Plagg spit blood from his lips and glared up at Gabriel, pulling at the ropes that held his wrists to the wooden chair. He was beyond livid with the man in front of him.

"All you had to do was do as I asked. All I wanted was for my name to be on the poster. All I wanted was for my son to show off the Agreste name, yet you let him run. You just had to keep him there. That was it. But you let him run from me!" Gabriel grabbed the collar of Plagg's button down and pulled him closer.

Plagg cleared his throat and suddenly spit into his face. "Fuck you!" He was tired of Adrien getting treated like he was just some commodity. He was so much more than that. The kid had true talent and a golden heart. That was hard to come by.

Most people he had come across had let the fame get to their heads. They had floated up to the clouds and reigned over everyone below, but that wasn't the case with Adrien. Not like his father. The man that barely resembled a man at this moment.

"Where is my son?" Gabriel wiped his face with a white handkerchief and pocketed it.

"I wouldn't tell you. Not even if you stabbed me a million times. If you were a better father… you wouldn't have to ask my ass." Plagg sneered and pulled at his binds again.

"IF YOU HADN'T PUT SOME FANTASY INTO MY SON'S HEAD… I WOULDN'T HAVE TO ASK YOU!" Gabriel shoved him back into the chair with his fist in Plagg's shirt.

"I did no such thing and you know it! Deep… inside that small… black… heart of yours? You know very well where your own kid is, but please continue to beat me to get an answer that you already know." Plagg rolled his eyes and spit blood out of his mouth, once more.

"Listen here you little insecure man…" Gabriel grabbed his collar and brought his face close to his again. "I don't think you know where my son is and you're just trying to confuse me. To make me feel like I know where he is when, in fact, I do not! So, sit down and tell me where my son has gone or so help me God I will cut off your tongue myself and feed it to y-"

"STOP!" The doors flung open and Gabriel dropped Plagg back against the back of the chair, punching him in the face one last time.

Plagg's chest rose and fell as he turned to look over at the door. Adrien stood there with Marinette behind him. He was protectively holding her back, but Plagg could tell she was fighting against Adrien. Plagg spit again and Marinette's eyes stared directly into his blackened ones. She suddenly lashed out with a primal scream.

"Marinette!" Adrien whipped around to grab her upper arms. He looked deeply into her sapphire eyes and she relaxed. A warm smile fell onto his lips and he turned back around to face his father as his smile faded into a frown. "IS THIS WHAT IT'S COME DOWN TO, FATHER? HM? Some useless game!"

"Adrien…" Gabriel's expression became sympathetic and saddened by his son's tone.

"Don't Adrien… me. I'VE HAD IT!" Adrien flung his hand out at his side and glared at his father. "I NEVER ASKED FOR THIS! NEVER!" He quickly pointed at his father and tears stung his eyes. "NEITHER DID MOTHER! OR DID YOU FORGET HER SO EASILY IN YOUR GREED!" The tears that he had held back were now running down his flushed cheeks and he didn't care if anyone saw them. "Did you forget her words? Did you forget what she wanted for you… for US!" He pointed to both of them and then to himself. "Because I sure as hell didn't. I keep her words with me… every damn day!" He spit the words from his mouth and Marinette took his hand into hers.

Plagg's mouth fell open as he watched the kid unravel before them. Watched him let go years of anger, abandonment, of pain.

"SHE DIED FOR YOUR BULLSHIT! FOR YOUR SICK OBSESSION WITH A BRAND! YOU COULDN'T EVEN TAKE A MOMENT TO HAVE STOPPED TALKING TO PULL HER FROM THE DAMN TRAIN TRACKS!" Adrien burst out into tears and pointed at his father with as much hatred as he had. Hatred that filled every bone in his body for this man that didn't care about them. That cared about his company over them. "You never cared about mother or me. Not the way that she did. Not that way that she deserved. NEVER MIND me! I don't give a shit! Hate me! Hate me because I look like HER! But don't… don't blame everyone else for why you are some small… insecure man… that is overcompensating every damn day! Don't even try… to deny that, FATHER! I CAN READ YOU LIKE A DAMN BOOK!"

Gabriel's mouth clamped shut at his son's words. They circled around his head and Marinette ran over to untie Plagg from the chair.

"NOW YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS… AND I ADVISE YOU TO CHOOSE WISELY." Adrien glared at him and crossed his arms over his chest. "ONE!" He held up his index finger on one hand. "You leave us alone and let me live my own life. Or…" He held up his middle finger and his voice grew louder and deeper. "YOU PREPARE TO BE ARRESTED BECAUSE I WILL SUBMIT EVERY DAMN THING YOU HAVE DONE AND TURN IT AGAINST YOU. AND DON'T THINK I'LL BE ERASING THAT SHIT AGAIN LIKE LAST TIME. OH… NO… I HAVE PLENTY MORE TO TELL… AND YOU KNOW IT."

Gabriel swallowed hard, and sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Do I even have a choice?" His voice was quiet and refined.

"No, not really." Plagg walked up behind him and clamped his hand down onto Gabriel's shoulder. "I'd say your pretty much trapped like a mouse in a maze, Monsieur Agreste."

Gabriel growled and gave in. "Fine, I'll let you live your life. However, that means that you no longer gain inheritance or any money from the Gabriel brand. You will no longer be known as my son and I will disown you."

Adrien flinched at his last words and tried to ignore the ache that filled his heart from them. It still hurt, even if his father was a complete ass. "Fine."

Gabriel grabbed his coat and threw it on, before he left the building. "Have a wonderful life!"

"I only wish you the best, father." Adrien huffed and crossed his arms with a glare.

Gabriel growled louder as he made his way out of the building, leaving Adrien in a stoic state.

Marinette watched Adrien as they heard the heavy door slam shut. Suddenly, his knees buckled and he fell to the ground. She watched a man, who had been filled with such power… turn into a mess. Adrien began punching the cement with his fist, causing his knuckles to burst open and bleed along the floor. She grabbed his forearm, but it didn't help. She wrapped her arms around his waist, but he was lost in his mind. Lost in his memories and thoughts. Lost in his past.

Plagg shook his head and pried Marinette from Adrien's tensed up body. "Just leave him for a moment, love."

"NO! NO! I REFUSE!" Marinette burst into tears as Plagg pulled her away. Ripping her soul from Adrien's body.

Adrien let out a loud scream and continued to bash his fist into the floor, letting sobbing sounds fill the rundown place.

"There's no reasoning with him right now. You just have to give him space. I know it's hard, Ladybug. Believe me. I do. But you have to let it run its course. For him." Plagg whispered into her ear and she turned to cry into his chest as he lead her to his office, shutting the door behind them.

Marinette fell to her knees and cried as Plagg went down with her. She covered her ears and tried to hum to ignore Adrien's screams and anguish. She hated it. She hated everything about it. She just wanted to make it stop, but she couldn't. She knew that deep down, but she hopelessly wanted to believe that she could do something. Anything. That's when an idea popped into her mind.

"Do you have a mic?" Marinette suddenly looked up into Plagg's eyes with a warm smile and wonder filled eyes.

"What did you have in mind?" Plagg was skeptical as he watched her fill with hope. "I don't know if this idea that I see sparking in your eyes in a good one, kid."

"Trust me. Now, where is this mic?" Marinette smiled and he sighed, giving into her.

"Top drawer of my desk." Plagg rubbed his eyes and fell back against his oak desk.

"Thank you, Plagg." Marinette kissed his cheek and got up to grab it from the drawer, before she grabbed her silks from her bag.

Marinette walked out and Easier Said by Alessia Cara began to play. "Healing and patience for lovers… don't place your blame on your heart… just to make them stop… Just take your time to recover.. Because it's easier said. It's easier said than done." She wrapped her hand around her silks and let it take her up into the air. She spun around and watched him from the sky. She watched him sniff and slowly peer up at her, holding his bleeding fist in his other hand. Her heart ached for him.

"Hey boy with the painted frown… listen up. Shake off the cloud that follows you around… Think fast. Change your mood and be approachable. Man up. Crawl your way off the ground…." She let herself come down and walked up to him.

She ran her hand along his jawline and his lips parted as he slowly closed his eyes and nuzzled her palm with his cheek. Her voice became quieter with each word. "Bask in your distress a little bit more because a sad face don't go away that easy… It's easier said… easier said than… done."

"I'm sorry." Adrien sighed and took a deep breath. "I let myself get lost in my head."

"You're father was a jerk. It's okay. I'm proud of you. You stood up to him and now you're free." Marinette ran her fingers through his hair. "We're free."

He suddenly picked her up and swung her around, slowly letting her down along his body. He ran his hand along her cheek and cradled her face. "You're right. We're free." He pressed his soft lips onto hers and she grabbed his broken hand, causing him to hiss in pain.

"You need to see a doctor." Marinette pressed her lips to his busted knuckles. "I think you've done more damage than I can fix."

Adrien ripped his shirt and tied it around his fist. "I'll survive. I always do, Bugaboo."

She shoved him in the chest. "I know, but I think this time… you've outdone yourself, Kitty."

Adrien rolled his eyes and let her lead him to get medical attention.

Plagg scratched his head and chuckled at them. "Kids…" He shook his head and lit a cigar, putting it between his lips. He threw his boots up onto his desk and relaxed back in his chair.

"PLAGG!" A woman's voice called out and he dropped his feet from his desk to see Tikki in the doorway.

"Tikki?" Plagg stubbed out his cigar and got up to bend at his hips and kiss her hand.

Song she's singing:

Easier Said by Alessia Cara