The Miraculous Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir do not belong to me, sadly. This plot, however, and any original characters, of course, do.

Everything was running like clockwork. Queen Bee appeared, caused havoc, and Ladybug and Chat Noir arrived on scene before anyone could be seriously hurt. This akumatized victim looked to be about fifteen, with curly blond hair, wearing a yellow and black striped sundress and an antenna headband. She was surrounded by a swarm of strange bees whose sting induced instant paralysis. They didn't stop the heroes though; they were a flawless team, wearing down their opponent without issue. Ladybug had just used her lucky charm—a large, fluffy, red and black pillow falling in her hands—the three of them perched atop the Eiffel Tower.

Like clockwork.

That is, until Hawk Moth himself suddenly materialized in front of them.

"You have failed me, Queen Bee, just as the others before you failed me. It is my turn." He hissed, floating on a cloud of pure white butterflies.

Ladybug and Chat Noir both crouched fear and excitement warring within them; this was the moment they'd waited years for, since their very first battle with his evil Akumas. It was ironic; their first encounter with the villain had been there as well. Chat Noir opened his mouth, no doubt to let loose a clever pun, but he didn't get the chance. Queen Bee, held aloft by her bees, spun in the air to growl at Hawkmoth. "Excuse you! Have I failed yet, or is the queen in the middle of an epic victory? Remove him from my court!" She flung out her hand, and the swarm split off, half of them zipping to Hawk Moth before anyone knew what was happening. Within seconds, the bees had torn the butterflies apart. The villain reached out to grab the tower, but he was too far away. Ladybug and Chat Noir were frozen in shock. Then the bees began stinging him. Hawk moth's eyes went wide. His body went rigid. He began to fall.

"Bye, bye, Hawk Freak," Queen Bee said. She turned back to the stunned heroes and sneered. "As for you two, I'll buzz ya later." She disappeared. The pair were torn for a moment on whether to chase her or go after Hawk Moth. Ladybug glanced down at the pillow still in her hand and shot forward. She leapt off the tower and slung her yoyo up, using it to rappel down. She was too late though, forced to watch as he hit the ground, forced to hear the sickening crunch as his body broke. She landed next to him, just as a light overtook him, his transformation dissolving. As his face was revealed, Ladybug's hand clapped over her mouth.

"No," She gasped, shaking her head.

"She heard Chat Noir land lightly a few feet away and run over, and saw news crews beginning to crowd around the three of them. She looked up to her partner, and gasped again at the raw pain in his green eyes. He dropped hard to his knees and reached a shaky hand out to the still face of Gabriel Agreste. The fashion mogul's eyes were open and vacant, blood trickling from his lips. Ladybug thought instantly of her friend, Adrien. He didn't deserve to find out about his father's fate on TV; he didn't need to see this. She would have to tell him.

A small purple Kwami appeared above the body. It gave an exhausted sigh and passed out. Ladybug caught it and gently cradled it to her chest.

"No," Chat whispered, pulling his hand away. "No, wake up," He said, a little louder. "You can't be…wake up!" Ladybug saw tears pour down his face.

"Chatton," She murmured. He looked at her—her partner, utterly broken. "He's gone." For once, the crowd surrounding them was silent, not shouting questions or praise or accusations. Alya stood at the fore of the crows, quietly sobbing, but still rolling.

She watched as her partner fell apart, not knowing how to comfort him, or why he was upset. She remembered him saying once he knew the Agreste family, but were they really this close?

Chat threw his head back and howled in pain, the most terrifying, grief-stricken sound she'd ever heard. Then, to her surprise, his transformation began to fade. "Chat!" She gasped, trying to warn him, knowing she couldn't get him out of there before he was unveiled, but it was no use. Usually, there would be a slow fading light, but this was different. The fade started, but was overcome with a blindingly bright flash of green and a wave of energy that almost knocked Ladybug to the ground. She felt something small slam into her stomach and caught it automatically. When she raised her head again, her mouth fell open in horror. Before her, sobbing uncontrollably, knelt Adrien Agreste.

"Adrien?" She choked out.

"Oh, no" Alya groaned. She covered her mouth and sobbed harder, her eyes on her friend kneeling in his own father's blood.

"Adrien," groaned a small voice from Ladybug's cupped hand. She looked down and saw a black cat-like Kwami that had to have been Chat Noir's lying next to Mr. Agreste's. He looked panicked as he flew up to my face. "Ladybug, you have to help him!" The Kwami said frantically. "He shouldn't have been able to force me out like that. I know him; you can calm him down."

Marinette was reeling; Adrien—Adrien—was Chat Noir? The boy she'd had a crush on since she was fifteen? The boy she still had a crush on to this day, despite resigning herself to the knowledge she could never be with him? But the Kwami was right. Chat Noir—Adrien—needed her. She opened her yoyo pouch and gently set Hawk Moth's Kwami inside. "Can you watch over him for a while?" She asked the black Kwami, who nodded grimly and darted into the pouch as well with a last, anguished look at his hero. She stood and moved to Adrien's side, noticing with horror the blood soaking her suit and Adrien's jeans.

"Adrien?" She said gently. When he didn't respond, she placed a hand on his shoulder. She ignored her own Miraculous beeping out a warning. "Adrien." Paramedics were pushing through the crowd; she hadn't even heard the sirens. "Adrien, we need to move out of the way. You don't want to see this."

"He's…He's…" He rasped through heaving sobs.

"I know." Marinette's heart was breaking for him. She gestured for the EMTs to give them a second; it wouldn't make a difference. They couldn't fix this. She wanted to get him away before reporters started firing questions at them. "Why don't you come with me? I'll take you to a friend."

Adrien nodded and turned, wrapping his arms around her waist. She pulled him to his feet and gathered her strength. "Marinette." He whispered, burying his face in her neck. She froze. He knew? "Take me to Marinette." She softened, and nodded.

"Hold on tight, Chatton." She threw her yoyo and swung them both up into the sky. No one followed below them, just watching them with sad, concerned eyes. It seemed even the press knew when to leave well enough alone. She went as quickly as she dared, bringing them to her new apartment. She'd left the window open when she went to fight the akuma, so it was no trouble easing them inside.

"Where's Marinette?" He sniffed as she sat him on the couch. He'd stopped sobbing, but that was even worse; now he just looked vacant. With a shiver, she thought his eyes matched his father's.

Ladybug ignored his question and walked over to the part of her apartment she'd set aside for Tikki, taking the two Kwami from her pouch and setting them down on the cushion Tikki used as her bed. Only once they were settled did she return to the couch, crouching in front of Adrien and taking a deep breath. "Chat, I want you to look at me." She said firmly. She waited until he met her gaze before releasing the knot of tension and pure will power holding up her transformation. The room was filled with a red glow. Marinette wasn't trying to shock him; she just knew he needed his friends right now, all of them, and if she could be two friends for him now, well, then it was worth it.

He didn't act shocked, though, as he recognized her face. "Marinette? "She nodded warily. He just sniffed again. "My dad is Hawk Moth." He said without emotion. "And Hawk Moth is dead."

Tikki flew in front of Marinette's face. "Is this true, Marinette?" She exclaimed.

"Yes, Tikki. The other Kwami are over there."

Tikki's eyes darted to her home. "Plagg!" She tackled Chat's Kwami with a hug.

Marinette turned back to her partner, determining to have a conversation with them later.

They sat in silence for a moment, just staring at each other. He blinked. "Marinette, are you Ladybug?"

Marinette tried to give him a smile, but even a tiny, comforting smile would not appear on her lips. She was too concerned for her best friend. "Yeah, I am. And you're Chat Noir." She settled for resting a warm hand on his knee, ignoring her revulsion at finding it soaked through with Gabriel Agreste's blood.

Adrien glanced down at himself. "Oh. Did I transform back already?"

"You don't remember?" She did not want to be the one to tell him his cover was blown. He shook his head slowly, and she let out a breath. "When we got to…When you saw…it…I'm not sure exactly what happened. Plagg said you 'pushed him out.' It was actually kind of scary."

"Did anyone see?" He still sounded empty, like he didn't really care one way or another.

"Everyone saw." She answered gently. He nodded. "Chatton…I'm so sorry." His eyes raised to meet hers once more. "If I'd only gotten to him a little faster…If I hadn't hesitated—"

Finally, he showed some emotion, his hand covering hers. His skin was cold and clammy, as though he were a corpse himself. "No. Don't do that, Marinette. It's not your fault." This was the partner she remembered, fierce protector of friends, but it was still like an echo of the passion he once held. "I was right there with you. You reacted as quickly as you could; you couldn't have done anything."
The conversation seemed to snap him out of his daze. Marinette couldn't help the cool relief that filled her at the grief in his face. "My dad…he's gone? Really gone?"

Marinette nodded. "Yeah, Chatton. He's gone." His eyes overflowed with hot tears. She moved to his side, pulling him against her as sobs racked his shoulders again, stroking his hair. She didn't say anything for a while. He didn't need her words; he only needed her to be there. So, she held him until his body stopped shaking as he clutched her shirt.

"Can I use your shower?" He asked, breaking the silence. His voice was hoarse, but not hollow like before.

"Of course. I'll call Nino to bring you some clothes, okay?" He nodded and let her pull him up and lead him by the hand to her bathroom. She started the water for a bath and found him a towel. Adrien caught her hand as she began walking away, though.

"Can you stay with me?" He sounded so young, like a scared little kid. "I don't want to be alone."

Marinette blushed lightly, but she knew he didn't mean it like that. "I'll just be on the other side of that wall," She pointed to the wall backed against her bedroom. I'll leave the door open, okay? Call me if you need anything." He nodded again and pulled his shirt over his head, dropping it to the floor. Marinette walked quickly out of the bathroom, leaving the door open as promised, and to her bedroom, picking her phone off her night stand. She had twelve missed calls from Alya and seven from Nino, even two from Chloe, she was surprised to see. She and the blonde had gotten over their teenage hostility, sure, but they weren't besties.

She called Nino first. He picked up before the first ring had finished. "Marinette? Is Adrien with you? Did you hear the news? We've been trying to call you!" He blurted out quickly.

"Slow down," She said quietly. "Yes, he's here; yes, I know; and, yeah, I just saw the missed calls. I've been a bit…busy."

"Adrien's with Marinette!" He called to someone nearby.

"Is that her on the phone?" Marinette heard Alya's muffled voice, then the sound of the phone being snatched out of Nino's hands. "Mari! It's me. Is Adrien okay? Did you see what happened? Did Ladybug tell you anything?"

Marinette toyed with the hem of her t-shirt for a second. "I know, yeah. Hey, can you and Nino come over? Slumber party at my place?"

"You didn't answer my questions." She answered.

"He's…no, he's not okay. Can you two please come? And bring Adrien a couple changes of clothes? His are…they're ruined. And I don't think he's quite up to going home right now." She felt her own tears falling down her face, a hot lump burning in her throat.

Alya's voice softened. "Yeah, we'll be right there. Give us twenty minutes, kay?"

Marinette nodded, then remembered Alya couldn't see her. "Yeah, okay. And, hey, you might want to bring some of your rainy-day stash."

"Honey, it's not raining, it's pouring; I'll bring all of it." She paused. "Are you okay? Mari, what aren't you telling me?"

Marinette smiled. Her friend knew her so well. "I'll tell you when you get here. You're right; we'll need all of it. Hurry please." She was about to say her goodbyes, then remembered. "Hey, I got a couple calls from Chloe. Do you know what that's about?"

"She's been calling everyone who knows Adrien. Everyone knows Ladybug was taking him to a friend, but no one knows who. Do me a favor: Call her, please. She's going crazy." Alya sounded pained, forcing the words out. She and Chloe still clashed, but this was different than some petty feud.

"I will. See you soon, Alya." Marinette hung up and stood, walking to the doorway to the bathroom. She kept turned away from him, but knocked. "You alright in there?" She asked softly.

"Yeah." He answered. His voice cracked. She wanted to go to him, hug him, tell him everything would be alright. She knew it wouldn't be though.

"Okay. I'm just in the other room." He didn't answer, and she returned to sit on her bed, dialing Chloe's number.

"Hello?" Chloe's voice was frantic and hoarse. She'd been crying.

"Chloe?" Marinette said. She frowned. She had never heard Chloe sound so hurt.

"Marinette?" She sounded hopeful. "Do you know where Adrien is?" She sniffed.

"I do, Chloe. He's…he's safe. He's with me."

"Thank God!" She said breathily. "I've been so worried, since Daddy told me about Mr. Agreste, and I saw what happened, and I just…He's alright?"

"He will be." Marinette said quietly. "He needs time."

"Can I see him? Where are you?" Chloe sounded lost, that's the only way Marinette could describe it.

"Not tonight, Chloe. Maybe tomorrow, if he's up to it. Okay?"

"Please?" Her voice was small.

Marinette hesitated. Chloe really cared about Adrien, and she had known him the longest. She could only help. The only thing she was hesitant on was that she had planned to tell Nino and Alya her own secret, before Adrien could accidentally reveal it to them in his grief stupor. Could she trust Chloe, too? She decided quickly. "Okay, yeah. It would probably be better with you here. I was going to have Nino and Alya bring him some extra clothes and some of his things, and let them stay the night. Join us." Adrien trusted Chloe; it was the biggest part of why she had buried the hatchet with the blonde.

"Thanks, Marinette," She sniffled.

Marinette gave her the address to her apartment. "Hey, don't tell anyone where he is, okay? I don't want him to have to deal with the inevitable mess of reporters just yet."

"Of course. I'll see if Daddy can do anything about them, too, maybe finding somewhere he can hide out for a bit, if he wants."

"That would be great. Oh, and Alya is bringing drinks. Would you mind picking up some pizza or something? I don't know if he'll be hungry or not, but I don't quite feel up to cooking."

"Yeah, I'll grab something. I'll be there in a half hour." She paused. "Thank you for this, Marinette, really."

Marinette couldn't think of a response to that, so she just hung up. She hesitated a minute, looking at the time; it was almost ten at night, late to be making calls. But she dialed another number and held her breath while the phone rang.

"Marinette?" Her father's groggy voice filtered through her phone. She had woken him up. "Is everything OK?"

"Sort of. I'm fine, dad. It's just…I love you, dad." She said, tears rolling down her face. "I just wanted to hear your voice, and tell you I love you."

"Darling, are you sure you're alright?" He asked, worry dripping from his tone.

"No," She whispered. "But It will all work out. I'll tell you more about it tomorrow, okay?" Marinette clutched the phone tight against her face, keeping her voice low, so Adrien couldn't hear her.

"Promise?" He said, more awake now.

"Promise, dad. I'll come by tomorrow, just maybe not until the afternoon. I don't know yet." She heard Adrien moving around in the bathroom, and stood. "I've got to go. I love you."

"I love you too, darling. Good night." Marinette closed her eyes and swallowed, pulling the phone away slowly. She set the phone back on her bedside table and turned as Adrien's shadow crossed her doorway. He stood wearing only a towel wrapped around his waist. One hand gripped the doorframe like it was a lifeline. His shoulders were hunched in defeat. His eyes were full of wild pain that made Marinette's heart ache.

"Hey," She said softly, walking over, ignoring his state of undress. She pressed her hand into his and squeezed it lightly. "Feel better?"

"No," He answered honestly. She nodded grimly and led him back to the living room, sitting on the couch. He lay on his side and placed his head in her lap, curling up in a ball. Marinette instinctively stroked his hair, still damp from his bath, yet soft and bouncy like it was every day she'd stared lovingly at him from the seat behind him. "Can I stay here tonight?" He asked after a minute.

"I already called Alya, Nino and Chloe; they're on their way." She answered, a soft smile on her face despite the situation. "We didn't figure you wanted to go home just yet." He shook his head, burying his face in her thigh. She let her other hand rub his shoulder softly. "You can stay here as long as you like, Chatton."

And here it is, friends, the first chapter of my new story. Yes, I said, the first chapter. No, this is not a one shot. Yes, I have a soft spot for strong characters falling apart. No, I have no regrets. Yes, I encourage you to favorite, follow and review. No, I don't ignore comments.

I hope you enjoy it!

P.S. This has been freshly updated. Sorry, for those of you who caught it, for the "Nico" instead of "Nino." I had typed this chapter up on my phone, and autocorrect got the better of me. I guess I didn't proofread well enough. Should be fixed now.