Chapter 2

–One week ago–

"Sit down, Adrien." Father gestured to the single open seat with a velvet cushion an inch thick on the seat and back. The rest was a solid cherry hardwood, the legs carved with swirling embellishes.

Adrien lowered himself, back a ruler. Best not to relax. "Yes, Father?"

"You missed the photo shoot today," he said, peering over his frames. The glass flashed in a single streak as he tilted his chin up, peering down.

"I had to finish my physics project, sir."

"And this couldn't wait?"

"We had to complete it together. And I know you don't like people coming to the mansion, or me going places on my own. So we did it after school and–"

"Enough." He swiped a hand over his desk. Adrien flinched. "You knew this was an important shoot of mine, Adrien. Am I mistaken?"

Adrien opened his mouth, paused, then managed a choked, "No. I knew."

His father bridged his fingers. "Then why didn't you come?"

"I… forgot. I got caught up in the moment. I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

"Mmm, I don't think your peers are a good influence on you. You're becoming forgetful and lazy. A few days ago I discovered you've been skipping out on half your fencing lessons. I'm surprised you're still allowed to compete at the tournaments."

Adrien bit the inside of his cheek, gaze glued to the plaque engraved Gabriel Agreste in shining gold. It centered the desk perfectly. Any spoken word would be used against him.

Father's fingers slotted together like puzzle pieces. "And just on my way back I received a mobile notification that you used your emergency credit card. Your allowance is enough to cover any immediate costs. There's no reason for you to use it." Silence stretched. "You disappoint me."

Adrien reduced his breathing, chest hardly expanding. He swallowed. Father could probably hear his heartbeat as it pulsed in his throat. The beat of a butterfly wing would be deafening.

"I've been considering what to do with you." Father rose, striding over to the window. It stretched to the ceiling with drapes surrounding it like a picture frame. He paused, staring out into Paris, the city's lights coating the night. "You've become defiant. A phase certainly. Spurred on by public school. You've determined your private life is more important than your future, skipping lessons and meetings. Can't you see everything is for your sake?"

He faced Adrien. "I've already contacted your school. You're officially withdrawn. You shall be privately tutored from now on. My assistant Nathalie shall oversee you in between lessons until we find a permanent replacement."

"Father," Adrien said. "You can't–"

"I already have. This is final." His stare drilled him to the velvet. "You are my responsibility. I will not let you be corrupted."

"You can't shield me forever," Adrien growled. "You don't own me."

"While you're still in my care, I might as well." He held out his hand. "Your phone please."

Adrien twisted away, fingers pressing his phone deeper into his pocket. Father walked to where he cowered, towering, face half in shadow. No, this was his only connection to the outside world.

"Please, you can take me out of school. I'll obey." Father's hand remained outstretched. Adrien's voice raised a pitch. "Don't take my phone."

"Give it up and it might be returned to you if you behave. Resist, and I'll disable all plans attached to it, rendering it useless."

Adrien's fingers reluctantly clasped the device. It inched from his pocket.

"Bring it here."

He settled it in his father's palm. "Can I at least contact people so they know what happened?"

"The school shall inform them. Don't let it bother you." The phone slipped into Father's pocket. "It'll all be taken care of."

"How can I not worry?" Adrien said, glancing at the vast expanse of Paris beyond. An hour ago he leaped off those buildings with the girl he loved. Her braid fluttering behind, laughing at his puns with the cutest smile he'd ever seen. Truly the cat's pajamas. A lump caught in his throat. "Will I be quarantined inside like your captive?"

"No." His face was a slate, glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. Feel something, damn it. Adrien curled his hand under the chair and clawed the underside. He met Father's stare. "But you'll have a supervisor with you at all times."

"I'm not going to disappear. Not like Mom."

"Silence," Father snapped. "You vanish for unreasonable amounts of time with lousy excuses. I've been lenient. You had your time to screw around. However, you're growing into a young man and it's time to take the responsibilities of one."

"Maybe I don't want those kinds of responsibilities," Adrien said. "Maybe the future you've laid out for me isn't–"

"You're naive. The world doesn't work like a fairytale, Adrien."

Adrien stood. "You can only keep me in your grasp so long. One more year then I'm an adult, away at university."

Father clasped his hands at the small of his back and waited.

The back of Adrien's eyes stung. No, he wouldn't show weakness. Once Mom disappeared, Father changed. Became colder. Shut off from the world. Adrien stared down at his ring. Chat Noir had returned light to Adrien's life, letting him laugh again. He squeezed his eyes shut then blinked them open.

It was all distant–like viewing the world through a looking glass. Distorted. He wouldn't lose Father too.

"Alright." He'd obey.

"Good. I'm glad you can see reason." Father's arm snaked around his shoulders.

Adrien shrugged him off. The skyline twinkled. Even being Chat Noir wouldn't fix this. Not this time.

...

Calculus was hopeless. Even with Nino and Alya's help during lunch she only completed half the homework before class began. Marinette's head flopped to the desk once the final bell rang.

"Come on, Marinette. At least it's over." Alya stood by the door with Nino, the rest of their classmates filing out behind them.

Sighing, Marinette joined her friends. "I hope so. This past week has been...rough."

Alya patted her shoulder. She wore her soft plum scarf, cheeks rosey like a maiden from a classic fairy tale. Nino's arm wrapped around her waist. Marinette's chest ached. Now, here was someone lucky. Alya didn't have to drop everything to sprint across Paris at a moment's notice.

Marinette glanced at Adrian's vacant seat. And Alya's crush liked her back and now they were dating. She wasn't torn between two guys. So lucky.

A scream pierced the air.

"Was that Chloé?" Nino asked as they sprinted down the hall towards it. A fine red powder piled at the open door of a classroom.

"Hurry Ladybug!" Chloé screamed from within the classroom. A flaming-haired boy, like actual flames, had a vice grip on her wrist. His hair surged hotter. His skin flushed, an ember glow beneath the surface. Merde! A tin cylinder was clipped to his belt. Russet powder coated everything.

"Oh, be quiet," the akuma snapped, snatching her purse and tossing it to the powder-littered floor. He shook his container, coloring the bag red. Obsidian plates covered him like a suit of armor, snug against his body as ash swirled from the cracks between.

"No, it's designer," she wailed. "My father is going to–"

He clamped a hand over her mouth, ash seeping from between his fingers.

"Um…" Nino reached his hand back for Alya's.

"Ohmygod Ladybug will be here soon." Alya already had her phone out recording, ladybug charm dangling.

"Yes, yes, let's be in place for the best shot before the action starts this time," Nino said, discreetly guiding his girlfriend back.

"Um. Right. I'll, ah, make sure people know not to come this way." Marinette waved then backtracked, slipping into an empty classroom.

"Tikki, transform me."

Tikki shot out of her purse and spiraled into the miraculous. Light encircled Marinette as she framed her eyes with red. Her suit shimmered, materializing across her body.

Zipping down the hall, Ladybug skidded to a stop before the akuma. He grinned. Alya's camera zoomed in on her.

Chloé gasped when she spotted her. "Ladybug! Finally. My hair is a freaking mess from all this ash." She stabbed a finger at the akuma. "And it's all his fault. Seriously, get here sooner next time."

"Why is it always you?" Ladybug muttered. She unclipped her yo-yo. Chat Noir would be here soon. And then after this they'd–she shook her head. Focus!

"Hello, Ladybug. Are you here for the demonstration?" The boy's eyes danced. "Oh, how rude of me. I'm Ghost Pepper."

He cocked his head. "How fond are you of cooking, cinnamon?"

"What?"

He sauntered towards her, dragging Chloé behind him. Ladybug scooted her foot back for every step of his.

Halting at the classroom door, he smirked.

He snapped his fingers.

Flame erupted with a roar. Sparks bit the air, scorching the classroom walls, floor, and desks. Chloé's bag was history. She shrieked.

Ghost Pepper pitched a handful of powder at Ladybug, dispersing the substance. She whirled away. He snapped. The cloud of powder burned bright, blazing, before fizzling out.

Shit.

Fire detectors blared. Ghost Pepper tossed a pinch of powder into the nearest one and snapped. It exploded.

Ladybug vaulted backwards, putting more distance between them.

Ghost Pepper shoved Chloé aside and followed, flinging powder everywhere.

"Everyone, get out of the building. Now." Ladybug spun her yo-yo to keep back the airborne particles. Damn, where was Chat Noir?

Ladybug flung her yo-yo into the air. "Lucky charm," she cried. Light flashed. A leaf blower plopped into her hands.

Ghost Pepper dumped his canister, its unending supply billowing out. "Now, cinnamon, which of us do you think will be the first to burn?"

Ladybug's eyes widened. She propped the leaf blower on her shoulder and scrambled away. Laughter hunted her.

A snap. A burst of heat.

Ladybug bounded up the stairs to the roof, her eyes watering from the smoke. She bursted outside, metal doors banging on the cement wall. The leaf blower dug into her shoulder.

The patter of approaching steps sounded from the other side of the flat roof. She took a deep, shuddering breath.

"Chat Noir?" she whispered.

"Hello, cinnamon."

Fire leaped towards her, curling at her feet. Twisting, she sent her yo-yo spiraling. A few embers snuck by, singeing her cheek.

Ghost Pepper strutted closer, brushing off a layer of ash.

Brandishing the leaf blower, Ladybug flipped it to full blast. His powder was swept up, blowing off the rooftop and scattering along the street below.

"No," he yelled, shielding his eyes as the powder flew past him, clinging in-between his plates. Ladybug smirked. Spark now and he'd be the match.

Tucking the billowing leaf blower under an arm, Ladybug zipped out her yo-yo, twining it around the spice tin. She tugged.

The container soared and hit the roof with a clang. Powder spilled out through its cracks. A black butterfly flittered out.

"I free you from evil," Ladybug said, dropping the leaf blower and sliding open her yo-yo, swinging it to snatch the fleeing insect. Ladybug smiled, tapping the cover. "Bye-bye, little butterfly."

"Miraculous Ladybug," she said, tossing up the leaf blower. In a sparkle of red, all the damage cleared away.

Ladybug slumped to the roof, knees slapping the concrete. Jeremy was sprawled near by, shaking his head as he propped himself up.

The roof door swung open. "Did Chat Noir show up?" Alya asked, phone in her hand. Nino jogged over to Jeremy, offering a hand.

Ladybug shook her head, braid swinging like a cat tail between her shoulder blades. She swallowed hard.

"Then where was he?"

"I don't know," Ladybug whispered. Her brow furrowed. Never. Never had Chat Noir missed an akuma attack since they partnered up.

She pushed off the cement. He must have decided he didn't want to meet her. He should have at least...

Ladybug's lips thinned. She flipped open her yo-yo, finger raised to hit call, but hesitated. Alya stood with Nino mere meters away, consoling Jeremy.

"Vraiment," Jeremy said, "all I remember is Chloé insulting the snack Grandma packed for me."

"What kind of snack?" Nino asked.

"It had ground chili peppers, salt and dehydrated lime juice. All in a fine powder. And Chloé spilled it all over when she–"

A beep sounded from her miraculous.

Growling deep in her throat, Ladybug launched her yo-yo to an adjacent building. A few more swings and she was out of sight. She needed an answer.

Ladybug paced as the call rang. No response. Odd. She tried again. Nothing.

Staring down at her yo-yo, her own face gazed back from the blank screen. No Chat Noir. He wouldn't even bother to answer her call. He must have known about Ghost Pepper's appearance.

Breath. Why then? First Adrien's absence, now Chat Noir… Her miraculous beeped, urgent. "Okay, hang on, Tikki." Ladybug eased down to an empty alley and detransformed.

"Marinette," Tikki started. "I'm sure he just–"

"What? What, Tikki? I'm so confused." She buried her face in her hands. "I built up sharing our identities so much. You know what my sleep schedule's been like. I thought he'd be okay with it, with me, but was he just playing? Just teasing me to get a reaction?" She kicked the alley wall, a waft of dust puffing up. "How did I miss it?"

She slammed her back into the brick. "How did I miss it?" she repeated, softer. "What did I do wrong?"

"Shh, Marinette." Tikki stroked her hair. "It's not your fault. We don't know why Chat Noir failed to show up. Things happen. But I do know that boy would never hurt you."

"Then why do I feel like this?" she whispered.

...

Adrien groaned. Papers littered his desk, fingers stained black. Nathalie hunched over in a corner of his room. She typed away below a new security camera, legs crossed, permanent frown in place. She'd finished installing the monitoring software on his computer by the time he'd returned from Father's office.

Sneaking out as Chat Noir was impossible. His schedule and location were constantly monitored. Security cameras littered the property. Father would have some unspeakable horror waiting for him if he ever strayed.

He shivered. Man, had it only been two weeks?

He chugged his remaining cider and banged the mug to the desk with a sickening crack. The mug split in two.

"Oops."

"Adrien?" Nathalie paused, glancing at his bent form. An eyebrow rose. "A new cup perhaps?"

Adrien brushed the pieces into the trashcan. "How about some visitors and unmonitored activity?" He mumbled.

"What was that?"

Clearing his throat, Adrien turned the warmest smile he could manage to his father's assistant. It was damn good if he said so himself. Like he was almost happy. "Nothing, merci, Nathalie. I'm alright. Just a little study worn." He added a small laugh.

Nathalie nodded, whipping out her phone. Probably playing Candy Crush again. She'd been stuck on level 97 for ages.

Turning down the music blaring in one ear, Adrien tabbed over to his homepage, the Ladyblog. Images of his imaginary girlfriend–one could dream–flooded his monitor. Damn, she looked stunning. Meow. He spread them to all three monitors.

Adrien scrolled through pictures, videos, and gifs of the past three akuma attacks using his stylish new ladybug mouse–limited edition. Ladyblog updates and livestreams became his lifeline in this confinement, a way to keep up with his lady. He had to know she was okay while he couldn't be with her.

He paused at an article titled "Why Chat Noir Left: 7 Possible Explanations." It began: "While we've all noticed our favorite kitty's disappearance, no one's sure why. Ladybug has refused to comment (a potential rift between them?), so it's left to us to make sense of Chat Noir's absence. Here are seven possible things they could have fought over..."

His jaw clenched.

"Try personal-life complications," he grumbled. "As if I'd abandon my lady." He bit the inside of his cheek and scrolled on.

A picture a few posts further stole his breath. Ladybug stood, feet planted and slightly apart on the lip of a building, eyes ablaze in the evening dusk.

Adrien saved the image to his growing folder "Ladybug At Night," which differed from "Ladybug In Motion," "Ladybug Crouching", and his personal favorite, "Ladybug Lifting." Crushing on a famous lady had its perks.

Plagg stirred in the oversized scarf slung around Adrien's neck. Stretching, he yawned. "I'm hungry." He squinted at the screens. "Cyber stalking your crush again?"

Adrien flushed and glanced over his shoulder, shifting to turn his back further to Nathalie. "I thought not transforming would lessen your appetite," he whispered. A mountain of cheese wrappers were stinking up his trash can.

Plagge huffed. "If anything, I'm hungrier. Everything is so boring now. Ladybug gets all the excitement."

"I wish we could be out there, too," Adrien said, rummaging through a drawer for cheese. "But you know how impossible that is." He peeked at Nathalie. Absorbed in her phone like usual.

Snatching the package, Plagg inhaled its scent. "Ah, my precious," he cooed.

Adrien propped his head in his hand, pretending to review his notes. "I never should have shown you those movies."

Swallowing, Plagg patted Adrien's chest. "There, there," he said. "That is how it's done, no? Consoling someone? Anyway, this won't last forever."

"True." Adrien twisted his ring. "But she needs me now, Plagg. Akuma don't stop cropping up just because I'm cooped up in here. If anything, they're getting worse."

"Ladybug is doing fine without you."

Adrien bent his neck to look at Plagg. "Is she though? This last attack went on for over an hour straight." He bit his lip. "And she barely avoided some of those strikes."

"She got it done and that's what matters." Plagg shrugged.

"Barely, and that isn't good enough. Not for this." Adrien rubbed at his forehead. "Argh, all this worrying does nothing."

"Yep. Now," Plagg said, patting his enlarged stomach. "I've earned another nap." He burrowed deeper into Adrien's scarf. "À plus tard."

"You glutton."

"Adrien," Nathalie said.

"Ah!" He whirled around. She stood behind him, hands clasped together. When did she get there? "O-oui?"

"I'll be stepping out of the room shortly. Your dinner will arrive in thirty minutes. Remember, your history exam is tomorrow, the next photo shoot is in two hours, and fencing begins at five thirty AM sharp. You need to keep from being..." She glanced at his Ladybug screensavers, mug, mouse, and eraser. "Distracted."

He picked at a loose thread in his sleeve and nodded. "Right."

The door clicked behind Nathalie. Easing an unconscious Plagg into one of his drawers, Adrien stretched and wandered over to the window. He glanced at the security camera. With someone always watching, Chat Noir might as well have left Paris.

The white lilies and red roses remained on his nightstand, petals browning. A few more days and the housekeeper would toss them. Leaning against the glass panes, he breathed, the glass fogging in a small oval. Tracing a circle in the white, he spotted it and added a head with swirling antennas. His little ladybug faded.

His shoulders drooped. Ladybug would be out in the grand boulevards soon, waiting for Chat Noir. She'd trusted him, about to share her identity. Only for him to screw it up. He tugged at his hair. What did she think of him now?

Adrien slid to the floor, wrapping his arms around himself and burying his face in his designer jeans. "Ladybug." His shoulders shook. "I'm sorry. Je suis si désolé."

Paris bustled beyond his window.

Notes:

Yeah, we said we'd have this out in a week, but apparently our week is pretty flexible, indicating five to ten days instead of the normal seven. So we'll have chapter three out in a week.

We're being cruel. We know. It's all part of the necessary setup, but yeah, we're enjoying it. They will have happy times in the future. Eventually.

French:

Merde - shoot/shit

Vraiment - really, honestly

Merci - Thank you

À plus tard - See you later

Oui - Yes

Je suis si désolé - I am so sorry