Chat Noir dropped into his room in a perfect three-point landing. This akuma was easier to defeat than Shadow Moth's previous ones, but he wasn't one to complain...

'Adrien.'

He looked up in shock and noticed his father standing next to the piano. Surprisingly, Gabriel looked disheveled, but... relieved?

'Adrien. Where have you been?' he asked, hugging Chat. Oh no, this is bad, Chat thought.

'Adrien...? No, no, no... I'm Chat Noir...' he said weakly. 'You mean Adrien isn't home?'

'Adrien... do you think I'm dumb?' Gabriel sighed. 'I checked on you after you said you're going to bed, and you were gone. The window was open... can you imagine how worried I was? But there was no body beneath... I reviewed the security footage and saw you leaving the room wearing... this...' he motioned to Chat's outfit. Adrien blushed and sighed.

'I'm sorry, father... claws in.'

There was no point denying anymore. His father knew. As the transformation dropped, Plagg was exhausted and flew right into the Camembert stash. Gabriel hugged Adrien tightly, shaking whole.

'Adrien... please... don't risk like that' he said quietly. 'We lost mother to superheroics... I can't lose you as well.'

'Super... heroics...?' Adrien gasped. Gabriel nodded.

'She is missing because she used a Miraculous, just like you are now' he squeezed his son's hands. 'She was a hero. Though she acted more from the backstage. But it still... drained her. A lot. And one day... she didn't return' he hugged Adrien once more. 'Please... don't risk your life like this. There are many other people who could do it. I know that there is a Miraculous guardian in Paris...'

'Yes... there is...' Adrien mumbled. It was so rare to see his father this emotional.

'Please... go and return your Miraculous to them. I can't bear the thought...'

'Father... no' Adrien sighed. 'I felt so cooped up in this room... trapped even... and being Chat Noir gave me freedom I never had before. I could act without considering that I'm the face of your brand. It was... very refreshing and empowering. I can't get back to staying home all day.'

'Adrien... I want you safe above all.'

'I didn't even feel I was alive when I was stuck here.'

'How many times did you fall victim to akumas?' Gabriel sounded anguished.

'Ladybug always saved me in the end.'

'What if you two lose? Shadow Moth doesn't seem to be giving up.'

'We have other temporary holders. You saw them for sure.'

'Like Chloe Bourgeois?'

'She got replaced by a better hero.'

'You mean the one who got bananized within seconds?'

Adrien sighed.

'Father... I was... already considering giving up' he said quietly. 'But I can't go back to being a prisoner at home.'

'So... let's both consider our options...' Gabriel sighed. 'And talk about it in a few days... okay?'

'You... you won't steal my ring when I'm sleeping, right?'

Gabriel sighed again.

'No, son. I promise.'

A/N: thanks for all the reviews, follows and favorites. Hugging releases endorphins. So does dancing.