Adrien, fully dressed, darts down the stairs. He barges into the kitchen and frowns.

Plagg asks, "something wrong, Adrien?"

Adrien shakes his head, "guess the staff must have heard about father? Already." Adrien walks to the fridge and opens it. "Doesn't look like anyone showed up for work." Fully stocked with food. But he frowns. His stomach growls.

After five minutes of staring at the contents of the fridge, Plagg asks, "you okay? What's wrong?"

Adrien falls to the ground, his back against the fridge. He is so tired of crying but the realization that he's alone just hit him and he admits, "I don't know how to cook any of that." Then angrily, "I don't know how to cook!" Then louder "I don't know how to cook! How could my father leave me and not teach me how to take care of myself?"

Plagg sits on top of his head, spread out into a hug. "Maybe I can whip something up? It's not too hard, I think."

Adrien sniffles, "you know how to cook?"

"Well, not exactly. One of my past holders loved to cook and bake. I remember being made homemade food for my treats. With many kinds of cheese, though they didn't have a lot of money so it wasn't my all-time favorite at first. But then I saw what a chef can do with non-expensive cheese. She whipped these cheese cupcakes up one day..."

Adrien wrinkles his nose, "wait cheese in a cupcake?"

Plagg nods, excitedly, "yeah. She was baking for Tikki and me and knew Tikki liked sweets and I loved my cheese so she made something for the both of us. Sugarcube said that she never thought she would swallow cheese in her life and love it as much as she loved those cupcakes. I mean, I might be able to recall something. It was a long time ago, but I'm a cat. We never forget."

Adrien chuckles, "I think that's elephants." Then decides, "maybe I'll just grab something at that store down the street from the school."

Plagg pouts, "you sure because I'll really try to remember."

Adrien pushes himself up, "yeah, I'm sure." He walks into the dining area and sighs, "but I have time. I think I would like to hear more about this past holder of yours. Storytime?"

Plagg was surprised, "you'd like me to tell you about Amelia?"

Adrien nods, "I'd like to forget about my life for a little while if you don't mind."

Plagg understood. Plagg watched Adrien take a seat at the dining table that could sit so many, but barely sat two most nights.

Plagg flinches when he notices Adrien force a smile. Adrien asks, "so you had a girl holder, huh?" And the intention behind the smile made Plagg's small heart melt.

Plagg doesn't comment on it. He respects Adrien's wish to forget about all of this for a little while. So he chuckles and tries to keep the mood light (because he knows that's what Adrien needs right now), "yeah... Well, the miraculous doesn't really care about the gender of the holder."

Adrien says, "Why is she so memorable?"

Plagg thinks for a moment, "many reasons, but for starters, she wasn't the original choice for my miraculous."

Adrien gasped, "she stole it."

Plagg shakes his head, "no. So you know how Tikki and I are yin and yang and one can't be active without the other blah blah, well she was the choice for the ladybug holder, and her partner, Ryder, was going to be my holder."

Adrien was intrigued, "what happened?"

Plagg says, "well, in Ryder's words, when he transformed with me as my holder he felt like he was dying and Amelia said when she was Tikki's holder and would transform, she felt like she wanted to die." Adrien was on the edge of his seat, so Plagg continued. "This is before Master Fu. Before the Peacock and the Butterfly went missing. Amelia and Ryder were protectors of the jewels. Whenever the guardians felt the Miraculous wasn't safe under their care they would choose a holder for Tikki and me. It's much easier for the Miraculous to be protected if someone is wearing it. Tikki and I being the most powerful were often sought. Not for the wish typically, but sometimes. Most of the time people wanted to use one of the powers for evil. Mostly mine, but whatever. Right before Amelia and Ryder were chosen, I was rescued by the guardians by someone wishing to use my power to harm innocent people."

Adrien was flabbergasted, "wow, so why would it be safer for your power to be active."

Plagg shrugged, "they believed with an active holder wearing our Miraculous, they would be safer. And this particular time, they chose the United States for the two newest holders. Only because it was on the other side of the world. They almost gave up after searching tirelessly for holders in that country. Not all people were bad or selfish. They would be fine holders and they would have been if the guardians didn't notice those fine choices had a full schedule."

Adrien tilts his head, "what you mean?"

"You know. Like jobs, they couldn't abandon at a whim and such. And has a holder sometimes you can't avoid when danger strikes. But they had jobs and Kids. And Spouses. They of course were going to choose adults, but then an idea struck them. So, the first young holders were discovered. Thinking about it, Ryder and Amelia are probably why Master Fu chose you and Ladybug in the first place. But anyway, at this time Everyone knew the limitations that younger holders have, but younger holders have more freedom than most adults. Yeah, you have to abide by more rules than most adults and listen to adults blah blah blah, but your schedules when you are young can be flexible."

Adrien laughs, "really? Flexible. Guess Master Fu didn't really take my schedule into consideration. It was hard to escape Armand and Natalie." He pauses, "and Father."

Plagg laughs awkwardly, "yeah I know your -er were busier than most kids, but it's not like you had to work."

Adrien bitterly laughs, "full-time model for my father ring a bell." Both remained silent for a few minutes before Adrien spoke up again, "do you think he knew?"

Plagg questioned, "what? That you are Cat Noir?" Adrien just nods, so Plagg says, "nah. If he knew he would have won, don't you think? If he knew, why not akumatize you?"

Adrien sighs, "yeah, guess your right."

Plagg suggests, "maybe we finish the story another time?"

Adrien shakes his head, "no." He checks the time, 6:26 am. "I want to hear the rest. Sorry, Plagg, I-I just you know."

Plagg understood Adrien wanted him to just pretend that didn't happen and continue the story. "Uh, so let's see, well Ryder and Amelia quickly became known as the greatest pair of holders because they were able to learn from and with one another. See most adults are set in their ways, but Ryder and Amelia were still learning about themselves that they were eventually shaped by each other."

Adrian smiles, "you know, I did always wonder why Master Fu chose two teenagers vs any adult but was afraid he would take you away from me if I brought it up."

Plagg shakes his head, "Master Fu wasn't perfect, but he was slightly better than those other pricks from my story."

Adrien chuckles, "okay, so if they chose this Amelia to wield the Ladybug miraculous, how did she end up your holder?"

"So the same rule applied when the Lulu, the guardian tasked to find a ladybug holder, gave Amelia the earrings, she explained what would be expected of her blah blah blah. Amelia was chosen because she was able to think on her feet. Walking by, she noticed a building on fire with a kid screaming about his dog but no one was letting him go. She zipped in and before you know it, she emerged with a dog. But then was gone giving no one time to properly thank her is what Lulu liked about her for the Ladybug miraculous. Though, later on, she admitted that this cute boy Ryder finally noticed her and invited her to a party for their last day of middle school that she had to get home and get ready for. If Ryder hadn't finally given her notice or whatever she would have stayed and washed away in the glory."

Adrien interrupts, "wait," Adrien smirks, "Ryder?"

Plagg nods.

Adrien chuckles, "as in the Ladybug Ryder?"

Plagg nods, "apparently she had this huge crush on this boy for a long time and he finally invited her to a party, but as friends. This was before either had the Miraculous. So after she met Malbug, which was the name Ryder took on as the Ladybug holder, she started crushing on him. She gave up on the hope that she and Ryder would ever be together. She said the only difference between each crush was as Amelia she couldn't confess her feeling because she was afraid of rejection. But because of the mask, she felt more confident to tell Malbug to his face."

Adrien snorts, "wait she didn't know it was Ryder, right?"

Plagg laughs, "that's right. I would be laughing so hard in her bra."

"wait, what?"

Plagg confirms, "her bra. She would have me hide in her cleavage."

Adrien couldn't help but laugh, "are you kidding me?"

"She rarly had a bag on her, but she would keep everything in her bra so she said why not her Kwami."

Adrien snorts, "uh okay. Anyway, go on."

Plagg says, "well, what made this really funny was Ryder started crushing on Amelia soon after they finally became friends, and couldn't tell her. He felt she wouldn't like him for him. And their friendship was new but quickly becoming prominent that he didn't want to ruin anything or whatever. Now they were friends and superheroes and they just were too much. And when they eventually discovered the other was who, they were so mad at each other and themselves."

Adrien snickers, "I bet. Like that could never really happen. You have to be exaggerating."

Plagg snorts, "don't say never! But moving on, this major douchebag Shang-hee was choosing my holder and found Ryder who was walking by a park when these young kids were playing with fire. Nearly destroyed the whole park and Ryder discouraged that sort of behavior. Shang-hee felt that Ryder understood destruction and how awful it can be if used too much or improperly blah blah, Plagg is evil, blah... Destruction is evil. I'm Shang-hee and I'm a jackass. Dickhead thinks I'm dangerous blah."

Adrien rolls his eyes, "are you going to swear through this whole story?"

Plagg thinks for a moment before answering, "most likely."

"You know your not evil right?"

Plagg smiles "thanks to holders like Amelia and like you kid, I do know that."

Adrien says, "honestly I don't know the other Kwami that well, but you have to be the best Kwami there is."

Plagg smirks, "if Ladybug ever lets you near the box, can you let them know."

Adrien chuckles, "sure buddy."

Then Plagg continues, "so skipping to after Shange-hee gave Ryder the Miraculous and explained Ryder's responsibilities and blah blah blah boring. Ryder and I were alone and he asked me how he transformed. And he did. And he vomited right after transforming."

Adrien scratches his head, "was he sick or something?"

Plagg continues, "getting there. He de-transformed and asked me if that was supposed to happen, and I didn't know why he would get sick with one transformation, so I answered as truthfully as possible, that not everyone can handle my power." Plagg noticed Adrien staring out his ring, "hey now, only impure souls get corrupted. As long you use the power of destruction with good intentions as you do, you're fine. And I explained that to Ryder. So he transformed again and once more vomited in the same trashbin as before. But nevertheless, sick or not, he still managed to sneak out with his transformation and started hunting for the partner Shang-hee swore him to protect. They eventually bumped into one another and he vomited near her person. She could barely move though. She looked like death spit her out."

Adrien admitted, "never really considered whether someone would be the wrong choice."

Plagg explained, "well, they weren't really the wrong choice. They were just given the wrong miraculous. This phenomenon really only happens to the Ladybug and Black Cat holders. Before these two, we never knew someone who should have been given the Ladybug would be violently ill when transforming and especially when using the power of destruction. And someone who should have been given the Black Cat would become suicidal when transforming and especially when using the power of creation."

Adrien asked, "did Master Fu ever make a mistake like that?"

Plagg bites his lip, "that's a whole different story, kid. Master Fu's mistake was much worse. He gave me to someone inherently evil. That Cat killed that Ladybug. Nearly took over the world, but that was a long time ago too."

Adrien then asked, "well, eventually I am going to want to hear that story, but with um Amelia and Ryder, if no one knew why they were like that, why did they end up switching Miraculous?"

Plagg smiles, "Amelia was amazing. After a little over a month, they had their first real battle with someone after the Black Cat ring and they were losing. Ryder called upon a Cataclysm as soon as one of these people went to grab his ring. He vomited as he held onto the power. But one of them laughed and explained they just have to wait until the kid is forced to de-transform and then they would have the ring. So Amelia knew they had to get out of there and she decided to shoot her shot with a Lucky Charm risking the waive of depression she knew would come as soon as she said the words lucky charm. At this point, she already declared to never use that power because she said those voices were strong and she knew deep down she really didn't want to die. So you know, she didn't want to hear it. But it... It was that charm. It was a replica of the ring but with black and red spots, of course. And it gave her an idea."

Adrien was shocked, "so she was the one who decided to make the switch."

Plagg nodded, "yeah. Listen, she swung that yo-yo around Ryder's waist and pulled him towards her. She got them out of there quick enough for the people chasing them not to see where they went. And she showed Ryder the lucky charm and explained that she thinks they are correctly chosen but given the wrong Miraculous. She said they need to swap. Ryder was against the idea of switching. Blah blah."

Adrien tilts his head, "you said he was so sick, why would be against it?"

"He was a goody-two-shoes type and he explained to Amelia that they were chosen for a specific Miraculous and shouldn't dishonor the guardians or whatever. But Amelia wasn't having it. She said the luck charm wouldn't lie to her. She explained she was supposed to protect the cat and he was supposed to protect the ladybug. She basically ordered for them to each de-transform right there and swap. He reminded her of the rule they had about not sharing their identities with one another. And let me just say that she hated that rule way more than you do, Adrien."

Adrien chuckles, "oh yeah?"

Plagg snorted, "she would never betray her partner's trust, but she teased him so often. She never really tried to unmask him, but she would pretend constantly that she was following him or she just going to snatch the earings. And Ryder used to get so mad. But deep down he knew he could trust her. And it was this moment when they were at their lowest and they barely knew one another that reassured him that he could trust her. She turned around and kept her eyes straight ahead. She said, turn around. If you don't want to know who I am, I don't need to know who you are then. We'll make the switch without ever seeing the other's face."

Adrien checked the time, 4:46, and smiled before letting out a long yawn, "Really wish I could have met her."

Plagg lands on Adrien's head, "me too kid. She was smart and brave. You know after the two officially switched Miraculous they were able to switch the Miraculous whenever they needed to. I guess knowing she wasn't the holder killed all those dark thoughts she originally had."

Adrien was confused now, "why would they ever need to?"

Plagg explains, "well, I'll get there kid. One day someone just happened to be after the possible wish they would get when combining both Miraculous and Malbug got this strange lucky Charm. Very similar to the one Kitty Kat got when she decided they needed to switch miraculous."

Adrien realized, "the ring?"

Plagg nodded, "once Kitty saw the ring she knew what the lucky charm was telling them. Each was confused and scared. They did not want to feel like that again, but Kitty Kat decided they would go ahead and listen to the Charm. She believed in the magic and believed it would not lead them astray. They closed their eyes and claws in and spots off. They made the switch. And, claws out and spots on. But it was different. They were fine. Kitty Kat figured it was because they were borrowing the Miraculous versus holding the Miraculous. The reason the Lucky Charm needed them to switch... Uh, this will answer your earlier question. See, Kitty came from a much more violent background, and the Lucky Charms she produces showed that."

Adrien tilted his head, "Is that how it works?"

Plagg nods, "the Lucky Charm is to assist the user. It's limited by the user's knowledge and experience. Ryder grew up entirely different from Amelia."

Adrien pouts, Plagg was confused and asked "what's wrong?"

Adrien says, "well what made her so special that the lucky charm would tell Malbug that he needs to switch his miraculous with her."

Plagg answers, "we don't know. Could be that the earrings got to know Amelia during her month or so wearing them. Could be because of the connection Ryder and her created. Honestly, if you're wondering why Ladybug never received a lucky charm to switch with you, it may just be because the two of you have very similar tastes and knowledge, and experience. Ryder and Amelia were day and night different and it may seem like Ladybug is entirely different from you, but from that one Lucky Charm you did when you two accidentally switched Miraculous I think you two think similarly."

Adrien glares, "I remember, Ladybug called it simple like me."

Plagg snorts, "oh yeah, but it wasn't that simple if I remember correctly. Amelia would create a gun and guns shoot bullets. If her Lucky Charm is a flame thrower she knew she had to set something on fire. Her stuff was what was simple. Violent, but simple. Ryder couldn't create anything remotely helpful when fighting a nonmagic villain. And guess what. After a while, she discovered a secrete. She didn't tell the guardians or even Ryder."

Adrien asked, "but she told you? Master fu told me you guys are not supposed to know any secrets revolving around the Miraculous."

"It wasn't for my Miraculous. It was about the ladybug."

Adrien bites his lip, "can you tell me?"

"Well, she discovered if the wielder of the ladybug Miraculous can pinpoint the conclusion of their battle, they can control the Lucky Charm. See that power gives the holder a boost in the battle to give them an idea of how to win, but Amelia could never leave well enough alone. She said as long as she can calculate every possible outcome to her battle, she can forge whatever she likes to help her win."

Adrien was shocked, "I don't think even Ladybug can do that."

Plagg snorts, "I don't think she knows that's even an option. But, Amelia figured out many secretes to the Miraculous that she refused to share."

Adrien pouted, "isn't that selfish though?"

Plagg flew in front of his face, "don't you dare call her that. Every decision she ever made was in the best interest of me and the other Kwami."

Adrien held his hands out which Plagg slowly landed in his hands, "sorry buddy, I didn't mean it like that."

Plagg sighs, "I know that, but she was special, you know."

Plagg noticed the tear trail down Adrien's cheek. Plagg used his tiny paw to wipe the tear away, "just like you." And Plagg smiled when Adrien smiled. "You know, back then the only two known Miraculous were mine and Tikki. For the most part anyway."

Adrien tilted his head, "But isn't there more Miraculous than what's in your Miracle box?"

"Yeah. But ours are the most powerful and therefore the most sought after Miracle box was ours." Plagg continues, "so the guardians needed the Cat and Ladybug team to take charge of the box. They weren't the first team to take on a temporary guardian role of the box for extra protection to the box. The guardians brought each of them together and explained to them that Malbug will become the temporary guardian of the box and that Kitty Kat must be extra careful that nothing happens to Malbug while he guards the box."

"Let me guess." Adrien starts. "She was mad?"

Plagg laughs, "mad isn't a good word to describe what she felt. She yelled at them as they handed the box to Malbug. She goes on about how she should have been named the temporary guardian and Malbug backed her up."

"So Malbug told them that they should name Kitty Kat the guardian?"

Plagg reminds, "temporary guardian, but yeah. He explains that she knows everything there is to know about the Kwami and their Miraculous."

Adrien questions, "did they change their minds."

Plagg snorts, "no. The bias against me would always keep them from trusting Kitty Kat as they should have." Plagg took a breath, "so after they left Malbug said to her that he thought she should have been given control of the box so he tried to give it to her, but she shook her head. She bitterly said, "no, you're the temp guardian, you need to watch the box and protect the Kwami. He said as the temporary Guardian it's his duty to make the best decision when it comes to keeping the miraculous safe and he goes on to say that he felt the box would be safer under her care."

Adrien licks his lips. He just realized he had forgotten to breathe. He takes a breath of air before saying, "wow. He really trusted her?"

Plagg says, "I'm sure Ladybug trusts you."

Adrien felt bitter, "only after she lost the miraculous."

Plagg bites his lip, "maybe we stop the story for tonight."

Adrien sniffles, "please just continue. Let me hear what Malbug and Kitty Kat had." Plagg doesn't say anything, so Adrien apologizes, "I'm sorry. Please go on. I was just projecting."

"Well only if your sure you want me to finish the story?"

Adrien forces a smile, "yes please."

Plagg jumps right back into it, "um, so he tried to give her the box saying how he felt it would be safer with her, but this time she was calmer. He shook her head. She tells him, that she feels it would be safer if they spilt the box. She explains with him having the power over the box he can make two halves of one and then they each can take one. Half the miraculous stay with her and the other half with him."

Adrien was surprised, "they split the box? Really?"

Plagg nods, "Amelia spent months studying the grimoire. She knew that if Malbug commanded the box to split, it would. And after he commanded the box to split, she told him to make the miraculous randomly jump boxes."

Adrien wrinkled his nose, "what do you mean jump boxes?"

"She made it so the Miraculous in the miracle box would never stay in one of the halves for two long. And like Ladybug is able to grab a miraculous from her yoyo, Kitty figured they each could grab any Miraculous in their half of the miracle box with their weapon as a magic doorway. And they would be able to see what Miraculous they currently hold with their screen. But Kitty also told Malbug to place a limit on how many Miraculous can be retrieved from the weapon. They each had a limit of two."

Adrien scoffs, "wish Ladybug thought of that. Tikki should have mentioned it to her."

Plagg says, "yeah, I know. I yelled at Tikki but Tikki doesn't like to think about these two so can't be that mad at Sugarcub for not mentioning it, and didn't wanna bring it up after the fact that she lost all the Miraculous."

Adrien understood.

Plagg continued, "Kitty Kat said if they needed more than four additional miraculous to beat the bad guy, something was wrong but at that point, she said they could always go to the physical box."

Adrien asks, "why doesn't Tikki like thinking about them?"

Plagg stays quiet for a few minutes before saying, "Tikki should tell you about Ryder. He was her holder after all. Let's just say he made a mistake. A lapse in judgment. Tikki blamed herself."

Adrien asks, "he died?"

Plagg doesn't say a thing.

Adrien asks, "suicide?" Barley waits for Plagg to respond, "murder?" Plagg again remains silent. "Um sacrifice?"

Adrien sighs after watching Plagg remain silent. He notices the time, 7:12. Almost time to leave anyway. "I'm sorry. I won't push anymore. I get it. you don't want to think about it."

Plagg says, "not really that Adrien, I just feel Tikki knows more about what happened than I do."

Adrien rests his head on the table.

Plagg suggests, "maybe we get you back to bed and skip this whole going to school thing."

Adrien takes a deep breath, "honestly, I want to see my friends. I don't wanna be alone right now, not that your not enough Plagg, but I want... I want Nino" By the time Adrien said Nino, he was full-blown crying. "I want to make sure he doesn't hate me."

Plagg quickly flies to the bathroom and grabs a box of tissues. He rushes them back to Adrien. Adrien smiles and thanks Plagg, "I appreciate you. I am just so happy I at least have you."

Plagg soothes Adrien, "relax Adrian. Nino is still your friend. I'm sure of it."

Adrien sniffles. He blows his nose in the tissue he just wiped his eyes with. "My first real friend. I don't want to lose him because of my father." Another sniffle. "Marinette never wanted to be my friend and she'll tell Nino to st..."

Plagg had to interrupt, "whoa, wait a second. Pink-tails? She loves you."

Adrien snorts, "she's just too nice to say it, but she hates me and now I wouldn't blame her..."

Plagg wanted to scream. He couldn't help but think to himself, 'teenagers and their hormones.'

Plagg suggests, "maybe give them a call. I'll go grab your phone and charger and..."

Adrien shakes his head, "I don't want to look at it. Please don't bring it. I don't want..."

Plagg shushes him. "I won't bring it. Relax, it's going to be okay."

Adrien forces another smile, "can you promise?"

Plagg thinks about it before saying, "I'm sorry, but I can't." Plagg looks at the time. 7:22 am. "Want to go buy a muffin at that shop and head off to school?"

Adrien nods, "should probably head out now since I'm walking I assume."


Without looking up, Adrien asks for "a banana muffin please" and pulls his wallet out of his pocket.

The woman behind the counter gave him a total before pushing the muffin towards him. She took a sip from her coffee cup as Adrien pushed his credit card into the reader, but "declined" she had to quickly swallow.

"What?"

And their eyes met. She squinted as the two shared a gaze. "Want to try again?"

Adrien swallowed hard, "um yeah."

But once he inserted the card again, the same result. "Yeah, it declined again."

Adrien blinked, "I don't understand what's happening."

She rolled her eyes, "got a different form of payment?"

Adrien asked, "can I use a different card."

She shrugs, "you can sure try."

Adrian places that credit card away and pulls out his debit card. But that too gets declined. Adrian shouts, "that's impossible."

She holds her hand out for the muffin, "kid if you can't pay, can you please move it along."

Adrien felt like crying again, "no I can. I have money. I swear. That has never happened before. Just. Just here. Take a card, any of them."

She sighs, "just give me the muffin and go to school or something."

Adrien pouts, "no, I'm hungry. Please take my money. Just take it."

"Try a different card!"

Before Adrien could place his third attempt in the reader a man grabbed his arm and jerked him back. Before Adrien could register what was happening, the man sneered,

"What the hell are you doing free and about?"

Adrien asked, "what?"

The man's wife shouted, "you should be in jail with your father."

Adrien shakes his head, "no. I didn't know." Adrien felt guilty. He quickly added, "I didn't help him. I didn't know."

The man pushed Adrien, causing him to fall backward and hit his head. Adrien rubs the back of his head

Finally, the cashier recognized him, "Adrien Agreste. Yeah. It's you. Your Monarch's son."

Adrien says again. "I didn't know." He's about to push himself to stand up, but the man places his foot on his chest. "Please."

Adrien heard the cashier laugh, "you really think you are still rich? That's hilarious."

Adrien glares, "let me go!"

The man snickers, "Scared? Cause well, good. Show you what your father put us through!"

Adrien shouts, "but, I didn't know!"

The wife yells, "don't bother lying to us kid."

Adrien breathes out, "but I really didn't. I promise."

The cashier snorted, "never seen Adrien Agreste akumatised."

The man lifted his foot but brought it right back down onto his stomach.

Adrien let out an 'oof.' Then a swift kick to the side. "Your father can't come to the rescue, right?" And another kick. "Because he under arrest like you should be." Another hard kick to the side.

Adrien gasped for air, "stop." He curled up into a ball. It felt like forever before he stopped.

He slowly crawled off of Adrien. "Get out of here."

But Adrien doesn't move. The man snarled, "go before I take this to the next level."

Adrien forces himself up. As soon as he stands up, he feels the pain in his leg, "ah." He forces himself to stand straight. He half hobbles and a half run out the door. The street was now busier than before.

Plagg whispered, "are you okay?"

Adrien sniffled, "that's not fair. I didn't know. Like I wasn't in on it. I didn't help him. How can they blame me?"

And it didn't take long for someone to recognize him. But it wasn't like it normally went. The voice was angry. A crowd formed. They wanted to hurt him. Adrien smiled nervously as he was surrounded, "uh hi?"

"What was your part in the whole Hawkmoth game?" Someone shouted.

"I swear I didn't know."

Another yelled, "he's lying." Another shouted, "of course he is."

Adrien felt his back hit the wall of a building. "Please, I just want to go to school."

Another snarked, "school?" The cruel laughs as someone shouted, "should be in jail with your father."

Plagg whispered, "I think you should run. They look really mad."

Adrien looked around and he noticed a small opening that he could dart out of. He ran and pushed his way through the crowd. He heard someone shout, "get him."

Adrien pushed himself to run through the aching pain in his leg. He's had to run from mobs before, but he's never been afraid that they would hurt him. He just hated people fawning over him. Well, got his wish. Sort of.

Adrien knew he was safer if he could just transform, but he had to find a place where no one would notice him. He asked Plagg, "are." Heavy breathing. "they close?"

Plagg sneaks a peak, "yeah, Kid. Have a plan."

Adrien's heavy breathing nearly drowned Plagg's whisper. He wheezes, "no."


Meanwhile, with Nino...

Nino has been trying to call Adrien since 5:30 am, but Adrien has yet to pick up. And Nino can tell the phone is off, but he keeps trying anyway. He was scared. He wanted to make sure Adrien was okay, and he could only hope that Adrien hasn't checked online anything. He does not need to read any of that.

Nino hears Adrien's voicemail again and decides to leave a message this time, "Hey dude, it's me. I mean, please call me back, Adrien. I want to talk to you. I know you weren't an accomplice. I know that. I want you to be okay. Please call..." then the phone interrupted him with the end of recording messege.

Nino almost felt like crying, he runs downstairs. "Oh, yeah mom"

His stepfather grunted, "unbelievable. Great they arrested Monarch, but The little punk free an about." Nino noticed the cover of the paper his stepfather was reading.

"Adrien didn't do anything, though."

And his stepfather scoffed, "Nino, you're not still planning on speaking to that little bastard!"

Nino asked, "what? He's my best friend. Of course, I'm going to speak to him."

His mother rolled her eyes, "listen to Gerald. You will not mention his name under this roof.

Nino glared, "it's not his fault his father..."

His father growled, "like he didn't know. Your mother and I already decided that you will not speak to the terrorist kid and that's final."

"He's my best friend, you can't just..."

His mother slapped him. "Not another word."

Nino finally does let himself cry. "Adrien doesn't deserve this hate. He doesn't deserve to lose his best friend."

His mother raised her hand to slap him again and Nino flinched. But his stepfather stopped her. He got in the middle. She screamed, "what are you doing?"

He says, "Sharry, you do not have to hit him. You were thinking about it again. Go take a breather."

And she walked away. She knew Gerald was right.

Gerald turns to Nino, "sorry. She shouldn't have hit you."

Nino doesn't care about that. "Please don't make me stop being Adrien's friend. He needs me more than ever now."

Gerald sighs, "let's talk about this later. Come one, I'll drive you to school."

Nino grabbed his headphones and backpack and followed his stepfather to the car. Nino plopped down on the passenger seat and put his headphones up. He pulled up youtube and started watching his favorite music videos. On the drive, a video was sent to him by Alya.

She then sent a text, "you have to see this."

Nino gulped as he pressed play. And he saw his best friend running from an angry mob. Nino nearly gasped. He pressed pause and sent her a text back, "who took this? Why are they chasing him?"

Alya texted him back, "JSP (English equivalent (IDK)). Did you watch the end?"

Nino went back to the video and watched it to the end and saw a rock hit Adrien in the back with enough force that it caused Adrien to tumble to the ground. Nino couldn't believe his eyes as he watched his best friend attacked by a group of adults. The video cut off.

Nino texted Alya, "PDM (English equivalent (WTF))? Where is Adrien?" He sent another text right away, "where is he right now?"

Alya responded, "JSP. The video ended and Marinette and I tried locating based on the scenery from the video but there was nothing there." She sent a follow-up text, "everyone, including Adrien, was gone."

Nino didn't want to write because he didn't want to think about it, but he also was extremely worried about Adrien. He sent her a text, "should we go to the police? What if they killed him?"

Alya responded quickly. "Marinette and I already visited the police with her parents. They not too worried, you know. They said they will look into it, but none of us felt they meant it."

Nino writes back to her, "my parents said I'm not even allowed to talk to Adrien."

A minute went by and still no answer. Nino shoots another text to her, "they think he helped Shadowmoth or whatever Monarch. I know he didn't though."

Alya finally messages back, "mine too. But he's our friend and I think he's going to need friends right now."

Nino smiled as he sent her a new text. "Yeah. Marinette's parents?"

Alya responded, "maybe the sanest people in Paris right now."

Nino sends another text as his father pulled in front of the school, "I just got to school."

Alya texts back automatically, but he doesn't check it just yet.

His father says, "have fun at school."

Nino doesn't say anything. He grabs his things and steps out of the car.

Gerald asks, "did you hear me?"

Nino glared, "Adrien is my friend."

Gerald argues, "I told you, we can talk about this later."

Nino growls, "you and I both know that's not going to happen. So I'm telling you now, I'm not abandoning my friend."

Gerald says, "we are going to discuss this later. With your mother."

Nino wants to shout but doesn't want anyone else to hear. "She's not going to let me say anything. In her mind, I'm already done."

Gerald cries, "I am doing my best here, Nino."

Nino snarls, "you may have stopped her from beating the shit out of me, thank you, but you can't make her love me."

Gerald sighs, "do what you want, but don't let her find out."

Nino slams the door shut.

After the car drove away, he finally reads the text from Alya that says, "Marinette and I are going to be there in a few minutes."

Nino sent back a thumb. He notices Chloe, who looked worse than he did. 'Guess she hasn't spoken to him either.'

Nino approached her, "uh hi, Chloe."

Chloe scoffs, "ugh, what could you want?"

Nino asks, "you speak to Adrien?"

She doesn't say anything and Nino figures it's just Chloe being Chloe so thought, 'waste of time.' And turns to walk away. But before he does, Chloe whispers "daddy doesn't want to let Adrikins stay at the hotel because he's afraid of driving away business."

Nino turns back around, "my parents don't want me talking to him anymore."

Chloe said, "Sabrina's father said his aunt won't come to Paris to take him into her custody. He's going to be into the system. She said her father told her he's under investigation for being an accomplice."

Nino couldn't believe it, "what is wrong with people?"

Chloe whispers, "he's never been..." Nino watches her bite his lip. "He has always been friendly. He doesn't have it in him to hurt anyone. I know that he had no clue his father was..."

Nino says, "I know he didn't know."

Suddenly he heard his girlfriend's lovely voice, "Hey babe?"

Nino notices her arms held wide open for him to get a hug. 'She knows me so well.' Because Nino needed a hug.

Nino waves to Marinette, "uh, hi." He notices the tears staining her face. She didn't even have the energy to say hello to Nino. So she half waved and forced her head up.

Nino says, "Chloe hasn't heard from him either. I am too worried to focus on school today."

Alya sighs, "yeah. I get it. I hope he's okay."

Nino says, "Sabrina's dad said he has no family and no one willing to take him in. He's going to go to the system."

Alya says, "girl, your parents are willing to take custody of him, right?"

Marinette weakly nods, "have to find him first, but they said they would try."

Chloe asks, "they aren't afraid of ruining their business."

Marinette was insulted, "they are afraid for Adrien's safety."

Chloe whispered, "so am I. Let me know if you find him." Chloe walked inside.

Nino explains, "she said her father refused to extend an invitation to Adrien to stay at the hotel because he didn't want to drive away business."

Marinette felt bad now. 'Great.' "I'm sorry, I just..."

Nino stops her, "I know."

Marinette decides to ask, "Any luck getting him on the phone?"

Nino shakes his head, "I think his phone is off or dead, and in a way, it's better because maybe he won't see the online message boards."

Marinette tears up, "they chased him like an animal."

Alya adds, "like he was Monarch."

Nino agrees, "yeah."

They hear the bell but don't make an effort to move at first. Nino finally forces himself to smile, "I'm sure he's fine."

Alya kisses Nino on the cheek, "Hey, wanna head inside? I wanna talk to Marinette real quick."

Nino nodded. He understood. Or thought he did anyway. He assumed it was because Marinette is so in love with his best friend that she was jumping to the worse conclusions and it was tearing her up inside.

Once Nino was gone, Alya says, "girl, I don't think they would have gone that far. Most of those people in the video looked average. Like they have never been in trouble with the law."

"Monarch hurt people. Probably, people, they loved and I know what love can make you do."

Alya asks, "well, wanna ditch and head back out there as you know who?"

Marinette shakes her head. "Too suspicious for us to skip and possibly be spotted with Monarch now behind bars. And looking for Adrien no less."

Alya smirks, "Cat Noir didn't get the memo?"

She points towards where she spots Cat Noir jumping across rooftops.

Marinette pouts, "what the heck is that Cat doing?"

Alya snorts, "maybe looking for Adrien? Hey now that Monarch is gone, are you going to retire the Miraculous? Including yours and Cat Noir's?"

Marinette, "well, I was thinking about taking the ring back because I figured if there is no immediate threat, that power is too dangerous to be active, but I don't want to take my earrings off. And Tikki says that the earrings need the ring. Like one can't be active without the other."

Alya asks, "so you're not going to take the Miraculous away from him?"

Marinette explains "not if I wanna keep wearing mine." Then decides to add, "I might just make him tell me who he is though. Now that there is no risk of being akumatized."

Alya was excited, "so you two would finally share who you are, exciting. Let's skip class and talk about that in the library. Keep our minds off, you know, the other thing."

Marinette shakes her head, "I didn't say that. I said he'll tell me who he is. I'm the guardian. I should know who holds the other most powerful miraculous in the world." Marinette shrugs, "I haven't really decided yet. If it wasn't for him, I would have lost."

Alya asks, "Want me to try Adrien's phone again?"

Marinette nods, "yes please."

Alya takes out her phone. She punches Adrien's contact, presses the speaker, and then waits for the ringing to stop. And they slump when they hear Adrien's voicemail come to life. Before Alya can hit the red button, Marinette snatches her phone. At the beep, Marinette says "Adrien, it's me Marinette, and Alya. We are super worried. We saw this awful video and we want to make sure you are okay, please call us back."

Marinette hands the phone back to Alya, who asks, "you okay?"

Marinette shakes her head, "let's just get to class."


Cat Noir looks around before, "Claws in." He spots the school, now in the distance. He takes a step but then freezes. Fear rests in his chest.

Plagg lands on his head, "Adrien, how bad does it hurt?"

Adrien answers, "no it's not... None of that hurts now. I want to see my friends. They have to know I was innocent, right? They'll know."

Plagg bites his lip before answering, "I don't know. Maybe we should get back. To the house?"

Adrien yells, "no. I'm not going back there." Adrien then calms down and apologizes, "I am so sorry. I just- I don't know why they blame me. I didn't do anything. This isn't fair. I'm hungry and I think I sprained my ankle."

Plagg understands, "I know kid. I get it, but what if they hurt you. I can't sit by and watch these pricks hurt you."

Adrien asks, "maybe I should de-transform in public and show everyone I'm Cat Noir. Explain how I stopped him in the end and maybe..."

Plagg says, "no Adrien, they want to believe what they believe. You do that, they'll make something else up that still makes you out to be the villain."

Adrien nods, "your probably right. They probably hate me too. Maybe I shouldn't go to school today? Not like I can pretend everything is normal. Normally people don't try to kill me when they chase me." Adrien adds, "but Nino has always been there for me. He's my best friend. Or was. Maybe if I show Nino I'm Cat Noir he'll-he'll know I didn't know. Know I'm not... You know?"

Plagg nods slowly, "tell Nino and only Nino. Should be fine. Nino is your bestfriend. He is probably super worried about you, but you should tell him anyway. Because you need someone you trust to be there for you."

Adrien smiles, "I trust you Plagg."

Plagg was appreciative, "And I know that. And I love that. But I can't stick up for you with these human pricks. If Nino knows everything..."

Adrien cuts him off, "just talking ideally, I can't tell Nino. Ladybug would have a conniption."

Plagg growls, "don't think about her now. You need this. She told someone too if you recall the Scarbella stand-in?"

Adrien glares, "right?" The sighs, "I want to, but I don't want to make Ladybug mad."

Plagg rolls his eyes, "she'll get over it. That is if she ever finds out.

Adrien smiles, "mind if I transform, I promise I'll think of something and get you food in a bit."

Plagg nods, "Think I got a little energy."


After Nino left the girls, he trudged his way to the classroom. Not looking forward to sitting by himself. Once in the doorway, he nearly fell over at the sight of Adrien's side of the desk. Streamers calling Adrien awful names. Saying awful things to him.

He growled, "what the hell is this?"

Kim snorts, "for baby moth, if he ever has the guts to show his face around here."

Alix offers, "wanna sit back here with us, just in case he turns up?"

Nino took a deep breath, "what I want is you to leave Adrien alone! Get this bullshit out of here!"

Surprisingly it was Sabrina who spoke up next. "Oh, not you too."

'Where is Chloe?' Nino asks, "what?" He looked around the room, "you all think Adrien had something to do with Monarch?" The only ones willing to look him in the eyes were his bolder classmates like Kim, Max, and Alix. Surprisingly Sabrina also met his gaze without faltering.

Iven spoke next, "he used us to help his father win." Then he added, "or tried too."

Kim adds, "think it's a coincidence that he never been akumatized and our class is a number one target?"

Nino shouts, "yes. Maybe. It was his father, yeah, but Adrien didn't know. And Adrien doesn't deserve this."

"What's going on?" Nino turned to see Alya with her hand on her hip.

And then Marinette gasped when she saw Adrien's desk. "Who did that?"

Nino shakes his head, "I don't know."

Sabrina asks, "let me guess, you two believe Adrien's goody-goody act too."

"It's not an act!" Marinette couldn't help but snap. She snatched the streamer and threw it to the floor.

Alix rolls hers, "Marinette's opinion doesn't count."

Alya snaps, "excuse you?"

Alix shrugs, "she can't be unbias considering that huge fat crush."

"I am not biased. That's- Adrien needs friends now!"

"He's never going to love you!" Alix snickers. Then with a glare adds, "he used all of us to help his father win and thankfully they lost in the end."

Nino snarls, "shut up. You don't even know what you are talking about!"

Miss. Bustier burst threw the door with an apology, "I'm sorry I am late students. I had an emergency meeting with the staff. Please everyone take your seats."

The three didn't make an effort to move. Miss Bustier asks, "Is there an issue?"

Nino points to the streamers with cruel words sprawled across Adrien's desk and now the floor as well. "That is the issue, Miss.!"

And Miss. Bustier sighs, "I know with Monarch's unmasking, came a surprising conclusion and some of you may have mixed feelings for Adrien right about now..." She sighs again, "I don't care what goes on outside of these walls, but inside my classroom and this building there shall be no more of that." And she pointed to the streamers.

Miss. Bustier adds, "since you three have such strong feelings about this, you three can clean it up."

They were honestly surprised. But Alya regained her composure and said, "that's not fair. Make them clean it up since they made this mess." Alya pointed toward the rest of the class.

Kim snorts, "Marinette threw it on the floor."

Miss. Bustier ignores that and says, "we wasted enough time. I need you three to pick up that stuff and take it to the dumpster."

Alya complained the whole way down the steps and to the dumpster.

Nino noticed Chloe go into the girl's room. 'Is she crying?' "Hey, you two should go talk to Chloe. She just went into the girl's room. I walk this stuff outside to the dumpster." Nino encouraged them to pile the garbage onto him.

Alya laughs, "like she wants to talk with either of us."

Marinette says, "maybe she wouldn't mind?"

Alya sighs, "alright. Give it a shot I guess."

Nino carefully made his way outside with an arm full of Garbage. He couldn't open the dumpster with his hands full so he has forced the drop the stuff and then open the lid.

"Need a hand?"

Nino was startled and then his eyes widen when he sees Cat Noir bend over to pick up some of the streamers. "Uh, yeah if you don't mind?"

Cat Noir noticed some of the things the streamers said. He asked, "so what do you think about this?"

Nino squinted, "what?"

Cat Noir pushed, "well Adrien had to of been an accomplice, right?"

Nino snaps, "you are just like the rest of this stupid city. You don't know Adrien, don't you dare" Nino poked Cat Noir in the chest, "ever say Adrien knew and hurt people because Adrien would never. Adrien is the kindest person I know."

Cat Noir asked, "you really think that?"

Nino screams, "I know!" The decides to ask, "what are you doing transformed anyway? No akumas anymore. Do you want to be useful? How about you find my best friend. Some pricks attacked him and now he's missing and no one seems to care!"

Cat Noir couldn't stop himself from latching onto Nino into a tight hug, "but you care."

Nino shouts, "what the heck is wrong with you." As he tries to push Cat Noir off of him. "Get off of me you psycho."

Cat Noir does let go, "sorry, I have something to tell you."

Nino quickly grabs the last of the garbage from the ground and throws it in the dumpster. "Unless you have Adrien, I do not want to hear it."

Nino tries to walk away, but Cat Noir grabbed his hand. "No. Just wait. Please I want to tell you something."

Nino snarls, "go find Adrien!" He snaps his hand free.

Cat Noir whispers, "no need." but before he could finish with the detransformation phrase,

Nino cuts him off, "Adrien is worth saving." Nino quickly turns around. As he walks away, "I just hope Ladybug strips you of that ring since your a huge dick saying the same awful crap about my best friend.."

Cat Noir takes a deep breath and says "claws in."

Nino heard it and stopped, "did you just...?" Then he shuts his eyes tight, "why did you do that?"

"Please look at me."

Nino shakes his head, "no. I don't want to know."

"I need you to look at me, please."

Nino clams down, "why? Why me? Don't have a family to share with now that it's over?"

Nino flinched when he heard a sob escape Cat Noir's throat. "I don't have any family." Nino would have rolled his eyes if they were open. But then Cat Noir finished his thought, "not since my father was arrested for being Monarch."

Nino shot his eyes opened and snapped his head up straight. 'It can't be.' He slowly turned around and who stood before him was his best friend and a Kwami. Plagg. 'Holy shit.'

Nino quickly shook the shock and ran to hug Adrien. Adrien was quick to return the hug. "Dude I have been worried sick about you. Where is your phone?"

Adrien whispers, "the mansion. I didn't want it. I just left. And-and everyone hates me."

Nino shushes, "yeah, well I don't. And neither does Marinette and Alya. Oh and maybe Chloe too."

"I thought you were going to hate me too. You sounded so mad after we unmasked my father."

Nino was shocked, but then remember he told Adrien his secrete. "Yeah, at him. Not at you. I know you better than anyone. I thought I did anyway." He chuckles softly, "Did I really think you were stealing my girlfriend at one point?"

Adrien smiles, "you tried to kill me too."

"If only I knew it was you behind that goofy smile and those dorky puns."

Adrien laughs, "my puns aren't that bad."

Nino says, "let's go see the girls. They'll want to see you."

Adrien pouts, "you promise?"

Nino nods, "yeah." The Nino remembered the Kwami, "Plagg, long time no see?"

Plagg sticks his tongue out at Nino, "miss me."

Adrien shakes his head, "Plagg, behave." Then remembers, "he's actually hungry." Then Adrien's stomach rumbled, "I mean we both are."

Nino asks, "you haven't eaten?"

Plagg says, "his card declined."

Adrien corrected, "cards." Then asks, "I don't know why? But I have credit and I have money in the bank for my debits? I don't..." And he trailed off.

Nino says, "I think they froze your accounts for an investigation."

Adrien says, "I didn't do anything. I swear I didn't know."

Nino wipes the tear from Adrien's eye, "I know that." Then says, "let's go get the girls, and maybe we'll skip and go get something to eat."

Adrien nods, "I'd like that."

Plagg asks, "cheese?"

Nino smirks, "It makes sense now. Plagg is the reason for your cheese addiction?"

"All Plagg's addiction."


Back in New York, at the gate, they were calling for Krissy's group. She looked at her ticket to confirm. "Guess that's me." She grabs her bag. "Thanks for waiting and walking through security and shit."

Ronald snorts, "just can't believe you thought you getting a freaking knife onto an airplane."

"Fuck you, man. I didn't think about it, you know?"

Ronald holds his hands up with a sheepish grin, "yeah yeah." He snatched the new translation device Krissy bought, "don't forget this thing-mc-bob."

Krissy snatches it, "oh yeah. Imma wants that."

Ronald smiles, "Go get your nephew. Can't wait for another addition to the fam. Think he'll babysit?"

Krissy laughs, "he ain't even at the house yet and you trying to set him up as a sitter?"

Ronald holds his finger up, "no, not just for Andrew. All the babies. Grown-ups all go out and Drink."

Krissy rolls her eyes, "Reginia still... oh wait, she ain't no baby no mo'! Our girl hit the big 2! 1! 21 baby!"

Ronald says, "exactly, she'll want to party with the big kids now."

Krissy chuckled before she kissed Ronald on the head, "we'll see bro. Wish me luck."

Krissy started walking away, and Ronald shouted, "I wish France luck. Look out Paris. Krissy Jordan, loudest, mouthiest American coming your way."

She briefly turned around to stick her tongue out at him and then quickly gave him the finger before slapping the ticket down on the counter. She pulled her license and passport from her bra. Once her documents were returned she was instructed to enter the gate.

On the plane, she struggled to put her bag the overhead. A string of curse words escaped her lips before a nice gentleman grabbed the bag for her, "Bonjour, Mademoiselle, s'il vous plaît laissez-moi vous aider." The taller man pushed the bag onto the overhead.

Krissy was able to relax slightly, "what?"

The man asks, "Parlez-vous français?"

Krissy understands, "oh, uh- yeah no." She looked at the translator on her seat. "Not yet anyway. Um, anglaise?"

The man nodded, and then tried, "anglais no good."

Krissy understood. She points to herself. "français no good." She points to the bag and says, "but merci."

The man smiled. He nodded at her before taking his own seat.

Krissy started opening her new device. She pulled out the owner's manual. "Okay, let's see. Connect the device to your phone, a'ight." She quickly connected it to her phone. "Then place each earbud in the ear." She did that. "And last I just have to attach the microphone to uh they recommend the dominant side of your head. Okay." She was able to find the USB on the right earpiece with her finger and connected the microphone with ease. She makes sure she has everything. "Oh, I have to pick a language." She pulls her phone out and sees where the device messaged her asking her to choose a language. She plugged in French.

Krissy whispers, "hope you work." Then she remembered the french gentlemen behind her. She positioned herself to face him. He noticed and smiled at her.

She says, "hi, can you understand what I am saying now?"

The man looked at her strangely, "I thought you couldn't speak French?"

She was ecstatic, "oh, shit. I just understood you. I can't speak French. But this little thing was the best four hundred dollar investment I ever made." She made a gesture to the translation device in her ears.

The man was curious, "what is that?"

She explains, "they call it The Translator. It connects right to your phone. I had my eyes on it for a while. And I was able to finally get it. You speak your native language into it, but other people hear the language you want them to hear and you can understand the language you chose to speak."

"I am going to have to get one of those next time I have to travel to the United States. It would save me from having to hire a translator every few months."

Krissy giggled, "well, I am tired. This was a last-minute emergency. Do you mind if I put my seat back?"

The man was courteous, "whatever you like, ma'am."

Krissy put the seat back and was about to take the device out to put in her wireless earbuds, but then she realized, "fuck, I can listen to youtube through you to?" She was impressed. She played her favorite playlist that she had saved and closed her eyes.


Back in Paris, Nino led Adrien toward the girl's bathroom. He knocked on the door and when no one answered. He closed his eyes and opened the door a crack. "I'm not looking, but Marinette?" Nothing. "Alya?" 'Damn it.' Then he decided to try just in case, "Chloe?" Nope.

Nino stepped away from the door and suggested, "maybe they went back to class?" Nino suggested, "I can just send them a text to meet us after class."

Adrien shrugged, "let's go to class."

Nino nearly gasped, "what?" Then adds, "you don't have to. Not today."

Adrien shakes his head, "you'll be there, right?"

Nino decided, "I'm not leaving your side."

On the way to the classroom, Adrien asked, "you won't tell anyone, right?"

Nino asked, "what?"

Adrien verifies, "about you know..." Adrien then gestured to his shirt and Plagg's tiny head came out before diving back into hiding.

Nino was slightly insulted, but he understands Adrien's concern. He told Adrien not only his secrete which was one thing. But he also told him Alya's which wasn't his place to reveal. And Nino knows if things were different, he would probably never get to learn his friend's secret identity. Even if Adrien wanted to tell Nino before, Nino realizes that he might have ruined his chances after blurting out both his and Alya's secrete. That was when Nino realized, 'did I call my best friend annoying? Oh my god!' Nino smiles reassuringly, "I promise, I will not tell anyone."

As they approached the classroom door Adrien says, "thanks for not hating me."

Nino whispers, "whatever happens, I am your best friend. You remember that." He looked through the window. He can see Chloe in Adrien's seat and Marinette and Alya in their normal seats.

Adrien then noticed, "oh, we don't... You don't want to sit next to me anymore?""

Nino waves the worry away, "no. Dude, everyone is acting stupid and crazy. And Chloe may be horrible most of the time, but she may be one of the only other people in the city that knows your innocent. So the girls didn't know you, like back. Um, and she... Crying in the bathroom. I- the girls to check on her... She probably, maybe got into a fight with Sabrina and..." Nina realized he was rambling, so he said, "but you and I are going to go seat in that empty row in the back. I repeat, dude. I am not leaving your side."

Adrien smiles, "thank you."

Nino opened the door and Alya nearly fell over when Adrien walked into the classroom. She tapped Marinette, and once she saw Adrien she dropped her pencil.

Adrien gulped and tried to avoid anyone's eyes. But even still he felt extremely uncomfortable. He could still feel everyone's eyes on him and this was new. Angry. Something he is still not used to. They were all glaring as he walked into the room.

But then Adrien met Chloe's gaze and he can almost see a trace of his first best friend. From when they were kids. Just him and her. And she was nice. He never saw this side of her until he joined the school. But according to Nino, in who he believes because Nino has no reason to lie about it, Chloe has always been this cold and mean to everyone. 'She was crying.' But she still smiles warmly at him. Which makes his heart melt a little bit. Then he notices Marinette, 'So has she.'

Miss. Bustier notices the boys enter and she says "your late, Adrien." Adrien noted that she doesn't sound happy to see him either.

Adrien doesn't have a chance to say anything because Nino glares, "he knows." Nino grabs his hand and starts walking to the back of the room. As he passed Alya, he whispers in her ear, "gonna sit in the back with Adrien."

Alya whispers toward Marinette and Chloe who leaned in to hear, "Nino going to sit in the back next to Adrien."

Once in the back, his cheeks heated up as everyone watched him sit down. He doesn't feel confident like he once had. He keeps his eyes trained downward. It felt like forever before Miss. Bustier called for everyone's attention to return to the lesson. Then Kim stands up and shouts, "this is what we are doing?"

Miss. Bustier asks Kim to expand on his question.

Kim growls, "we are going to just sit here and pretend everything is okay? We are going to let this terrorist sit in our classroom? We going to just go on about our lesson like a criminal didn't walk into our class?"

Nino was about to shout something, but Adrien stood up. He couldn't stop himself from crying. And threw the tears he glared. He shouted, "I didn't know!"

"Sure you didn't." Alix didn't shout, but she couldn't hold back a good sarcastic comment.

Adrien whispered, "I didn't."

Sabrina surprised most of the other students by saying, "pretty convenient for you to join school right before Hawkmoth first made his initial appearance."

Adrien argued, "I just wanted to go to school."

Marinette surprised Adrien when she screamed, "Leave him alone!"

Kim snapped, "shut up. Sabrina made a great point. And this class has been a huge target for those Akumas."

Adrien didn't know how to defend that.

Alya said, "don't talk to Marinette like that. And leave Adrien alone. He clearly didn't know. Sabrina's point is garbage. Chloe was the one who made everyone upset or angry enough to become a target!"

Nino added, "Adrien never hurt anyone in this class or city where they would become Akmatised. He has always been nice to every last one of you!"

Kim shot back, "what about his fake cousin bit? Where he got three of us Akumatized?"

Marinette asks, "are you talking about Felix?"

Chloe screams, "Felix is real, you jerk! They look like twins. Felix has even been able to fool me."

Adrien decides to say, "for what it is worth, I am sorry. But I really didn't know. I never helped him. I swear."

Sabrina snarks, "not worth much."

Alix says, "no one believes you didn't know."

And at the same time, Marinette, Alya, Nino, and Chloe shouted, "I believe him!"

Kim argued, "your stupid. Still, buying a sad little rich boy act? He knew everything and he can cry and lie all he wants, but he helped hurt everyone in this city. Tell your dear friends the truth, Adrien. You helped your father because you don't even know how to say no to him."

Before Adrien could retort, Miss. Bustier yells, "Adrien Agreste, you have disturbed my class long enough. Either sit back down, or you can go to the principal's office."

Adrien doesn't say anything and just sits back down. Nino was the one to stand up, "that's not fair. Kim was the one to disturb the class!"

Miss. Bustier asks, "would you like to leave?"

Nino glared but sat back down without a word. Adrien mouthed, 'thanks.' And Nino placed a hand on Adrien's thigh to give him a reassuring squeeze.

And another interruption in the form of a woman barging into the classroom. Followed by the principal. Miss. Bustier was annoyed. "What's going on?"

Mr. Damocles spots Adrien in the back, "hm, it appears he did actually show up today."

Miss. Bustier understood he meant Adrien and responded "yes. Late, but he made it in."

Mr. Damocles explains, "Adrien, I'm sorry. But, you have to go with this lady."

Adrien looks at Nino and then back at the lady, "what? Why? I want to stay here."

She steps forward, "well, that is not an option. Let's go. Don't make me repeat myself."

Mr. Damocles explains, "she's with social services."

Adrien repeats, "social services? I want... Can't I stay to finish the school day?"

Before the woman was able to answer that, Mr. Damocles says, "unfortunately not. But it's going to be okay. We'll first go to my office, okay?"

Adrien looked at Nino. Then back at Mr. Damocles. "Can Nino come?"

Mr. Damocles looks at the social services woman and then back at the boys. Adrien looks scared and Nino looks angry. She stepped forward, "no he can't. Now let's go."

Adrien didn't move.

The woman repeats, "I said, let's go."

"No." Adrien shakes his head. "I don't want to go with her. I want to stay here!"

The woman snaps, "you don't have a choice."

Adrien begged, "please, I just want to stay here. Please, don't make me go."

Mr. Damocles says, "Adrien, I am sorry. Can we please go talk about it in my office?" Then he decided, "Nino, how about you come too."

The woman snarls, "what did I just tell the kid!"

Mr. Damocles shook off her glare, "we are going to my office. It's fine." Then back at Adrien, "If Nino comes, will you come to my office?"

Adrien nodded, as he slowly stood up. Nino stood up as well and followed Adrien down towards Mr. Damocles. Mr. Damocles put a hand on Adrien's shoulder and led both boys out of the room. But Adrien heard one last goodbye statement by Kim, "good riddance."

Once in the office, both boys sat down. The woman did not look pleased with a further delay. Mr. Damocles requested, "Ma'am, would you please give me a moment with the boys."

The woman rolls her eyes, "this is ridiculous. I have been hunting this kid down all morning, and I would like to bring him to the shelter sometime today so I can go home."

Mr. Damocles put more effort into his request, "I need a moment alone with my students."

And she doesn't retort back. She walks out of the room without a peep. She also didn't bother shutting the door. Mr. Damocles asks, "Nino, would you mind- the door please?"

Nino nodded. He stood up quickly and shut the door. Mr. Damocles then requested, "lock it too!" Nino complied before sitting back down.

Mr. Damocles turned to Adrien, "I saw that video. Those people chasing you. Are you okay?"

Adrien shrugs, "I got away."

Mr. Damocles rubs his eyes, "for what it's worth, kid... I'm sorry. I know you didn't do anything wrong and it's not fair these morons in this stupid city are blaming your father's crimes on you."

Adrien looked hopeful, "you know I didn't know."

Mr. Damocles nodded, "of course, I know that. I know you. You were one of my sweetest students. Since you arrived. I want to help you as much as I can. First, I wanted you to have my number." He quickly jots down the digits, twice. He hands one to Adrien and then one to Nino. "You hold onto my number as well. Remember, Nino. This is for Adrien-related emergencies however big or small. Or in case this lady or someone destroys your stuff, Nino will have my number as well."

Adrien felt like crying. No one has been this nice to him since all of this happened. "Thank you."

Mr. Damocles asks, "do you know if you have any family?"

Adrien answers right away, "Yeah, my mom's sister and my cousin. But, I haven't heard from her since my father has been revealed. I don't think she really likes me."

Mr. Damocles pushes, "grandparents?"

Adrien thinks for a moment, "my grandmother died when I was little, but my grandfather doesn't talk to us since my mom disappeared. He blamed my father and I never made him happy." Adrien started to remember his grandmother. The sweetest woman in his life. "My grandmother was nothing like anyone in our family. She got in so much trouble with my parents and my grandfather when she showed me how to fingerpaint." He chuckled a little bit.

Nino placed his hand on Adrien's shoulder, "you okay?"

Adrien nods, "Yeah, sorry."

Mr. Damocles waves off his worry, "no, Adrien. It's fine. That was your mother's parents, how about your father?"

Adrien shrugs, "his parents died way before he met my mom." Then he cries, "but I wasn't good enough for my father so he risked everything to try to bring my mom back to life leaving me without any real-life skills or family."

Nino asks, "can someone take him in? I mean, my parents won't, but Marinett's parents might? Or maybe you? If that lady takes him away, we're not going to get to see him."

Mr. Damocles explains, "I already offered, but was denied because I'm single and only have the one bedroom."

Nino asks, "okay, so can we ask Marinette's parents?"

Mr. Damocles says, "yeah. We have to let Adrien go with her, but I have the address." He pulled out a tiny card and handed it to Nino. "If her parents would like to try and take custody, then that's where they are going to have to go!"

Nino understood and promised, "I am going to do everything in my power to make sure you stay safe."

Adrien says, "I don't want to go with her. Please don't make me."

Mr. Damocles cringes at the fear in Adrien's eyes, "I wish I didn't have to, but Adrien, for right now you have to go. I'll go get her."

Adrien watched as Mr. Damocles opened the door. Once he was no longer blocking the door, Adrien ran. He knew if he could just make it out of the school, he would find somewhere to transform.

He heard the lady scream, "got a runner."

Suddenly he was tackled to the ground. His face pushed onto the hard floor. He suddenly heard lots of chatter. Classes must have been released. Mr. Damocles screamed, "stop, he's just scared. He didn't hurt anyone."

Nino cried, "get off of him."

Adrien felt the pressure remove itself from his back. He was then, roughly, helped to his feet. Adrien refused to lift his head, but he could see hundreds of shoes surrounding them. But he was afraid to look anyone in the eyes. Nino approached him. He pulled him into a hug, "dude, it's going to be okay. I promise. I know what you wanted to do, but just go with her and I am going to talk to Marinette and her parents. Okay?"

Adrien sighs, "okay. Even if they don't want the burden, can you still visit?"

Nino releases the hug to look Adrien in the eyes. First Nino had to lift Adrien's head, "your not a burden. But I'll make sure to visit no matter what happens."

Adrien thanks Nino with a small smile. His head then automatically bows back down.

The woman approaches the boys, "can we go now? Are you going to run again?"

Adrien softly says "no."

The woman appreciates this and silently hints for Adrien to follow her.

Once out of sight, someone shouted, "they finally came and got that terrorist helper."

Mr. Damocles shouted, "that is enough. All of you, get to class or else. Nothing to see here. You don't know what you are talking about."

Through the chaos, Chloe pushed Nino against a wall and snapped "who was that lady? Where are they going?"

Nino rolled his eyes, "you mind getting the hell off of me?"

Chloe reluctantly backed down in which Nino offered "thanks."

Nino then waited for Marinette and Alya to gather around him. "She is from social services like Mr. Damocles said, and they are going here." He pulled out the card that Mr. Damocles gave him. "Mr. Damocles knows Adrien is innocent too. And wants to help if he can. He already offered to take custody."

Marinette smiled with relief, "so he'll be safe with Mr. Damocles."

Nino shook his head, "no. He was denied due to a one-bedroom and being single."

Chloe pouts, "ugh, if daddy wasn't being so stupid he could have stayed at the hotel."

Nino says, "Marinette's parents aren't being stupid. I was thinking we go ask them if they would be willing to take custody?"

Alya sighs with relief, "he'd be safe at your house, Marinette. What a great idea."

Chloe asks, "can I come with you?"

Marinette would have laughed if the situation was different, "you want to come to my house?"

Chloe rolls her eyes, "we are not friends, Dupain-cheng. But you are Adrien's friend and I think I am too. He's been mad at me recently, but I still love him. And because Sabrina chose the wrong side, he is my only best friend."

Marinette smiles, "you can come with. I meant what I said earlier. In the bathroom."

Chloe smiled, "whatever." But then timidly asks, "I know school is important to you and all but can we go now?"

Nino says, "Adrien is way more important."

Marinette adds, "I think it would be better to get a jump on this stuff anyway."

Alya agreed, "then let's get out of here."


Adrien felt like a prisoner even though he's been told he was not. He was given a tiny room with a bed and nothing else. Adrien had to get out. It feels more like a hospital room and Adrien hated hospitals.

Adrien approaches the check-in and check-out counter with a few people behind it. He timidly says, "uh, excuse me?"

They all looked disgusted to see him. One of the men rolls his eyes, "ugh, what?"

Adrien gulps, "I was just wondering how long I had to stay here?"

The man answered, "until the investigation is over. After that, no one would care if you wanted to run away. Disappear."

Adrien shook his head, "um no, I meant..."

Another lady said, "I wouldn't care if I found you dead in your room tomorrow morning."

The man chuckled, "you are so bad. I would rather hear about it on the news that he took a nose dive off a building." Then noticed Adrien still standing there. "You are still here? Why?"

Adrien grew quieter. His voice was smaller than before. "Can I go for a walk?"

The man he was speaking to snapped, "speak up."

Adrien said just a tiny bit louder, "can I go for a walk." Then decided to add, "please."

The man explains, "as long as you are back before curfew. 8 pm sharp. Though, if you are going to be late because you decide to kill yourself, we'll forgive you."

And they all start laughing.

Adrien whispers, "I'll keep that in mind."

Once outside, Plagg said, "you should transform and go back in there with vengeance."

Adrien shakes his head, "no. That would make me just like my father. And I don't want to be. I want..." Suddenly Adrien takes off running. He can't stop crying. Adrien finds himself behind a building. He doesn't know how long he ran, but he does know by the time he stopped, he could barely breathe.

Angrily Adrien screams as he punches the brick wall, nearly shattering his hand. Then Adrien falls to his knees. He pushes himself to lean against the wall. He pulls his legs together so he can cry against his knees.

Plagg hated this. He hated seeing Adrien so hurt. He timidly spoke, "Adrien?"

Adrien looks up. Tears haven't stopped. "Why would they say that to me?" Then he whispered, "I didn't know."

Plagg wished he knew what to say. 'Where are you, sugar cube. I really need some help.' Of course, he knows Tikki is with Marinette and he can't exactly call pinktails. Tikki was always better at the feely lovey-dovey crying stuff. Plagg wasn't. The majority of his holders were men and men didn't usually cry in front of him if they cried at all. The few women he had were also not that attuned with emotions. But if they did cry, they knew Plagg was not a good shoulder to cry on. But Adrien is hurting and Plagg wants to comfort him. Plagg hadn't felt this way about a holder since Kitty. Plagg just wishes he knew what he was supposed to say.

But then Adrien rubs his eyes with his sleeve. He glares, and nearly with a growl in his throat screams "maybe I should just do it."

Plagg asked, "do what?"

Adrien shrugs, "you know. Ki..." He had to pause. The phrase is foreign in his mouth. "Kill. Myself!"

Plagg's tiny eyes widen as much as allowed and shout, "no. You are not leaving me."

Adrien ignores Plagg's protest, "I'm weak. You're going to have to do it for me."

Plagg was starting to tear up, "I'm not going to hurt you."

Adrien says it. "Kill me!"

Plagg covers his tiny ears, "stop it."

Adrien screams, "I said, kill me!"

Now Plagg feels himself crying uncontrollably as Adrien tries to force Plagg to hurt him. "Adrien, knock it off. Stop."

Adrien jumps to his feet, "what is wrong with you? Do it!

Plagg begs, "please stop. Adrien, just stop. Let's talk!" Plagg can't stop crying. He's never felt this scared in his life. And it's getting harder to disobey. It hurts.

Adrien demands again, "I gave you an order. You have to obey!" Plagg doesn't want to obey. "Kill me, god damn it!"

The only time Plagg truly wanted to be free was right now. "Stop. No."

Adrien snarls, "say cataclysm."

Plagg tries to not say it, but it comes out. " .clis-emm." And he cries harder. "Stop it. Adrien no..."

Adrien says, "touch me."

Plagg shakes his head but holds his paw out. "Please stop. Adrien no. Stop." Plagg finds it harder to resist.

Adrien shouts, "obey. Kill me! Just one touch and it's all over!"

Plagg begs louder and louder. "Please. No. no. Stop. Don't make me Adrien. Adrien Please. Move. Stop. Friends don't do this. Don't make me do this. please..." Before Plagg touched Adrien's cheek, Adrien commanded "stop."

And Plagg was able to stop. The pain was still there though. His tiny heart was nearly broken. Adrien finally realized what he put Plagg through, but the damage was there.

Adrien held his hands out for Plagg to come to him, but Plagg hid behind a dumpster.

Adrien says, "come on, Plagg. Please come out."

Plagg asks, "are you asking or ordering?'

Adrien falls to his knees. Then crawls towards the dumpster. "Plagg. Listen. I'm sorry. Just come out so we can talk. I want to talk." Plagg doesn't answer, so Adrien leans his back against the dumpster. "Plagg. I'm sorry. So sorry. I shouldn't have done that. It's stupid and I was only thinking about myself. Please come out. Please don't be mad at me."

Nothing!

Adrien closes his eyes, "please don't leave me. Don't be mad."

Plagg came out, "I am mad! I know you're going through a lot but how could you do that to me?"

Adrien snapped his eyes open. He opened his mouth the say something but Plagg continued,

"I have never been so scared in my life."

Adrien felt extremely guilty, "I'm sorry Plagg. I'm never going to do that to you again. I was just..." Then he realized, "I really wanted to die."

Plagg doesn't understand, "but why?"

Adrien shrugs, "they said I should. And I know everyone else would be happy. My father wished it was me. So why not just do it!" Adrien adds, "I never thought life would be hard. No one needs me."

Plagg whispers, "I need you."

Adrien holds his hands out and this time Plagg lands in Adrien's palms. Adrien gives Plagg a small hug. "I will make sure I'll somehow get you tons of Camabert to make up for hurting you."

Plagg purrs, "let's just figure out things for you." Plagg tried to hide the fact that he was hungry.

Adrien pouts, "your stomach's growling."

"I'm fine." Plagg lies. "Just not used to not... You had... I'm fine, but you need something to eat."

Adrien frowns, "if you have one more transform in you, someone might feel generous enough to give Cat Noir a bite."

Plagg chuckles, "go for it!"


Cat Noir didn't have to hunt long before many people offered their thanks in the various forms of food. He de-transformed a few times to share the rations with Plagg, though no camembert. No cheese. He and Plagg were pretty full (though Adrien knows Plagg wouldn't turn down cheese), 'I did promises him Camabert.' Adrien felt pretty guilty about not being able to get Plagg his beloved cheese.

Adrien was sick of being Adrien today. Just a little while longer did he want to be Cat Noir. He never thought he would miss being loved. As many people pretty much worshiped the ground he walked as Cat Noir.

Cat Noir was passing by the bakery when he noticed Luka about to walk away. But then he noticed Cat Noir, and for some reason, Cat Noir noted relief wash over his face. Luka waves eagerly enough to welcome Cat Noir to come talk to him. Cat Noir notices the big closed sign, "Oh, nuts. The bakery is closed."

Luka smiled when he saw him. "They had important business to attend to. I was hoping to be able to catch them before they left. I wanted to make sure Marinette is okay."

Cat Noir takes a seat on the ground. "No one is okay. I thought once we defeated Monarch, everything would be okay. But everyone is mad and more upset than ever before."

Luka sat beside him and offered, "they are blaming the wrong person though. Adrien did not do anything wrong."

Cat Noir sighs, "maybe he did though. Maybe everyone is right?"

Luka isn't mad like Nino was when Cat Noir started saying disparaging things about Adrien. Luka simply says, "no one is right. Adrien would have never hurt anyone. Adrien is selfless and doesn't deserve anything that is happening now."

Cat Noir honestly says, "maybe he does though." Then angrily glares. With a snarl in his voice he shouts, "he was so blind and naive. How could he not know the villain was in his own house. Adrien is so stupid and pathetic that he doesn't even know how to cook. He's never been to a grocery store. How do you go shopping? Is um I mean something Adrien is probably asking himself right now. Because he's never stepped foot into a grocery store. He's never cooked. Never cleaned anything." Cat Noir quickly wiped his tears away.

Luka decides to speak slowly and steadily, "when my sister told me about what happened in her class, I was really upset." Luka waits for Cat Noir to look at him before continuing. "Those people use to be his friends. Maybe not as close as he was with the mayors daughter. Or with Nino. Or even Nino's girl friend and Marinette, but they were his friends too."

Cat Noir inquires, "oh yeah?"

Luka nods, "yes. For them to take time out of their morning to put together some kind of dis-welcome wagon for someone they should know better than that. Adrien is not to blame for any of this. His father is. For Kim to say those awful things to my friend, I wish I was there too to have at least one more person stand by his side."

Cat Noir smiles, "bet Adrien is glad he has friends like you."

Luka nods, "if it matters at all, Juluka wanted to stand up for you too."

Cat Noir didn't expect that, "what?"

Luka smiles, "I know your secrete. And I want you to know it's always been safe with me."

Cat Noir chuckles nervously, "uh, I'm not Adrien, like what? That's crazy.

Luka simply says, "Wishmaker. I was there as Viperion you may remember. Both of you had gotten hit before I turned back time."

Cat Noir says, "figures." Then blurts out, "wait" before asking, "you know who Ladybug is?"

Luka nods, "she doesn't know I know. I never told anyone. And the only reason I told you now is that you need to know not everyone hates you. I tried texting you too. I was scared when I saw that video of those animals chasing you."

Cat Noir moans, "did everyone see that?" But then Cat Noir explains, "um, I left my phone at the mansion."

Luka undernestands, "do me a favor. If you ever think of hurting yourself, remember you have friends that you would leave heartbroken if you were gone. Not just me, but my sister too. And Nino and um Alya. And Marinette of course. And maybe the mayor's daughter too. And the girl you dated when I was with Marinette."

Cat Noir asks, "Kagami? I don't know, she has been mad at me for a while."

Luka explains, "true friends put everything else aside when their friend needs help. Please don't ever do anything these people suggest. I don't want to lose you and neither do your real friends."

Cat Noir snorts, "gee, where were you about two hours and thirty minutes ago?"

Luka understood, "you were going to..."

Cat Noir confirms, "end it all. Yeah." Then explains how. "I hurt my Kwami too in the process. Guess I'm really like my father."

Luka was confused now, "how?"

Cat Noir explains, "Kwami have to obey and he fought my command to keep me safe. I was going to force him to touch me. Kill me with his power."

Luka positioned himself to wrap his arms around Cat Noir. "Do you want to go de-transform? You and I can hang out. Maybe go to the movies?"

Cat Noir says, "I don't... It feels weird to say."

Luka tilts his head, "what?"

"I don't have any money."

Luka chuckles, "it's fine. I'll pay."

Cat Noir wrapped his arms around Luka and lifted them far above the ground. On Cat Noir's favorite rooftop. Cat Noir says "Claws in."

Plagg glares, "you going to tell all of Paris?"

Adrien snorts, "first, it's two people. Second, Luka already knew. He told me." Then Adrien introduces "Luka this is Plagg. Nothing like Sass, by the way."

Luka chuckles, "hi there. I am sorry. I just wanted my friend to know he wasn't alone."

Plagg nodded with approval, "I can appreciate that."


Adrien felt safe enough with Luka. No one seemed interested in messing with him as the two walked down the street. Every time someone walked by or gave Adrien that angry glare from a distance, Adrien tensed up.

Luka whispered, "I won't let anything happen to you. You can relax."

Adrien sighs, "I use to run away from Natalie and Gorilla because I wanted to be free. And look at me. Just walking down the street. And, I'm scared, Luka. I kind of wished Gorilla was here."

Luka grabbed Adrien's hand and gave him a reassuring squeeze. He asks, "want to see something in particular?"

Adrien shrugs, "honestly, I'm sleepy. I couldn't get a lot of sleep last night."

Luka suggests, "okay, how about we go to my place. You can sleep on my bed."

Adrien shakes his head, "that sounds awesome, but I am so tired, I probably wouldn't wake up. I have to be back at that place by 8."

Luka understands, "okay, so how about I come with you to that place. Maybe stay by your bedside until you fall asleep?"

Adrien smiles, "that sounds nice."

Luka allowed Adrien to lead them to the shelter. Once there, he was greeted by Alya, "Adrien. Hey. Luka, you found sunshine?"

Luka smiled, "that I did."

Adrien was surprised, "you guys are here?"

Chloe wrapped her arms around Adrien, "I'm so sorry Adrikins, but daddy is being stupid."

Adrien slowly removes her from, "no, Chloe. It's fine, um..."

Should have let Chloe finish, "And now you're going to have to live with the baker girl."

Nino rolled his eyes, "you are about this close," he squeezes his pointer and thumb together to prove a point, "before you are uninvited to dinner tonight."

Adrien asks, "dinner?"

Marinette confirms, "my parents are trying to take custody of you. And then they invited everyone over for dinner as soon as they sign the papers."

Luka explains "Adrien is tired. I was going to sit bedside until he falls asleep."

Adrien asks, "if that's okay?"

Alya says, "of course, you're tired. Go get some sleep. When we're ready to go, we will come and get you guys."

Nino asks, "can I come too?"

Adrien smiled, "please."


Once Nino finally closed the door, Adrien (from his spot on the bed) says, "so Luka knows too."

Nino squints his eyes, "like, he knows you and... You know?"

Adrien confirms, "about my sexy alter ego? Yes." Then quickly adds, "I didn't tell him. He figured it out."

Nino was in disbelief. Because how did Luka do it? Adrien is supposed to be his best friend and yet he would have never guessed that Cat Noir and he was the same person. So how the hell did Luka do it? They act nothing alike.

Luka dragged Nino from his inner turmoil, "if I didn't see him de-transform, I wouldn't have figured it out." Luka must of read his mind.

Nino smiles, "oh, I was thinking I was the worst best friend in the world."

Adrien says, "well never think that! You are the best-yawn- best friend."

Luka placed a hand on Adrien's shoulder, "you should sleep. We'll be right here."

Adrien nods, "thanks." He lays his head on the pillow and closes his eyes. Through another yawn, he asks "can one of you get Plagg some cheese?" Adrien adds, "I promise I'll pay you back." But then he was out cold.

Nino says, "can you go? I want to stay here with Adrien."

Luka nodded, "I guess so."

Plagg flew in front of his face, "Camembert."

Luka chuckles, "what?"

Plagg explains, "I want Camembert cheese."

Luka smiles, "I'll be back."

Nino asks, "need money?"

Luka shakes his head, "think I can afford some Camembert for mr. Plagg."

Once Luka left, Nino took a seat on the bed. "So Plagg, huh? Is your name supposed to be like the English word Plague?"

Plagg nods, "yeah, I'm a plague to existence. If I wasn't necessary to balance out Ladybug's Kwami, they would have destroyed my miraculous and cut off my reach to this realm." Plagg then says, "don't tell Adrien I said that."

Nino pouts, "you shouldn't think like that dude."

Plagg laughs, "I don't, but the guardians do. I couldn't care less what they think as long as they remember I'm needed to keep Ladybugs Kwami in check." Plagg smugly says, "I'm important."

Nino chuckles then look at Adrien. "Is he okay?"

Plagg stays silent.

Nino pushes, "hm?"

"Define okay?"

Nino shrugs, "I don't know. Just like... How's he holding up?"

Plagg bites his lip. He probably shouldn't tell Nino, but next time it happens, what if his will isn't strong enough? What if Adrien gets a gun? Jumps? Or... Plagg was pulled from his thoughts by Nino inquiring,

"You okay?"

Plagg looks at Adrien, "no."

Nino waits patiently hoping the Kwami spills. But Plagg doesn't say anything for a few minutes, before he finally blurts out, "I don't think I am allowed to tell you."

Nino says, "can't you just tell me. It will be our secrete, I promise."

Plagg says, "he's my holder." He points at Adrien.

Nino stares at the ring, "what if I was wearing the ring?"

Plagg says, "I guess I would have to tell you."

Nino looks at the door. He bites his lip. He slowly reaches for the ring on Adrien's finger. He hesitates for just a moment before he slides the ring off Adrien's finger.

Nino held the ring before slowly slipping it on his finger. "What happened?"

Plagg retells the story of Adrien's attempted suicide.

By the end, Nino was in tears. "How dare they fill his head with those... Ugh." Nino rubs his face with both hands. "This isn't fair."

Plagg says, "yeah. It's never been fair." After a minute or two, Plagg adds, "you should probably give him the ring back before he wakes up."

Nino snaps his hand close into a fist. "No!"

'Shit!' Plagg was worried now. "But... um, you can't..."

Nino says "I know, but I don't want... Isn't there-like, um a fail-safe? To keep your power from killing someone?"

Plagg snorts, "yeah Ladybug is the fail-safe. But if I cataclysm something, it dies."

Nino says, "I'm not going to steal it, but maybe I can hold it?"

"I'm just a Kwami."

Nino reaches his hand towards Adrien's chest. he slowly shakes Adrien. He watches Adrien stir slightly, but not wake up. Nino shakes him again, slightly harder.

Adrien slowly blinks his eyes open, then he notices the ring missing from his finger. He shoots up shouting, "Plagg?"

Plagg hugs Adrien's cheek, "I'm right here."

"My ring?"

Nino had taken the ring off and held it in between his thumb and pointer.

Adrien asks, "why is... Did you take my Miraculous?"

Nino asks, "Were you going to kill yourself?"

"Give me my ring!"

Nino whispers, "I asked you a question."

Adrien jumps to his feet, "I want my miraculous back! I trusted you. Give it back right now!"

Nino holds his hands up but keeps the ring clenched in his palm. "Adrien, please calm down." Nino licks his lips, "I'll give it back, but answer one thing for me!"

"I don't want to talk about that."

Nino shakes his head. "No! Are you going to hurt yourself? Still! Are you still thinking about hurting yourself?"

Adrien thinks about it for a moment before truthfully answering in the form of a question, "you ever think you want to die but at the same time you don't?"

And Nino didn't know how to answer that. How do you respond to that? Who would know what that feels like?

Plagg says, "remember Kitty Kat?"

And to Nino's surprise, Adrien nodded. "When she wore the earrings?"

Plagg confirmed, "yeah. She said deep down she knew she wanted to live, but those earrings made her believe she wanted to die. She had dreams of what she was going to become and none of that mattered when she wore the earrings. Those dreams became cloudy. And life became exhausting. And she just didn't want to deal with living. But deep down she knew she wanted to live. She wanted to see this through!"

Adrien takes a seat on the bed, "you can't transform."

Nino asks, "what?"

Adrien repeats, "if you're going to hold onto my ring, you need to follow some ground rules. You can't transform. Ladybug can not know you have my ring. And Alya can't know about this either."

Nino nodded eagerly. "I promise, you can trust me."

Adrien says, "as soon as I ask for it back..."

"I'll give it back without hesitation."

Adrien bites his lips before saying, "you can hesitate a little. Because I don't want to die."

Nino wraps his arms around Adrien, "it's not going to happen on my watch!"