Nathalie pressed the home button on her phone for the millionth time that day, looking at the picture of Adrien asleep on the large couch of the front room. Robyn had taken it and sent it to her in a meeting one day. More than anyone in Adrien's life, Nathalie knew all too well what it was like to live under the thumb of Gabriel Agreste. Granted, she liked the work and the power she felt being in charge of so much of the Agreste Family's life. She was an integral part of the Agreste Empire, and she knew it. She held Gabriel in high respects. She had also come to love Adrien like family.

She couldn't afford to let his leaving the family affect her work. She needed to be present and helpful. She had meetings to arrange and conferences to attend. She needed to confirm budgets and oversee company cuts and expansions. She was a secretarial force to be reckoned with. But, when she was alone like this, sitting on her bed with her hair down and her makeup cleaned off, she looked at this sweet moment trapped behind her phone screen and let the sadness sit on her chest. In this small moment, when the worry and pressure on Adrien's chest lifted away. When the insecurity and sadness that plagued him while his eyes were open gave way to a happiness he only knew in dreams. The moment when the lines on his face softened, and he became a younger version of himself. Carefree, lighthearted, and sweet. She cared for that boy still trapped inside him. She had set the photo as her lockscreen almost instantly, and hadn't changed it since. It made her smile, and reminded her that people that were kind and innocent by nature should not be bullied into maturity and responsibility. To put that kind of expectation on someone so selfless didn't help them, it broke them. There was a small part of her that ached to think that a boy so sweet had grown into his father's shadow. The other part reminded her that she was a professional assistant, and going against Gabriel's wishes on behalf of Adrien was beyond her pay grade.

The screen went black, and she pushed the button again. Her heart tightened and she locked the screen again. She couldn't afford to miss him like this. She knew that Adrien had made the right choice. She had watched his whole life, fencing lessons and piano recitals, and then his graduation from primary schooling and now his successful career as a model and actor.

She had also watched the bright, happy, hilarious boy he had once been fade slowly into the background as Adrien assumed every role his father placed on him. In the eight years since he had lost his mother, Adrien had become particularly hard to connect with. He used to bring her things, and help her manage papers. Small drawings of flowers and other useless things, and a weed he'd pulled from the ground. As time went on, he stopped giving her things for no reason, and mostly avoided her since she didn't have the time to tend to him like he deserved to be tended to. Nathalie had told herself many times that she didn't need to feel so much guilt over the son of her boss. She had also told herself many times that if she didn't love the boy then no one would.

She sighed, and set her phone down on the table next to her bed, and took off her glasses. She looked at the large window where the moon was peering into her room, and felt the guilt already starting to dissipate. Adrien was an adult, and he could make his own choices. And, as sad as she was to be apart from him, she knew that he would start to come back to himself now that he had gathered enough courage to leave a profession he had never really even liked. In the same breath, she was still sad that she would likely never have a reason to see him again.

Adrien had made it clear to her before he left that he was grateful for all of the things she had done for him over the years. All of the careful and quiet pushing of his father that she did on his behalf, and all of the times she sat at the back of his recitals when his father couldn't make it. He had thanked her for being there when he had no one. He asked her to take care of his father and of Robyn. He explained that he would be leaving Robyn, and that he had no intention of coming back. He knew that his father would be furious, and that was okay. He had told her not to worry about him, that he would make it work. He had respect for her loyalty to his father, and he would miss her.

Gabriel had indeed been furious. Before Adrien had even made it to the corner of the street, Gabriel had frozen all of Adrien's accounts and assets. At least, the ones he had control over. After making sure that Adrien would feel that the loss of his father's support financially, he had returned to his breakfast. He had fully expected Adrien to be back by lunch.

Adrien was not back by lunch, or dinner. He didn't call and he didn't attempt to access any of his accounts or assets. Gabriel's anger grew. Nathalie knew that Adrien kept his own finances outside of his father's grasp, and that he had enough savings to buy a piece of the company if he wanted it. Adrien would not be coming back to ask Gabriel for help financially.

As the days passed and Adrien didn't call or even attempt to come back, Gabriel became more furious. He spent more and more time locked up in his office, and called on Nathalie only through text or email. He refused to leave the house, and made all of his appointments through video streaming. And sometimes he didn't even make his appointments. Nathalie started to worry about him. He brushed her off.

Nathalie clicked off her light. She didn't have the energy to keep thinking about this tonight. With time they would be okay. Gabriel would find someone new to do his bidding. His investors and beneficiaries would stabilize again, and Agreste Designs would thrive as it always had. Adrien would find where he fit in the world. And she, she would be happy for them both.

88888888

"Name?" the officer behind the check-in table grumbled.

"A-Adrien," Adrien cleared his throat, "Last name 'Agreste'."

The older man scanned over the list on the clipboard, and scraped his pen across the page, "You're clear. Go that way and they'll get you fitted for a uniform." he pointed to the table where boxes filled with uniforms were piled high.

Adrien smiled, "Thank you." and he rushed towards the uniform table.

He stood behind another trainee, a girl, with dark eyes and light hair. She was focused and seemed determined. She was very short, compared to him, but Adrien didn't dare bring that up. He'd learned the hard way that short girls want to be tall and tall girls want to be short and they don't need a boy to tell them about their height. Despite her height, she looked fierce. She didn't look like a recruit, she looked like an officer. Adrien paled, he couldn't be that serious. Not even if he tried. Adrien felt like maybe he shouldn't have chosen this job. What if just like modeling he had the looks but not the attitude. He could never be rude to the other models or to the stylists and designers, which had always gotten him in trouble.

He shook his head, he had wanted this. He had wanted to leave his father's house and be his own man. This was his chance. Antoni had spotted him from across the park, and plucked him from the crowd. He'd passed all the preliminary exams with flying colors. Just because he wasn't serious, didn't mean he didn't have every right to be here.

The woman behind the table was a well built woman with skin the color of dark chocolate and thick curling hair pulled into a tight ponytail. She would beat Adrien in a fight, and probably half the precinct if it came down to it. She clearly meant business. She looked to be about in her mid-forties, and like she was not happy to be doing this job right now. Her accent and strong personality struck him.

"Name?" the woman called.

"Oh, right." Adrien blinked, "Agreste. Adrien."

"Agreste?" the girl with the light hair turned, surprising Adrien with her tiny voice, "Like the clothing line?"

Adrien looked away, "Yeah. Like that."

"Are you related to the Agreste family?" She gushed. Adrien felt his stomach turn. Day one and he was already discovered.

The woman behind the table sneered, "Enough talking, go try on your uniform." She shooed the girl away. She looked back to Adrien, "You look like a medium." She picked up a stack of clothes and thrust them into his arms, "Go try these on. If they fit, leave it on, come back out here, and I'll give you your set of uniforms and your locker key. If not we'll try again. Locker room is there." She didn't even look up from her clipboard to point, only gestured in the direction of the lockers.

"Thanks." he nodded and made his way to the changing room.

He looked down at the dark blue fabric. He was an officer in training. He was going to protect the streets of Paris, not only as the masked hero of the night, but as himself. Just as Adrien. He pulled the pants on, and sighed, forgetting what it was like to have clothing that wasn't made for you. The waist was basically perfect, but the hem was way too short. He couldn't even tuck those into boots. He sighed, but left them on to try on the shirt.

The shirt fit perfectly. He could comfortably button all the buttons, and tuck it into the pants. He could bend and twist without it coming untucked too much, and it still fit him snugly enough that he looked trimmed and proper. He smiled. The pants were too short, but he liked this new look. He was used to seeing himself in all black, and he knew he looked good. All blue was different. It was still just as striking, but he was more human than he was as Chat Noir. Though it would take some getting used to.

He changed back into his street clothes and walked back to the table. There was three more trainees looking for uniforms.

The woman grumbled at him again, "My eyes are never wrong. You are a medium. Don't come back here telling me I didn't get it right. Move along, Pretty Boy."

Adrien sighed, the nickname was coming back and he had a sneaking suspicion that it was going to stick if he didn't put a stop to it. He smiled, "No ma'am. You weren't wrong. Everything fits great, except that the trousers are too short. They fit my waist but I feel like I can still see the top of my tube socks when I put them on. Do you have pants that are longer?"

She looked up at him with a glare that rivaled Ladybug's when she was especially miffed with him. She stopped, and looked Adrien up and down a couple of times. She set down her clipboard, and hummed to herself, "Well my my, look at you. Here I was in full uniform mode, and I missed the view! How did a buffoon like Antoni get a gem like you to join the force?"

Adrien grimaced.

"You need size tall, slim and handsome." She shook her head and snatched the uniform from his grasp, "This is the wrong size. Who gave you this?" she huffed, throwing it down into a box of crumpled fabric. She bent down and pulled a uniform still wrapped in the plastic from a box. She held it out for him with a wink, "Try that one on, Sugar."

Adrien gingerly took the uniform from her, and nodded with a blush, "Thanks." He turned away quickly and made his way back to the locker room. He could feel the heat creep up his neck. That was a change of character. And she had so blatantly called him out. He was trying to stay out of the spotlight and not get himself noticed. So far he was doing a great job. But not if people started making a fuss about his looks and his name everywhere he went. He trapped himself in the changing stall, and sat on the bench. He put his head in his hands.

He was going to have to come to terms with this. And soon. He was Adrien Agreste. Son of Gabriel Agreste and the heir apparent to his father's empire. Even though he had sworn all of that off, he would still have to come to terms with it eventually. He was also a star of many movies in international circles. There was a chance that someone would recognize him. They were mostly American and British titles, so it wasn't likely. But it could still happen. And, he was handsome. He didn't think himself that good looking. But he wasn't the superstar son of a fashion designer because he was nice. He knew that he was handsome. But he didn't like being so publicly called out for it. He sighed.

What if he just told everyone who he was? Then he could just deal with it all at once. He groaned, that wouldn't work. The press would be on him in a second and he would have to explain why he'd chosen to be an officer. His father would be here in an instant and would make everything miserable. He would need to lay low and build up his life a little before he rocked the boat like that. But if he lied, and said that he wasn't who he was, and people found out, rumors would start. And, he couldn't combat rumors. He was sure there was already rumors about why he would leave Robyn, and he couldn't let himself think about that. All he could do was live in this moment and face the facts as they came to light.

He reached for the wrapped uniform, and carefully picked the package open. He stopped. This was a fresh uniform. The fabric hadn't been washed yet, and the factory stitching was still intact on the collar tag. He felt the fabric. He was the son of Gabriel Agreste, and now he was a police officer. If someone asked he wouldn't lie, but he wouldn't bring it up. He had left for his own good. And now he just wanted to be normal.

He put on the new uniform, surprised at how well it fit him. The cuffs of the shirt hit his wrists in the right place and the bottom didn't even threaten to come untucked. The pants were wonderful. They fit the tops of his feet, and they were well fitted down his legs. He was always surprised at how finding the right size made all the difference. He folded up his clothes and put his bright sneakers back on. He made his way back to the uniform table and prepared for the worst.

"Excuse me," he smiled, "You were right. This size is much better."

The woman dropped her clipboard and turned to look at him. She closed her eyes for a moment, "Mm, mm, mm. Sugar, that is what I am talkin' about." She put her hand on her hip, and gestured at him, "Fine young man like yourself, dressed in those service blues. Yes sir, that is a sight to see. Yes. Welcome to the force, Sugar."

"Hey!" A voice called, and Adrien spun on his heel to see Antoni coming out of the large conference room, "Good to see you, Pretty Boy." Antoni clapped his hand on Adrien shoulder, "Those service blues look good on you, kid. I see you've made friends with Cherlie. She's the senior officer of sass and tactless insults around here." Antoni pointed a thumb at the woman behind the table, "I'd be careful what you say to her."

Adrien felt himself relax. There was no reason to be self conscious or worried here. Here he was Adrien. A funny guy with blonde hair and bright orange shoes. And Antoni was here. Antoni could be trusted. Adrien grinned, "How do you keep all the men on the street from lining up to join the force with a woman like that handing out uniforms?" He said loud enough for her to hear. He raised an eyebrow at her.

She turned to him, "You watch your mouth, Sugar." Her face was serious.

Adrien smirked, "I meant no disrespect. I only think that you're incredibly charming." He winked.

Cherlie smirked back, "I can see we're gonna get along real nice, you and me. Unlike Antoni here, you know how to treat a lady."

"I certainly hope so." Adrien smiled.

Antoni groaned, "Do you do that on purpose, or does that just like, come with your territory. Do you just charm all women? Like, how do you even do that? Does it just come naturally, and later you're going to tell me you didn't realize what you were doing? That's lame. I mean you should see yourself right now. All of the girl recruits are talking about you, kid." He scowled, "And don't encourage her."

Adrien shrugged, "She's been kind to me."

Antoni huffed, "Don't shrug your shoulders. And you," he pointed at Cherlie, "Get this boy his uniforms and keys so he can get to training. He's gonna be late if you keep batting those big black eyelashes at him."

Cherlie held up a finger, "Don't you boss me, Officer Antoni. I outrank you. I'll keep doing whatever I please with my big black anything I want. And I'll put you on desk duty if you show me lip again."

Antoni sighed, and looked up at the lights on the ceiling, "Fine," he folded his arms, "I was just coming to see how it was going but I can see that I'm not wanted. I'll go. I'm leaving. I have coffee to make, and cadet orientation forms to print anyway." He waved as he stormed off.

Adrien turned to Cherlie, "He's a good guy."

Cherlie smiled, "He is. Good heart inside that tiny chest of his." She snickered, "You should get going." She handed him a large stack of packaged uniforms, "These are for you. You'll get your belt and tools and gun and all that manly stuff later. Good luck, Sugar."

"Thank you, Cherlie." Adrien took the pile of uniforms and the key from her.

She waved and turned to the next recruit to help them find a uniform that fit. He walked to the locker room for the third time, and searched for his locker. The key had an inscribed M and the number 23. He walked to the row and searched for the number. He smiled, it was a locker on the top. He stuck the key in, and turned. The locker popped open to show an empty space with two hooks and a small shelf. He shoved his uniforms inside and put his street clothes on top of that. He clipped the key to the locker onto his belt loop, and shut the locker with a loud slam. He grinned, and put his hands in his pockets.

This was Day One.

88888888

Marinette hung her head, "I'm so sorry to see you go, Haley. You've really been a great asset to the team here. I haven't known you for very long, but my parents have nothing but good things to say about you."

Haley looked away, and played with the ends of her red hair.

Marinette frowned, "I know how hard it is to leave something you love so much. But, you are a talented baker and you will find your way soon. This bakery is too small for a talent like yours." She smiled, "My father opened this bakery through sheer force of will with no previous baking experience. He taught himself everything he knows. You're a hundred steps further than that. You're going to do great things."

Haley broke a small smile, "Thank you, Marinette."

"Is there anything else I can do for you?" Marinette offered.

"No," Haley wiped her eyes and held the new apron and large mixing bowl that Sabine had given her tightly, "Well. Maybe let me lock the door for the last time."

Marinette pulled the key from her apron pocket, "Of course. You lock the front door from the outside and I'll meet you around the back and you can lock the back door too. The bakery won't know anything is wrong until Monday."

Haley took the key and held it in her hands. It was just a silver key, and it was beat up from opening and closing the bakery locks so many times. She turned and walked out the front door. She turned around to see the dark bakery. She pulled the door closed, and twisted the key in the lock. This was it. She was done.

88888888

"Plagg I'm not joking right now, where is my locker key?" Adrien sighed.

"I don't have it." Plagg huffed.

Adrien glared at the mischievous kwami, "If you don't have it then can you please tell me how it mysteriously vanished from my belt? It's attached to a reel, Plagg, I have no reason to take it off my belt."

Plagg sighed, "Maybe you have bad luck."

Adrien growled, "You are infuriating."

"I am also innocent." Plagg curled up on the pillow.

Adrien picked him up in his large human hands and threw the pillow to the ground. Beneath the pillow was his keys. He swiped them angrily from the covers. He set Plagg back down on the bed, "Whenever something goes mysteriously missing, it's always you. I've known you for the better part of my life, you little snipe. I know better."

Plagg yawned and curled into the blankets, "I didn't know that it was those keys you were looking for."

Adrien rolled his eyes and groaned, "I have to go. And I don't have time to eat. I'll have to buy food on the way."

Plagg didn't answer. Adrien could scream. He loved Plagg, but he also sometimes wanted to step on him. He was so lazy and troublesome. Adrien grabbed his shoulder bag and raced out the door and to his car. He was going to get an earful from Cherlie and from Antoni, who had self appointed themselves as his parents at the precinct. They had given themselves that name, and stopped teasing each other to tease him, after learning that he was basically an orphan. They made training harder than it already was by either going easy on him or making him work harder than everyone else. He fumbled with his keys and caught a glimpse of the small bakery in the window of his car. A smile spread across his face. Perfect.

He put his keys back in his pocket, and dashed across the street. He walked into the bakery and took a deep breath in through his nose. This was going to become a problem.

"Welcome to the- Adrien?" A voice tickled his ears.

His eyes popped open, and he looked to see a very familiar face behind the counter. He blinked a few times before he smiled wide, "Marinette! What are you doing here?"

Marinette shot him a look, "This is my parent's bakery. This is my house."

Adrien flushed, "I knew this place felt familiar! I remember. We used to spend our lunch hour here. I guess I just never connected that this was beneath your house. Though I guess I should have. I have been to your house a couple of times." Adrien stopped and looked at Marinette. She was looking at him with an unimpressed frown.

He put his hand on the back of his neck, "Sorry."

Marinette sighed, but smiled, "Don't worry, it was a long time ago. What can I get for you? Cookie, croissant, cinnamon roll?"

"Wait." Adrien raised an eyebrow, "You work here too? I thought you were working for Square Designs."

Marinette ground her teeth, but responded with an even voice, "You obviously haven't been on social media at all. The circle of internet gossip that revolves around the world of fashion won't stop talking about how I quit. Yes. Quit. I walked right out."

Adrien blinked, "Why did you do that?"

"It's, uh, personal?" she huffed, but then sighed, "I'm sorry. I'm just a little fresh off the chopping block here. So yes, I work here. I'm sorry I snapped. What can I get for you?"

Adrien blinked, "Uh, I'll have two blueberry muffins, and a coffee please."

Marinette smiled at him, "You're in luck, the muffins are just coming out of the oven. They'll be fresh, fluffy and warm for you."

"How delectable." he hummed, and his stomach growled quietly.

Marinette pushed her long hair behind her ear, "And how do you like your coffee?"

"No cream, just sugar, thanks." He put his hands in his pockets, and watched as Marinette buzzed around the small cafe and gingerly pulled two muffins from the fresh box and into a bag for him. She stuck a golden sticker on the paper bag, and set it on the top of the glass case. She turned and poured a cup of hot coffee into a paper cup. She mixed in the sugar and set it next to his bag.

"Order up, Mr. Agreste." She smiled.

Adrien smiled back, and passed her the amount he owed for the meager breakfast, "Thank you."

"It's on the house. For old time's sake." She shook her head.

Adrien stumbled over his words, "I don't. Can't. I."

Marinette laughed, "Really, Adrien. Don't worry about it."

"Well," he took the bag and coffee from the counter, "Thank you."

"A pleasure." She put her hands in her apron pockets.

She watched as he bounced out the door and into a car across the street. She could feel the heat on her cheeks before she remembered to be embarrassed. She had almost spilled her whole life story to a person she had barely spoken to since they were kids. And she'd gotten so mad about Square so fast. She would have to learn to get that under control. She couldn't afford to have that kind of knee-jerk reaction be her first response. She took a deep breath. She looked down at the cash register, realizing something. He had been wearing a uniform.

A police uniform, and he was looking more handsome than he had been in school. Her heart was light and fluttering in her chest. She put her hand over her heart. A fashion designer in a baker's apron who was falling over herself over a boy she used to know in a police uniform. She blinked again. A police uniform. What kind of photo shoot would he need a police uniform for, anyway?

His uniform could use some tweeks. Letting out the sleeves a little to fit the shirt evenly across his shoulders, and tucking in the rib section so it was more comfortable, and taking a little less than an inch off the waist of the pants to make them fit more snugly. Marinette stopped, and put her hand over her mouth. She had been looking at Adrien Agreste, and wanting to tailor his clothes. She groaned to herself. She was a mess. She didn't do that anymore. She had cookies to frost and cakes to decorate. She didn't have time to mentally tailor Adrien's clothing.

She didn't have time to think about that right now. For now, she needed to learn to run this bakery or she was going to drown in cake batter.