Author's Notes: With thanks to the members of the Miraculous Fanfiction Discord, for helping me to edit this fic.

Miraculous: Adventures of Princess Bug and Kuro Chat

Prologue

Ladybug never intended for things to get this far. She and Chat were always able to handle an akuma. Even when they had no chance, some quick thinking, teamwork, and a little luck was all they needed to pull victory from certain defeat. So how did this happen?

How did she end up pinned under an overturned car, suffocating under the weight of it. She could hear a cry and the voice of someone. It was Alya. Oh, that's right. She'd pushed Alya out of harm's way - to save her best friend. Alya always had to come see the battle for herself whenever an akuma attacked. It was her 'duty as manager of the Ladyblog and patron to super hero fans everywhere'. The thought made her smile, until the pain coursed through her body. It hurt to smile. Why did it hurt to smile?

Oh.

Right. She was under a car.

"Time to die, Ladybug."

She looked up and could see the akuma standing over her. Nino. Alya's fiancée. He had a bad day. She understood that. But it wasn't the bad day that led to this. The akumatization...Hawkmoth's one command - kill Ladybug and Chat Noir. Her friend was still in there somewhere. He had to be, "Nino...please. You don't want to do this. You can fight it. I believe in you."

He hesitated. It seemed he was in some control. At least until Hawkmoth's symbol appeared over his face. Hawkmoth really was pulling all the stops on this. She closed her eyes - this was it. Hawkmoth couldn't get the Miraculous. No matter what, "Spots off."

She detransformed and she saw her kwami appear in front of her, her voice cracking, "Marinette!"

"Take the Miraculous," Marinette mumbled, "While there's time."

The kwami pulled the earrings off her and flew away just as Nino finally gave in to Hawkmoth's demands. The last thing she saw was his fist.

"LADYBUG!" Chat Noir cried, dragging himself along the ground towards her. Why...why did this happen? He was supposed to be stronger than this! Better than this! He'd failed her...and his best friend. No...it wasn't his fault. Nino didn't know. Nino was under Hawkmoth's control. It was Hawkmoth's fault. If he ever got his hands on him...he would...

His mind failed him...he was tired now, barely able to move. To function. His vision was growing darker. He could vaguely make out Nino coming his way, but he didn't know what he was saying. It was all becoming so quiet. He was certain of one thing...Hawkmoth couldn't get his Miraculous, "Claws in."

"KID!" Plagg's voice shouted, the normally calm and carefree kwami barely able to contain his worry. Adrien removed his ring, "Run."

The last thing he saw was Nino's feet stopping just short of him. He...was so tired...he'd just close his eyes for a moment. Just a moment...

Hawkmoth should've felt victory. He should've felt triumphant.

But all he felt was despair when he saw through his akuma's vision - Adrien Agreste. His adult son lying on the ground just in front of him...Chat Noir was his son. His son was Chat Noir. No, it couldn't be possible. He would've known. And he'd seen his son and Chat Noir in the same place at the same time.

No time for that. For this. If he...the Miraculous! He could use his wish to...no...no, where was the ring? Ladybug! He willed the akuma to hurry back to Ladybug to find some nameless woman he'd never met before. At least he was sure he'd never met her before, despite the nagging feeling that he recognized her face in the back of his mind. That didn't matter now though, he needed...the earrings were gone! No. This wasn't right. This wasn't how it was supposed to go! Without the miraculous he couldn't… No, save Adrien. That was the priority now.

He willed his akuma to scoop up Adrien and bring him to the nearest hospital. Forget the girl...she wasn't his concern. The akuma raced through Paris as fast as he could, holding Adrien Agreste in his arms and stopping just short of the hospital. The medical staff froze at the sight of him - afraid. They should be. He made his akuma hold up his son and he cried out, "Save him!"

One of the nurses steadily approached with a gurney for the akuma to rest Adrien on. Just as they were about to wheel him in, another nurse took his wrist and said, "Wait...no pulse...he's gone."

No.

"Let me look," a doctor came over with a stethoscope to check, "No rhythm...skin's turning pale...he's dead. Not long, but too far for us to do anything."

"NO!" Hawkmoth roared out. It was over. It was all over. His mission to save his wife...his son...

He never wanted it to go this far. He never wanted this. Not his son. How much more would he have to lose? How much more could the universe take? He collapsed to the floor, punching the floor with all the grief and anger he could muster. Why him?

No...he wouldn't let it end like this...he couldn't...he would...he would…

He didn't know what he would do. He would surrender...for now...deevilize the akuma…

Nino Lahiffe wasn't exactly sure what he was doing at the hospital - he didn't even know how he got here. He was coming out of a job interview a second ago. In fact, he was so confused that he barely registered that he was being tackled to the ground by a police officer and pinned to the ground, "Dude! What are you-"

"Stay on the ground and be quiet, son. It's for your own good," the officer said. What did that even mean? His own good? This officer must've been crazy, "Get off!"

"I said stay quiet! I'm trying to help but you need to keep your mouth shut!" the officer said as he fastened his hands in handcuffs. Some help he was being. He struggled against the cuffs, trying to shake the officer off when he noticed all the people staring - all the doctors, and nurses and other medical staff. Then he saw the gurney - and the person on it, "Adrien?"

"Stay quiet!" the officer said as he felt a bag slide over his head.