sci-fi movie special effects, but in real life.
And then BAM!
I was getting a front-row seat to everything the kid was experiencing. The rough wall behind him, his heart doing the macarena in his chest, those jerks looming over him like cartoon villains. It was incredible, every sensation, every thought, every trembling breath, I could perceive it all as if I was standing in his shoes. The connection felt like a live wire, buzzing with energy and emotions that weren't mine but somehow were.
Whoa. I thought as I took it all in.
Then I remembered why I was here. I couldn't get distracted. it was time to be a hero.
"Hello there," I said, trying to speak through the connection, dropping my voice about three octaves lower than natural. "Don't be afraid," I continued, trying to sound confident while probably coming across about as intimidating as a nervous chihuahua. "I'm here to help you."
"W-what's going on?" the kid asked, sounding about as freaked out as I felt. "Who are you?"
"Me? I'm a hero," I announced as boldy as I could.
"You're...a hero?" The kid sounded skeptical.
"Yes! I'm..." I was about to announce my hero name when I realized something very, very important, I still hadn't thought of one yet.
Perfect Max. Just perfect.
"I'm... uh..." I scrambled for a name, but my brain had apparently decided this would be a perfect time to go on vacation.
"Wait, you don't have a name?"
I felt my face go hot enough to fry an egg. "I'm new at this, okay?"
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I nearly jumped out of my skin when a wing turned black. "Four minutes," I muttered, trying to keep my superhero cool. Guess that means time still moved for them, not fair.
"Look, my name's not important right now. What matters is that I want to help you. I can give you the power to stand up to these jerks and protect yourself. Do you accept?"
"You can really help me?" the kid asked, hope creeping into his voice. "Give me power?"
"Yes," I confirmed. "But I need to know if you accept."
I felt the exact moment the kid's fear transformed into determination, like watching a frightened rabbit suddenly turn into a lion. His entire emotional signature shifted from cold terror to burning resolve. "Yes," he said, voice steady for the first time. "Please, help me!"
Well, that was easier then I thought it would be.
"Then rise..." Great, more improvising. "...Titan!" I declared, blurting out the first name that came to mind hoping it sounded better out loud than in my head. How did Hawk Moth make this naming thing look so easy?
"I grant you the power of immense strength and invulnerability. With this power, you can protect yourself from harm. Show these thugs what true strength looks like!"
"Yeah, let's do this!"
Dark-purple ether emerged from his watch and swirled around him like smoke, and I tried to envision what he should look like as a hero. Someone strong and imposing.
Sadly, I didn't know anyone like that, so I envisioned myself if I were in his place.
As the ether cleared and time snapped back to normal, the kid had transformed completely. He was tall, muscular, and instead of his original t-shirt and jeans, he had on a purple and silver suit, complete with a fancy "T" logo and a domino mask.
I stood in awe, feeling my jaw drop in amazement. He looked like he'd stepped straight out of a comic book, but with his own unique style a perfect blend of my superhero vision and his own identity. It seemed that the Kamiko took my mental design and ran with it, making subtle tweaks here and there. Where I'd pictured hard edges, the suit gained smoother lines. The darker purple I'd imagined lightened a few shades, and silver accents appeared in places I hadn't even considered. It was like the magic was adapting my vision to better match the kid's personality, less brooding avenger, more determined protector.
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"Three minutes left," I thought, feeling like I was on some weird superhero game show with a countdown timer. But I couldn't help grinning, it worked! I'd actually successfully Kamikotized someone!
The bullies stumbled back as they found themselves facing not a scared kid, but a tall, muscular figure that looked like he'd could step on their bones like sticks.
"What the hell?"
"What just happened?"
"Is this some kind of magic trick?"
"What's wrong, guys?" Titan growled, sounding like he'd been gargling gravel. "Not so tough now, are you?"
Okay, weird. I didn't think he would sound like that.
They tried to run, but Titan wasn't having it. The bullies barely made it three steps before he slammed his fist into the ground. The impact sent shockwaves through the alley, cracking the concrete like an egg and sending the bullies tumbling, and me stumbling. Chunks of pavement flew everywhere as a spider web of cracks spread across the ground. I had to admit, it was pretty impressive, in a terrifying sort of way.
"Holy shit!"
"What the hell is he?!"
The bullies scrambled to their feet, but Titan was already moving. He launched himself into the air like a purple-and-silver missile, flipping over their heads in a move that would've made an Olympic gymnast jealous. When he landed, the impact left small craters where his feet hit the ground. The bullies' faces went from scared to full-on panic mode as they realized they were trapped.
This was starting to get a little concerning, so I decided to try and stop Titan before he did something he would regret. The light mask returned as I spoke through the link. "Okay, great job, kid!" I tried to sound happy and proud, like he hit a home run and won his team the game. "You've scared them. That should do it. Now I can get back to looking for-!"
"No, I'm not done yet."
...Wait what?
Did he just refuse to give up the power? My stomach dropped like I'd just stepped off a cliff. This wasn't how it was supposed to go!
"Wait, what do you mean?" I asked, trying to sound calm while internally freaking out. "They're terrified. That was the point, right? You can stop now, they won't bother you again."
Titan stalked toward the bullies like something out of a horror movie, making them scramble back against the wall.
"They need to pay for what they did to me," he growled, his voice cold and angry. "Scaring them isn't enough. They'll just do it again to someone else."
"Hey, hold on!" I yelped, my stomach doing backflips. He was sounding less like a superhero and more like a supervillain with each word. "I gave you powers to protect yourself, not hurt people!"
"I don't care," Titan replied, stomping over to a nearby dumpster. "I'm going to make sure they never hurt anyone again." He grabbed the dumpster like it was made of cardboard and lifted it over his head.
"No, stop!" I shouted, wondering if this was how Ladybug felt when one of her plans went sideways. "Put it down! The power was to scare them away, not to hurt them!"
But Titan had other ideas. With a roar that seemed to shake the entire alley, he hurled the dumpster at the bullies. They scattered like bowling pins as it crashed where they'd been standing. "GET BACK HERE!" he screamed, charging after them.
I followed after him trying to keep up with the chaos below as they raced down the alley. My heart was pounding; this wasn't supposed to happen!
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"No, no, no," I muttered, watching in horror as Titan burst onto the street. He was like a purple wrecking ball, shoving empty parked cars out of his way like toys.
An elderly woman who'd been walking her dog got caught in the chaos. Thankfully Titan just brushed past her, but she still went sprawling. Her terrified yelp made my stomach turn as I watched the disaster unfold. I had to fix this, and fast.
But how? Nooroo never covered the 'What To Do When Your Superpowered Person Goes Rogue' chapter of Hero 101.' At least there weren't any moving cars on the street, small mercies, I guess. The last thing I needed was Titan playing dodgeball with occupied vehicles.
I tried to think back to what went wrong. The transformation had worked perfectly, right? Maybe too perfectly. The powers were exactly what I'd imagined, but something about the way Titan was using them felt...wrong. Dark. Like watching someone play a hero game with all the evil choices selected.
That's when it clicked.
"Oh no," I whispered, the truth finally sinking in. "I didn't Kamikotize him...I Akumatized him."
I'd been so focused on helping that I'd completely missed the obvious, the kid was terrified and angry, and instead of trying to calm him down or channel something positive, I'd basically handed a loaded gun to someone having the worst day of their life.
I was snapped out of my thoughts by a fearful yell. I looked back down and gasped. Titan had cornered the bullies at the end of the street, and they were trying to flee down another alley. With a roar that shook the windows, he grabbed a nearby sedan and hurled it into their escape route, metal screaming as it crashed onto its side. The bullies pressed themselves against the wall, all tough-guy act completely gone.
"Please, we're sorry!"
"We'll never do it again, we swear!"
"Just let us go!"
But Titan wasn't listening. He grabbed another car, lifting it over his head like the world's deadliest umbrella. I kept screaming through our connection, "They apologized! You won! Please stop!"
But he was too far gone in his rage to hear me.
He reared back with the intent to crush, and I screamed with everything I had.
"STOP!"
Titan stumbled backward like he'd been hit with a taser, the car crashing behind him. He clutched his head, grunting in pain. I stared at my hand like it had just sprouted wings. Did I do that? How?
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I didn't have time to think, I had to act now!
"Um, powers... go away?" I tried, waving my hand like a confused magician. Nothing happened.
"No, wait...Butterfly, come back?"
Still nothing. Titan stopped clutching his head.
"Kamiko come back?! Miraculous, deactivate!?"
I was grasping at straws like a drowning person as Titan reached for the car again. I put every ounce of will into myself and reached out one more time. "I'm taking back my gift! Stop this NOW!"
This time it worked. The Kamiko emerged from the watch and shot into the sky, transforming back into a normal butterfly as it fluttered away. Dark-purple ether swirled around Titan like a reverse tornado, and I watched him shrink back to normal size, the fancy costume dissolving until just a confused kid remained.
He was back to normal, looking like he'd just woken up from the weirdest dream ever. He grabbed his head, wincing. "What...what happened?" he asked in confusion, "What was I…?" His voice trailed off as his eyes landed on the bullies, who were staring at him like he'd grown a second head.
"Let's get out of here!"
Instantly, they all ran off. The kid didn't stick around either, probably realizing that standing next to an overturned car and destroyed street wasn't the best idea and booked it in the opposite direction.
I looked at the devastation Titan's rampage had left behind, and my heart almost stop. The alley where it all started looked like someone had taken a jackhammer to it, concrete cracked and splintered like broken glass. The path he'd taken chasing the bullies was like following the trail of a miniature natural disaster, crushed trash cans, dented cars, broken windows. It was like watching the aftermath of a grenade going off in slow motion, the destruction spreading from one spot to the next in a twisted connect-the-dots of chaos.
"Oh god," I whispered, horror creeping up my spine as the full weight of what I'd done hit me. "This...this is all my fault."
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I couldn't stand to see this anymore. I turned and ran across rooftops as fast as I could.
I wasn't just running to find a private place to de-transform I was running from what I'd done. That woman Titan had knocked down kept flashing through my mind, mixed with images of my parents' broken bodies from my nightmares.
I was running away. Again. I made it to the tallest building I could fine and stumbled to a stop.
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Purple light washed over me like a reverse spotlight, and suddenly I was back in my regular clothes, feeling like I'd just run a marathon. Nooroo came spinning out of the brooch like a dizzy butterfly.
"Nooroo!" I caught him before he could do a face-plant, my heart in my throat, barely hearing myself over the police sirens in the distance. "Oh my god, are you okay?"
The poor little guy looked like he'd been through a washing machine, all pale and shaky. "So...hungry..." he mumbled, his voice barely a whisper.
I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. This wasn't like running out of HP in a game, this was real. This was my partner, my buddy, my friend, someone who'd trusted me to be worthy of this power. And what had I done? Turned into a discount Hawk Moth on my first try and abused his power, abused him.
"I'm so sorry," I whispered, feeling about two inches tall. My hands were shaking so bad I almost dropped my backpack while digging out a cookie. "Here. Eat this. It'll help, right?"
Watching Nooroo nibble that cookie was like watching a loading bar in slow motion, his color slowly coming back from ghost-mode to normal-kwami-purple. "Thank you, Max," he whispered, sounding like he'd just run a marathon.
"Are you okay? You're not hurt, are you?"
He shook his head. "I'm fine, Max, don't worry about me," he said, floating up to my eye level. "But what about you? Are you ok?"
The fact that he was still concerned about me, even after what I'd done, made my chest tight. I tried to pull off a smile, but it lasted about half a second before everything hit me at once.
"No, I'm not," I choked out, dropping to my knees like a puppet with cut strings. "I'm not alright. Nothing about this is alright!"
The waterworks started as guilt sucker-punched me right in the feelings. Tears streamed down my face as I sobbed, "Nooroo, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. I messed up. I messed up so bad. I...I Akumatized that kid. Just like Hawk Moth. I'm no better than him."
I sat there feeling like the world's biggest failure, my stomach doing backflips as I thought about how close those kids had come to getting seriously hurt. Or worse, killed. And I would have been entirely responsible.
"Max listen, it was your first time using the Miraculous. Everyone makes mistakes." He spoke like he was my tiny purple conscience. "Even the best Miraculous holders mess up sometimes, even my previous holders."
I shook my head so hard it almost hurt. "No, Nooroo. This wasn't just a little mistake. What I did was awful, I almost got those kids killed."
"That's not true-"
"It is true!"
Everything I'd been bottling up exploded out like a shaken soda can. All my fears, guilt, and self-loathing came pouring out at once.
"I said I wanted to help Percy, but I was just trying to help myself." My voice cracked like I was going through puberty all over again (which I probably was). "I was being selfish, only thinking about me, using Percy, who I've never even met, as an excuse to use the Miraculous for what I wanted! Hell, I even lied to Fu and stole his own money just to come here and make this big mess! I used you both!"
The words kept coming like a broken faucet, each one making me feel smaller and smaller. "And because of that, I got people hurt. I could've killed someone, Nooroo! Killed!"
I dropped my head against the rooftop. "I'm not a hero. I'm not even a villain. I'm...I'm a monster."
"You were trying to do something good," Nooroo said, sounding like the world's tiniest therapist. "You wanted to protect that boy, to help him. You wanted to do the right thing. It's not about being perfect; it's about learning and getting better. Your heart was in the right place."
"I was stupid," I said, my nails digging into my palms. "I didn't think about what could happen. I just wanted..." My voice caught in my throat. "I wanted to be someone important," I whispered, the words barely audible over the awakening city below. "When I lost my memories, I lost who I was. So I thought...I thought if I could be a hero, it would make me somebody again. That maybe being special would fill in all these empty spaces where my past should be."
I let out a bitter laugh. "But I'm not a hero. I'm just a scared kid messing with powers I don't understand."
"Max..."
"Maybe this was all a big mistake," I muttered, scrubbing at my face like I could wipe away the shame along with the tears. "Maybe there isn't even a Percy Jackson here. Maybe I made it all up. Maybe I just wanted an excuse to feel special."
Standing up felt like lifting a ton of bricks. "We should go home. I'll give back the Miraculous and leave. I can't ever face Fu again." The thought of seeing him made my chest hurt, how could I face the man who'd saved my life, given me a home, after I'd betrayed his trust like this? What was I thinking?
"Max, please listen. You can't just quit now. Being a hero isn't about-"
"No, Nooroo." I cut him off, "You were right when you didn't want me to use the Miraculous at first. I should've listened to you. You told me it could be dangerous, that the power might be too much. And look what happened."
I gestured wildly at the city, my voice doing that embarrassing crack thing again.
"Max, I-"
"I can't do this," I said, feeling about as heroic as a wet paper bag. I reached for the brooch on my shirt. "I thought I could handle it, but I can't. I'm not ready for-"
That's when the world decided to dance.
The ground turned into a giant vibrating phone under my feet. The rumbling started soft but cranked up to eleven real quick, making my whole body shake like I was standing on a giant speaker.
"What the-what's happening?!"
The shaking got worse as I stumbled around like a drunk penguin. My teeth were chattering so hard I thought they might fall out. I tried to plant my feet, but it was like trying to stand on a mechanical bull gone haywire.
"It's an earthquake!" Nooroo zoomed around my head like a panicked moth.
Oh no. The newspaper headlines flashed through my head like a horror movie preview. This wasn't your average shake-and-bake.
Everything went crazy. The roof started cracking like old paint, windows exploded like glass confetti, and the whole city turned into one big noise machine, people screaming, crashing, and that terrible rumbling that felt like it was coming from the center of the Earth.
Down below was pure chaos. Cars were doing the macarena with their alarms screaming, street lights falling like deadly dominoes, people running around like headless chickens. A water main decided to cosplay as Old Faithful, and the air started smelling like someone left the gas on.
I tried making a break for the fire escape, but walking was like trying to dance on Jell-O. The building was shaking apart around me, chunks of concrete raining down to the ground below. Some breaking apart right where I'd been seconds before. It was like the universe itself was playing a deadly game of 'don't break the building' with me as the unwilling participant.
The fire escape was right there, practically taunting me as I scrambled towards it. I managed to stand, wobbling like a newborn giraffe, when the roof split open like a giant mouth right in front of me. I stumbled backward, arms pinwheeling-!
and suddenly there was nothing but air beneath my feet.
"...Nooroo?"
I reached out to him, our eyes meeting in one of those slow-motion movie moments.
"MAX!"
Then gravity remembered I existed, and down I went.