A/N: This is still not the idea I had for the one-shot I mentioned last chapter. This is actually a scene I was thinking about for my story "Confessions of a Teenage Superhero", but that went in a different direction. So I modified the note and made this.

As always, I own nothing about the "Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir" franchise - just my plots.

Chapter 4 - Adrien Akumatized!

Adrien's mind was whirling as he ran away from the mansion, feeling like the world was falling out from under him. His father had always been a little cold and distant, even controlling, and ever since his mother disappeared it had gotten worse. That could explain it, but now he had to reconcile the fact that Gabriel Agreste, his own father, is ... Hawkmoth. Adrien was more than worried. He was depressed. His thoughts just kept spiraling.

Father is Hawkmoth… I am Chat Noir… all the battles we've fought… all the times he's nearly killed me as I was protecting Ladybug… Ladybug! She was right about Hawkmoth's identity… What am I going to tell her? HOW am I going to tell her without revealing my identity?… Should I reveal my identity to her?… Hawkmoth has been living in the same house as me… Father, why would you do this?… Hawkmoth…

"Kid, we've got to get out of here!" Plagg's eyes narrowed as he saw the telltale purple and black butterfly heading their way. "Run!" He warned.

Adrien took off the Cat Miraculous and held it out. "Plagg, take this to Ladybug! I may not be able to resist. Tell her what's going on!" With that, Plagg took off, and the Akuma settles on Adrien's shirt.

"Squire, you know the pain of losing family. I grant you the power to rescue those you hold dear." The voice in his head was smooth, persuasive, and totally like his father. Adrien swore he would not give in… or at the very least he'd resist for as long as he could. Hopefully, he'd be able to hold out until his Lady arrived.

"You know what, Hawkmoth? You're an asshole!"

"I can make you powerful."

"I have power enough, thanks. And a lot more fame & money than I've ever wanted."

"I can give you what you most want." Seriously, did Gabriel never figure out what he wanted the most was time with him? Encouragement? An actual, loving parent?

"Yes, you could have, FATHER. But you haven't! Instead of giving me the support I've needed, you've played at creating supervillains! Apparently I'm not as important as terrorizing Paris. So bugger off!"

In his befuddled state, Adrien started wandering. Without consciously thinking about it, he went to the one place, the one person other than Ladybug he thought could help him overcome the darkness… and finds himself at the Dupain-Cheng Boulangerie Patisserie.

The shop door chimed as he stumbled in. "Marinette… help me!"

"Oh, dear," said Sabine Cheng as she saw Adrien's face. "Go, Marinette. We'll be OK without you for a while."

"Adrien?" Marinette saw the purple mask that meant Hawkmoth was communicating with his Akuma victim. "Oh my god, Adrien!" She drags him up to the apartment in the living room, gives him a hug, and keeps hugging him and stroking his hair, comforting the boy.

"You are loved, Adrien. You have great friends and people who will stand by you no matter what. Please don't give in," she begged. He stared at her, tears forming in his eyes. "I don't know what I'd do if you gave in. I need you, Adrien. I… I love you!" Marinette cried.

Adrien stared, wide-eyed at this revelation. "Really?" he sniffed as he smiled. Adrien's face fell. "I'm afraid you won't love me anymore," he said sadly.

"Why ever not?"

"Because my father is Hawkmoth!" he said bitterly. "I just found out… " He started to lose control. Then his body went rigid as the purple mask formed over his eyes again.

"You have been a dutiful son, Adrien. Submit so our family can be whole once again. I need you!"

"Why the hell should I, Hawkmoth? You destroyed our family with this goal of yours, whatever that is. You'll never get the Ladybug or Black Cat Miraculous because I WON'T LET YOU!"

"Adrien, stay with me. Adrien?! I'm here." Marinette continued to hug the boy and stroke his blond locks. "I love you, really I do."

"You're just saying that you love me. You don't mean it."

"Yes, I do!" This was not the way Marinette would have preferred to confess her love, but she didn't think about that right now.

At that point, Plagg entered the room through a window, making sure nobody but Marinette (and Tikki) could see him. He made sure to catch Marinette's eye as he held up the miraculous, then nodded toward Adrien. To say she was floored was an understatement. She started to go into panic mode, but then looked at the boy in her arms. She couldn't afford to spiral right now. So, she did what she could.

Adrien… Chat Noir… needed her now more than ever. "I've loved you ever since you gave me your umbrella on the second day of school. Why do you think I kept stuttering whenever I was around you?" She gave him a shy, bashful smile. "I know you have no control over what your father tries to do. Stay with me, please," Marinette cried. "I need you, Adrien! Together we can fight Hawkmoth's influence. Together we can do anything. It's you and me against the world!"

She could see him still struggling, the battle written all over his face. Nothing for it now but to go for broke. "Come on, Kitty. I need you!"

That snapped him out of it. Did she just call him "Kitty"? But that would mean…

Adrien's thoughts began another spiral, though this was a positive one. How could he have missed it? "Marinette. My everyday Ladybug. I… I can't believe I was so blind. I… I love you, too."

At this point the negative feelings were gone, leaving only the brightly shining love between the two miraculous holders. The purple and black butterfly left Adrien's shirt.

"Are you going to be ok, Adrien?" Marinette looked over at him.

"For a few minutes, anyway. Go, Milady, and do what you need to do. Then, come back to me? We should talk."

"I'll always come back to you, Adrien. Always and forever." Marinette put all her love into the hug before she disengaged and called for her transformation so she could catch the Akuma. "I'll be back before you know it, Kitty. Then you and I can talk about how to defeat Hawkmoth once and for all."

"Bugaboo…"

"Yes, Kitty?"

"I'm glad it's you."