It used to be 'Chat Noir and Ladybug'! Now, it's just 'Chat Noir'.
Life is hard for Adrien Agreste, him being me, of course. I spend most of my hours patrolling the city dressed as a cat. I'm exhausted almost all of the time. Ever since Father went to jail, things have gotten worse. In addition to all of the extra modeling for Gabriel, it's much harder to be a superhero nowadays and as the new guardian of the Miracle Box, it's so. much. harder.
Lycée is also extremely difficult. Thankfully, I go to the same Lycée Général as most of my friends from Collège, including Chloe, Sabrina, Luka, Max, Kim, Alix, Marc and Nathaniel, who are now dating, and Rose and Juleka, who are dating as well. Sadly, Alya and Nino moved to London for school and are now dating too. Zoè is going to Lycée Technologique to become an actress. Thankfully, Lila Rossi is going to Lycée Professionnel to continue her Mother's business in Italy, so at least I don't have to see her anymore.
But there's one person that I miss more than anyone, one person I would bring back if I could. Marinette Dupain-Cheng, the baker's daughter. She disappeared around the same time as Ladybug. I wish that Marinette had stayed with me, I wish that we could have been partners again. Hey, maybe we could have even been dating by now! But now, all I had left of her was her earrings, her favorite clip-on pair that never left her ears.
I slam my hand down on my alarm clock, then a few more times just for good measure. Everything hurts. I don't want to open my eyes, out of fear that someone will disappear just like she did. It's much easier just to stay in bed.
I hear a voice calling to me. "Adrien, you can't just keep hitting snooze, you have to get up."
"No." I roll over. That's that. Go back to bed.
"Kid, you have school."
"So?"
"Agreste, if you don't get up right now, I'll shove my Camembert in your face."
"Ew, Plagg, that's disgusting!" I look up to find the black kwami with his hands on what may have been his tiny hips.
"Get up, then." His eyes dart between the mini-fridge that contains his Camembert and the miracle box, which had gone back to its original form- the one it was on when it was with Master Fu. Ladybug's spotted pattern had disappeared with her. At least Plagg hasn't changed.
"I'm up," I say blankly, just barely sitting up in bed.
Plagg sighs loudly. "Kid, the last time you acted this bad was CatWalker."
I shudder at the mention of my 'perfect', green-haired alter-ego. "Don't remind me."
Plagg's face softens. "Adrien."
I sigh. He's giving me the Kitten eyes.
"Fine." I roll off my bed and flop directly on the floor without showing much emotion. I shrug on my usual white jacket and black shirt with my jeans and orange shoes. They're getting small, but they've lasted for so many years. They remind me of my old life.
Plagg sighs again. "Kitten, you're hopeless."
I don't answer. Instead, I say, "Let's go, Plagg."
He flies into my jacket pocket.
I walk toward the door but hesitate. On my desk sits the blue scarf that Marinette made me and her earrings. My hand goes to my neck. They're hers. It doesn't feel right to wear them. But…
"Go ahead, kid." Plagg urges gently. I know how bad he wants to see Tikki, so I scoop the earrings up into my palm. Get over this, I tell myself. My heart aches. I don't know if I ever will be able to.
Tikki flies out of the earrings almost immediately. She looks tired and her age really shows. I feel horrible. She looks worse than I do, yet she tries to smile. "Hi, Adrien."
"Tikki!" Plagg darts out of my pocket with shocking speed and crushes Tikki in a hug. They're adorable.
"Hi, Tikki." I suddenly feel much safer in her presence. "We have to go to school."
"You mean you're letting her come?" Plagg asks hopefully. He's been asking me that for days.
I nod. They're truly Yin and Yang. I can't separate them any longer.
Tikki smiles gratefully. "Let's go, then."
I walk down the street towards Lycée. The two kwamis stayed huddled together in my pocket, whispering.
Suddenly, I hear my phone ring. I pick it up carefully. Why is Alya FaceTiming me? I wonder. She hasn't been the same since she gave up being Rena Rouge- or Rena Furtive, I guess. I hit the green accept button. Her eyes are red, as if she's been crying. My heart aches. I know she misses Marinette as well.
"Hey, Adrien," she greets weakly.
"Alya." I nod politely. "What's up?"
"How are you doing?" The young reporter asks.
Aw. We all know she's doing just as bad as I am, yet she calls every morning to check in on me.
"I'm okay," I sigh.
"The nightmares?"
"Just as bad as ever."
Alya and Nino are the only people that know how I've been plagued by horrible nightmares of Shadow Moth winning, the end of the world, Ladybug disappearing, and– worst of all– Chat Blanc. I was the only one who had lived that in person.
Oh, and they're also the only ones that know that I'm Chat Noir and that Marinette is— or at least was– Ladybug.
Alya sighs. She's said a number of times that they'll get better, but they never do.
"How's the search for the new Ladybug going?"
"It's going okay," I lie. My heart stings. Paris needs a new Ladybug– I know they do. But the truth is, I haven't even been searching. I know I'm a terrible guardian, but I'm just Lycée ready to move on yet. For now, they have me, Viperion, and I found a new fox miraculous holder– Lady Ginger. Her civilian name is Willow, and she's a year or two younger than me. She's very sweet, and has a lot of energy. For someone so inexperienced, she's doing great. But we need the balance of the Ladybug miraculous. Desperate to change the topic, I say, "There's a new student at Lycée. That should be interesting. How are things in London?" Alya raises an eyebrow. I know she's not done with the topic of the Ladybug miraculous, but I've managed to avoid it for now.
She tells me about things in London and her new blog. She's been invited to appear on several news specials and she has top grades in her class, which is amazing. I can tell she loves it in London. It's much better for her to be away from here.
Suddenly, Nino appears on camera and kisses Alya on the cheek. "Hey Babe, have you seen-" He notices me and his face lights up. "Bro!" I beam. "How've you been?" The DJ asks.
"Meh," I say, which is putting it nicely. Alya squeezes his arm.
We talk for a while, and then he goes back to whatever he was looking for.
Once Nino is off the camera again, Alya freezes suddenly. "Adrien, your ears." I freeze as well. She noticed. Of course. She always has had a sharp eye for details. "Are you wearing…" No, no, no, no!
Panicked, I yell, "What?! You're breaking up!"
Tikki crosses her arms. "Adrien, you need to talk to someone." I'm thankful that Alya can't see or hear her over the phone. I would be so dead.
"I have to go!" I yell. "I'm gonna be late for Lycée!"
Before she or Tikki can respond, I hang up and run down the block to my school.