Chapter 5

When Adrien woke that morning, there was a fire in his eyes. Nothing was going to stand in his way today. He was unstoppable. The night before had ended with a simple goodbye, no kiss or anything spectacular, but the simple fact that his Lady was letting down the walls was enough to send his spirit soaring, and solidify his resolve on the matter of his father.

The two Agrestes had fought the day before, and viciously. Adrien had recently graduated and decided that he wanted to attend university in pursuit of a science degree, consequently putting a hold on his modeling career. He neglected to reveal that he never intended to return. However, his father would hear nothing of his plans, and firmly insisted that he not only continue modeling full time, but also give up his ridiculous dreams of university in favor of learning how to run the family business. He was to follow in his father's footsteps. Period. As neither would back down, the conversation grew explosive, ending with his father threatening to cut him off completely and Adrien storming off telling him to go right ahead. They hadn't spoken since.

Adrien had been upset, to say the least, when he had left for patrol, but the instant he saw Ladybug his father's biting words faded to the back of his mind. Somehow just being with her put him at peace. She was his quiet in the storm, and she had no idea.

He could still hardly believe that the night before had really happened. It sent electricity through his veins as the memory of Ladybug sliding her hand into his flashed through his mind. It also made Plagg almost lose his appetite each time Adrien would gaze dreamily at his palm and sigh. Today was going to be a good day, Adrien could feel it in his bones. For the first time in a long time, he felt alive.

It didn't matter that his alarm sounded too early, that his breakfast was not the croissants he craved, or that his highly detailed schedule had been orchestrated by his father instead of himself. None of those things could do a thing to dampen his mood today, and for one simple reason. Today was the last day he would allow his life to be controlled by someone else.

He practically skipped up to Nathalie as she was wrapping up a phone call.

"Do you have any further questions? Then I will see you tomorrow. Good day." He barely let her end the call before he enveloped her in a firm embrace, causing her to uncharacteristically stammer and almost drop her phone. "A-Adrien!" She exclaimed in surprise. "What's all this about?"

"Oh nothing." Adrien smiled at her warmly. "It's just gonna be a good day."

He was out the door before she could pull herself from her stupor. Adrien would've given almost anything for a picture of her as she stood there gaping at him, glasses knocked crooked and hair slightly mussed on one side. As he made his way down the street, he couldn't help but laugh to himself as he imagined Hawkmoth offering to trade a photo of the moment in exchange for his Miraculous.

He smiled and waved at people as he passed them on the sidewalk. It didn't even bother him when a group of fangirls begged him for his autograph. In fact, he even volunteered to take a photo with them, causing them to collectively swoon. It was as though a weight had been lifted off his shoulders and he could finally breathe. Even his photographer noticed the difference.

"That was the best photo shoot we have ever had!" Vincent exclaimed in his thick Italian accent as he packed up his gear. "Such fire, such passion! You must bring this fire to our next shoot as well."

"Sorry to break it to you, Vince," Adrien clapped a hand on his shoulder. "But this will be my last shoot." Vincent grabbed Adrien by both shoulders, visibly shocked.

"You don't mean-!" He exclaimed, and Adrien nodded.

"I'm not going to model anymore." Adrien confirmed and Vincent hung his head for a moment before he suddenly looked back up at him in genuine concern.

"But your father..."

"No longer has a say what I do." Adrien finished for him.

"Then I wish you well, my friend." Vincent shook Adrien's hand with an approving grin, which Adrien returned before gathering his things and walking away from his modeling career.

Earlier that morning, he had wondered if he would feel any regret as he closed this chapter of his life. As he stole a final glance at the camera crew cleaning up, he had his answer. He simply felt free. Maybe in a few years he could even walk down the street without random strangers swooning over him and begging him to scribble on random objects. That would be a nice change.

His phone rang breaking him away from his thoughts and Nino's picture flashed onto the screen. The two of them had made plans to look at apartments that afternoon. Grand ideas of getting a place together after graduation had been jokingly tossed around between the two for years. The fight with his father had been the last straw that made Adrien finally put the plan in motion.

"Hey, Nino. I'm just finishing up."

"Perfect, bro. I have four places lined up for us to see. I'm sending you the addresses. First one only had one opening today, and it's in fifteen minutes. Can you make it?" Nino inquired and Adrien couldn't help but smirk. Chat Noir could make it in plenty of time, and even stop for those croissants he had been craving.

"No problem, Nino. I'll meet you there." Adrien replied and hung up as he ducked into an alleyway and opened his overshirt. Plagg floated up with arms crossed and disdain written all over his tiny face.

"You know I'm not your personal chauffeur, right?" Plagg groaned. "You have one of those, and his name is not me."

"Actually, I don't anymore." Adrien countered. "My father cut me off, remember? It's just you and me now." He teased with a mocking grin and Plagg moaned in response. "Come on, I'll buy you whatever cheese you want when we stop at the bakery."

"You got yourself a deal, kid!"

With that, Plagg practically jumped into the miraculous, and Chat Noir vaulted off across the rooftops.

The entire time they were searching for their new home, Adrien was practically bouncing off the walls in anticipation of that night. Nino had attributed his uncharacteristic effervescence to his newfound freedom, until they were grabbing a late snack after viewing the last potential apartment. Adrien was absolutely buzzing with energy, causing Nino to eye him suspiciously as he obsessively checked the progress of the slowly setting sun.

"Dude," Nino finally blurted. "What is wrong with you? You look like you just chugged a triple espresso."

"Sorry, Nino." Adrien replied as he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Guess I'm just excited."

"Bro, I'm excited to get a place with you too, but you don't see me wigging out about it." Nino teased with a chuckle and Adrien shot him a deadpan glare.

"I'll have you know, it has nothing to do with you. I just so happen to have a date tonight." Adrien stated proudly, then gazed off toward the Eiffel Tower with a lovesick grin, earning another chuckle from his friend.

"And who is this lucky lady?" Nino leaned in, intent on razzing Adrien to the full extent.

"I uh...I don't know her name yet." Adrien admitted with a slight grimace.

"Oh, I get it." Nino replied with a knowing nod. "Since when do you go on blind dates, bro?"

"Well, it isn't really a blind date. It's sort of...complicated." Adrien sighed. How could he explain this without blatantly lying or giving something away? "We've gotten to know each other over the last few years, but we've never met...face to face."

"So...like an online type thing?" Nino asked as he scratched his head.

"Well, sort of." Adrien hedged.

"So...you're meeting her for the first time tonight or something?" Nino further inquired, growing steadily more confused.

"No. Well," Adrien struggled to find the right way to describe his relationship with Ladybug. "It's..."

"Complicated." Nino finished for him and Adrien nodded. "Whatever, dude. You can keep your confusing love saga." Nino raised his hands in surrender as Adrien compulsively checked the progress of the sun. "Go find your lady. Besides, I have a lady of my own to attend to. See ya later."

"Tell Alya I said hi!" Adrien called after him as Nino began to walk away.

Adrien felt twinge of guilt for basically blowing off his best friend, but he was glad he had a little extra time before his rendezvous with his Lady. There were a couple stops he wanted to make on his way.