All characters belong to the creators of Miraculous Ladybug: Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir. Please let me know if you have any ideas! I'll be sure to credit you in the chapter if I use them.

2 months later

Marinette froze.

"You what?"

"I want you to head the fashion department," Adrien said.

"Adrien, you know how I feel about you keeping the company."

"And I think this will be a great opportunity for you. You said so yourself that you always wanted to work for Gabriel Agreste."

"Yeah, that was before I found out he was psychotic!" She watched as Adrien's face became expressionless. "I... I'm sorry."

"No, it's... you're right."

"But I shouldn't have said it." She sat beside him on the sofa. They looked out the window at the city outside. Adrien's room was filled with their silence.

"You were in London for two months. I'd hoped you would have changed your mind about keeping the company at all."

"I know."

"What does Felix think?"

"He thinks it's a good idea." Marinette raised an eyebrow.

"Really?"

"He thinks you'd be an asset to the brand."

"And what do you think?"

"I think he's right," he said frankly. "You're talented, creative..." he fixed her with a loving gaze. "And magnetic. Your designs would bring a new life to the Gabriel Agreste brand." Marinette smiled at him.

"Work on that proposal all night, did you?" Adrien cracked a grin.

"Well..." They shared a laugh.

"I still don't think you should keep the company."

"But?" She turned to him.

"I'll always be here to fight by your side. But I won't stop telling you you're wrong until you realize it." They shared another smile, Marinette's poking fun, and Adrien's all too knowing. She wouldn't give this up; she was stubborn, and he loved her for it.

Adrien turned his homework in upon walking through the door.

"We're so glad to have you back, Adrien," his teacher said.

"Glad to be back." He said it, though he wondered how much he meant it. He took his seat, pulling out his notebook and pens.

"Dude, you look exhausted. Didn't you sleep on the plane?" Nino asked.

"I didn't sleep much," he admitted. Nino understood he had a lot on his mind; he changed the subject.

"Did you get all the homework done?" Adrien nodded.

"Yeah, they sent me the tests, too. Thanks for the notes."

"No problem, dude."

"What are you two talking about?" Alya came up to them.

"I was just telling Adrien he needed to get more sleep," Nino said.

"Wait, you didn't sleep on the plane?" she asked Adrien.

"The flight was early. Once I'm up, I'm up," he said. Mari walked in and kissed his cheek.

"Well, as long as you're taking care of yourself," she said. He gave her a look that said Really? She was the only one who knew how late they'd been up, patrolling the streets of Paris. Why she thought he'd get any sleep was beyond him.

"Any word on Chloe?" Ladybug asked a month later.

"Nothing yet. She went to New York a few weeks ago for the opening of her father's new hotel. Other than that, I don't know what she's been up to."

"So much for poking around," Ladybug said, though the light tone in her voice told him she was making fun. Chat watched the skyline. Lights flickered across the Parisian skyline, and Chat Noir couldn't help but enjoy the beauty and glamor of it all.

"Any news on your end?"

"I haven't seen anything with Lila, though it's hard to find out anything when everyone trusts her." Chat hummed his agreement. In a strange way, he was grateful that he'd found out the truth about her in middle school. After he'd learned about her working with his father, however minutely, he knew better than to let her stick her claws into him.

"I guess we'll just have to keep looking."

"Why are you concerned about this?" Ladybug asked.

"You were concerned, too, if I remember right."

"Hypothetically," she corrected. "Besides, we're the protectors of Paris - it's our job to think about such things."

"But you're not worried?"

"I wouldn't say that. But you have to admit... it's been really quiet the last few years. I'm... not used to it." He didn't miss the tone her voice took. No one understood the pressures of heroism better than other heroes. He watched as she stared absently at the ground below.

"We'll be ready, M'lady."

"I know. But I can't help but wonder if we should be more prepared."

A dark figure found its way into Adrien's bedroom that night. Objects rattled as it searched through his desk, his shelves, his nightstand. It made its way to the office The room, untouched like the rest of the mansion, reeked of Gabriel.

Gloved hands pressed against the painting of the late Emilie Agreste. Pressing inwards on the grooves, the person listened for the soft click. As the painting opened, hands fell on the safe inside. This is where they hid it? Pathetic. They opened the safe.

"Looking for something?" Startled, the firgure turned around. Adrien watched from the doorway, leaning against it's frame.

Lila looked at him, stunned. "You were expecting me," she said with a knowing smile.

"It was kind of obvious."

"What are you going to do? Call the cops?"

"They're already on their way." Lila smirked.

"Then, I guess I'd better get going." Adrien pulled out his sabre.

"I'd like to see you try."

Hi, guys! I hope you liked this chapter. I'm sorry it was mostly dialogue - truth is, I'm running out of ideas. Hope to write more. God bless, and bug out!