Adrien fell asleep during modeling for the first time since he had started out. His bodyguard asked him questions, and he knew the answer of too many video games was getting old, but it was all he had left, really.
He got home to an empty mansion and his father's secretary explaining that his dad wouldn't be home for dinner yet again. That was fine, he told himself as he climbed the eight million stairs to his room. He didn't really know what to talk to his father about recently anyway.
He texted Sage instead.
Been a long(cat) kinda day, lol. How was work?
It was her first day back since the funeral. Adrien felt his hand gripping the knife all over again. He clenched his jaw and slowly forced his hand back to normal.
Uh. Bad.
He frowned at the screen.
Like, 1-10, 1 being spilled boiling hot coffee on 7 major business-people and 10 being rainbows and unicorns shitting glitter everywhere?
Plagg hovered over and read the messages over his shoulder. "It's obviously not gonna be a ten, dude."
"Shut up, Plagg."
His phone buzzed.
I'd say a negative ten. I was fired.
Adrien closed his eyes and felt his heart quicken. The last thing Sage needed was financial instability.
What the fuck
Plagg tapped his forehead. "Swearing is a bad habit, bud. You may want to nip it in the bud."
Adrien set his phone down and went to the sink to wash his face. "At least I don't smoke."
"Yeah, I can see lung cancer affecting your modelling career negatively."
His phone buzzed again. The blonde rinsed and towelled off, then he scooped up the device and walked over to the piano to practice.
Because I had been absent for so long. And. Because of the getting possessed by Hawk Moth thing. I don't know if I'll ever be able to get a job again.
Adrien started up with some slower songs. He usually skipped on practicing, but lately it had helped him to think. The repetitive motions of chords and melodies kept his hands busy. His nervous energy had a place to go that wasn't his brain.
I'm sure you'll find something. I have a big allowance, I can help you buy groceries if you need them. I don't have anything I'd want to spend it on right now, anyway.
He had already decided not to take no for an answer. He went back to practicing, then he did his homework. When he checked again, he had a message from Marinette.
Hey there! I was working on the science homework and ran into a problem I couldn't solve. Help me? XD
Attached was a photo of the problem. He sent her a photo of how he had solved it, then threw on a jacket. He was still kind of antsy, so he figured he would check on Sage in person. Nothing wrong with that, right? He ran into Natalie, who scolded him for trying to leave the house so late. He bit back the argument that it didn't matter how late he went out as long as he wasn't sleeping like a person anyway. It wasn't Natalie's fault his father had strict rules. So he stuffed some cheese into Plagg and left through his window as Chat Noir.
His staff beeped after literally one block of travel. It was a distress call from Ladybug. He answered it.
"Yes, my Lady?"
"Supermarket Single is back again."
"What the fuck?" He turned his head towards the west where a flash of green light caught his eye. A car flew through the air. His chat ears could hear screaming.
"I think she's part tree this time?"
"Is it a dogwood?" He asked, heart sinking into his intestines.
Ladybug sighed. "When we figure out who Hawk Moth is, I'm going to deck him in the face."
"I get first swing." He hung up, then changed direction. She seemed to be in the professional business district. He didn't know much about it aside from the accountants in suits that worked there tended to drink too much coffee and talk on their phones a lot.
Hadn't Hawk Moth hurt Sage enough? He frowned. He hoped that Sage was strong enough to pull through this shit a second time.