All characters belong to the creators of Miraculous Ladybug: Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir. Contains Season 5 spoilers.

After seeing all of the grammar issues, I went back and fixed them. I also attempted to make this a little less confusing. Hope you enjoy!

Adrien supposed it couldn't be helped. He shrugged his coat on. The morning sun shone upon him as he looked out the window. The city below him hustled and bustled without any idea of who was in the upper hotel suite. He found the notion alluring.

The streets greeted him with their loud clamor and cacophony. He blended in, people pushing past him and foul words filling the air around him. Shops passed him as he made his way down the street. His French accent rose the waiter's eyebrow as he ordered his lunch. Placing his bag in the plane's overhead department two hours later, he relaxed into his seat with a sigh. He placed his earbuds in, choosing a song at random. He turned his head to look out the seat's window, planes taking off and people running about to get the plane loaded. A wider gentleman took the seat next to him, and a mother comforted her child behind him. He took note of the first class curtain separating him from the large seats and cocktails. He turned to the window. Music filled his ears as the engines thrummed beneath him.

The Eiffel Tower loomed over him, it's beauty a foreboding cord. The mansion, when he returned, as cold and dark and depressing. Empty rooms held darker memories as he made his way up the stairs, passing them to reach his old bedroom. It was exactly the same, though more ominous in tone. His mother smiled up at him from an old photo on his desk. He smiled back, though didn't put everything into it. He supposed he didn't have much he could give, anyway. As he watched the city later that night, he realized it were only natural. Ladybug dropped down beside him.

"How was your trip?"

"It was good; I'd be lying if I said I wanted to come back."

Ladybug looked at him, watching the roads and the skylines; she turned to face the same way.

"Paris needs you." Chat Noir laughed.

"I'm not leaving, M'Lady. I wouldn't do that to you - or Paris." Ladybug met his gaze, his smile reassured her, though not completely.

"You know, it was really boring when you left." Chat smirked.

"Did I leave you in the lurch, M'Lady?" he said, laughter in his voice. Ladybug laughed.

"Nothing I couldn't handle." They shared a smile then, their old dynamics returning in swift motions. The atmosphere shifted as Chat Noir voiced his thoughts.

"Do you think he had a successor?"

"I don't know. I doubt it. What, with the Butterfly Miraculous being broken."

"The Peacock Miraculous was fixed. What's to say someone won't fix this one?"

"I guess we'll just have to keep our eyes open, then."

Adrien walked down the school halls, his bag digging into his shoulder. With high school came more books and, unfortunately, more responsibilities. He couldn't wait for college, he thought sarcastically. He set his bag by his feet as he sat down at his desk.

"Did you do the homework?" Adrien looked up to see Marinette smiling at him, eyes knowing. Adrien smirked.

"If I did, I wouldn't have been here on time."

"Adrien Agreste, skipping out on homework. What planet have we landed on?" Alya laughed as she walked in.

"The one where I value sleeping," he quipped. "I can make it up tonight."

"Hey, dude! How was England?" Nino came in, smacking his shoulder.

"Nice. I liked it." Mari gave him a small, sad smile, though he didn't see it.

"You need to take us sometime," Nino joked, all too serious. Adrien couldn't help but admit to himself that he liked that idea. Especially the image of his arm around Mari's shoulders near Big Ben. Not the most romantic thing, he knew, but a sight he wanted her to see nonetheless.

"Dude, why are you so red?" Nino asked. Adrien started at his question. Alya laughed at the red in his face that went to his ears. Mari blushed slightly, knowing that, whatever he was thinking, had been about her.

"Are you going to tell me what you were thinking about earlier? Or do I have to wring it out of you?" Ladybug said, voice light. Chat Noir grinned.

"I was thinking about showing you Big Ben. Do you think you'd like to come?"

"Who would watch Paris?"

"We could ask Carapace or Rena Rouge?" Ladybug knew she could ask Alya if the opportunity came up, though she still worried. Force of habit, she presumed. Chat Noir looked at her and knew what she was thinking.

"Monarch is gone, M'Lady. And if he has a successor, Rena will be the first to tell us about it." Chat Noir didn't know Rena's identity, yet he was spot on about her personality. Ladybug smiled at the irony.

"Who do you think it would be? Theoretically, I mean." Ladybug thought for a moment. "I wouldn't put it past Lila," she joked, though he knew she associated a seriousness with the notion.

"She's not exactly allowed in the mansion, LB." A beat.

"The fragments are in the safe?" she asked.

"Haven't touched 'em."

"I wouldn't be surprised if she broke in and stole them." Chat scoffed.

"She's too cunning for that."

"Who else could it be?"

"Hypothetically, of course?" he asked to make sure.

"It couldn't be Chloe - she's too stupid."

"I didn't know ladybugs had teeth," Chat joked.

"I'm just saying - would that idea really cross her mind?"

"We're all doomed if it does." Chloe's actions had always been cruel. After middle school, they didn't expect the girl to have become much better. To say she'd left them alone since then would be a stretch, but she clearly had something else taking up her time. Maybe they should be concerned.

"I'll keep an eye on her," Ladybug said. Chat shook his head.

"No, I'll do that. We run in the same circles. It'll be easier if I poke around - it'll be less suspicious." Ladybug nodded. With Adrien's father gone, he was set to take over the company when he turned eighteen. A cliche, really, but it was in his father's will. Attending all of the same parties and events was a must.

"Why do you keep the company, anyway?"

"It was his life. And, honestly, mine. I could always turn it around into something that's my own. It doesn't have to be his."

"You hated modeling."

"He made it so I wouldn't have to, though, even if it was for his own reasons." Ladybug thought he was putting it lightly, but left it at there. She trusted him, though she wouldn't go so far as to say she understood his decision. He was holding on to trauma best left forgotten because it was familiar.

In a weird way, no one knew that better than Adrien himself.

He thought about it long and hard as he lay in bed later. She was right, he knew - he didn't want this company. It was the legacy of a horrible man. He rubbed his father's wedding band with his thumb. The cold metal felt snug around his finger, though he dared not remove it. No doubt it had embedded itself in his skin by now. The amazement that it had fit had been the best, and most sobering, moment he could remember... apart from finding out everything.

He closed his hand into a fist. It couldn't be helped, he supposed. Otherwise, what would he have done about it? No, he couldn't have done anything. He figured he should be grateful. Then again, with how he was treated, he didn't know if he could be. His father was horrible. The fact that he'd left a will at all was nothing short of astonishing. Adrien turned over on his side.

He didn't want the company. But until he turned eighteen, there was nothing he could do about it. Even then, what would he do? Turning a billion-dollar company over to a complete stranger seemed foolish, as it was. The clock glared at him. Sighing, he closed his eyes.

No, it couldn't be helped.

I hope you all enjoyed it. I loved writing this! Hoping to come up with the next chapter soon! Let me know what you think with a review or if you have any ideas. If you do, I'll be sure to credit you at the beginning of the chapter they're used in. God bless, and thank you so much for your support.