Life is a messy, confusing and completely unhelpful little thing but Adrien wouldn't have it any other way. Sixteen years of adventures and a misadventure or two had finally lead him home. Paris, the bustling city hardly changed in his absence. Collège Francoise Dupont stood tall with his favorites cafes and arcades the street peppered between some newer establishments, heck even Fu's shop was still there. Everything paled in comparison to the little bakery sitting serenely across the street. A bakery that had raised one of the kindest people that he ever met. One of the only places his heart would always come back to… a quick visit couldn't hurt. After all, his plane had just landed and whatever had been served was definitely not real food. The bells rippled through the air as memories of blue eyes in danced in his mind. Well, they were suppose to be in his in his mind.
Dazed by memories of nights long passed, Adrien managed to walk the familiar path to the counter. Reminiscing about all the times it felt to be part of the Dupain-Cheng family as both chat and Adrien, impatient to see the motherly smile of Sabine as she called to him just like in his memories. Life had a different idea. Instead of the motherly voice he loved, a foreign sound and a new, younger face jolted him from yesterday. A kid was standing in Sabine's spot. He was maybe fifteen and built like a beanpole with messy honey brown waves styled in an endearing fringe that rest pretty on his face. But these were easily overlooked. No, what was remarkable were his eyes. An electrifying blue, that belonged only in his dreams, entrapping a gentle ring green at the center. "Hello?"
Guess the poor thing didn't like being stared at. Adrien chuckled while rubbing the back of his neck, "Sorry I've been out of country for awhile and you remind me of someone. Are Tom or Sabine in?" Tilting his head a bit the teen just smiled, "Well welcome back! But, sorry, they'll be gone for the next few weeks. Mom and I are watching the shop for them" Returning the smile the former hero was about to respond as screams pierced through the air. Looks like that hasn't changed either. Citizens and tourists were running down the street being followed by a group of grotesque shadow troll-like things. Well that part is new. Unfortunately before he could make a break for the door the blond was dragged into the back. Guess the kid is stronger than he looks. In an accented french he was told to stay put and that the heroes would deal with it. "I have to stay at the front and let people in before that Zhū can get them." A familiar spark shone in those eyes but Adrien couldn't quite place where he had seen it. He agreed none the less can't exactly transform with a civilian breathing down his neck.
Five minutes later the great Chat Noir was racing along the rooftops of his city. Oh the nostalgia. All he needed was Ladybug swing on her yo yo and it would be perfect. Well that coupled with getting to see a certain princess afterward. Life must have decided that today was 'do not Adrien a break' day. Not only was there no ladybug but the trolls were very different from akumas. Getting thrown around by super-powered civilians had nothing on fighting one of those things. Finally he reached the bottom of the Eiffel tower only to be meet by another group of those pawns but this time they were surrounding something. A peacock? At least he looked like one anyway. Must be one of the heroes the kid was talking about. Fu must've decided this situation needed some miraculous help. The hero probably around the same age he and LB started at but with a bit more experienced. Okay a lot more. It was kind of terrifying how the kid whipped those ribbons around. In a way it reminded him of a little kid he met in Shanghai a while back. Seems he was doomed to either drown under waves of nostalgia or deal with life being capricious today. Shaking away thoughts of the past, Chat lept from his perch to land in the middle of it all. "How ya doin' chick?" A surprisingly slim back pressed against his, "Chat Noir? I thought you were retired." He just chuckled, "Retired? With looks this good? That'd be a real crime." He didn't get a response. In fact even the trolls had stopped before dispersing into smoke. An azure hand griped his wrist pulling him in a completely different direction. "Woah there chick. Where we goin'?" Before he could get an answer an orange blur forced their hands apart. It was a flute. Looks like Rena hadn't forgiven him for leaving.
Resigned to his fate Adrien searched the rooftops for the harsh tongued vixen. But it would appear that there was a new fox in town. Short midnight hair faded into brilliant orange tips framing her face as hard eyes stared him down. Thankfully chick was having none of it, "What happened?" The fox turned to the brunette and made her way down, "I lost her." he just raised an eyebrow, "Lost her or let her go?" Her gaze immediately hardened. Apparently this argument wasn't a new one. This being an uncomfortable situation would be an understatement but Chat had better sense than to get involved. Life must have decided to have mercy on him finally, it didn't last long. The fox turned her back to them causing the blue hero to sigh, "Hujing" she only partially turned to him to show she was listening, "You're the wit and I'm the strut." she nodded, "You're better than this." Finally turning around she just glared at him but a chat is only so patient. Clearing his throat leather hero gathered the young supers attention,"So sorry to interrupt your lover's spat" twin scoffs briefly interrupted him, "But what is going on? In case you didn't know I've been out of the loop for a while, but last time I was in Paris there weren't shadow trolls," Both teens just raised an eyebrow, "and who is this she?" Little blue was about to respond only to be cut off be a beeping sound. With a sigh he walked away, "Hujing here can fill you in. I gotta be somewhere."
Cat and Fox watched him go as the uncomfortable thickened around them. Chat looked to the fox hero only to see her walking away, "Hey wait!" a brief turn of her head was the only thing to show he had been heard as she continued on, "Chick said you were gonna fill me in!" Not one to be ignored, he vaulted and landed in front of her, "YO, Hujing was it? What's the deal with you?" That was apparently the wrong thing to say. Earthquakes raged in the fox's eyes as she finally looked at him, "SHE is the enemy, who we know almost nothing about. Just by some twist of fate she for some reason has some type of dark version of ladybugs power. And the name's Lomri to you." Chat blinked trying to process all that information, "Okay~, so she is a baddy and you have no idea what she's after?" a nod, "And your name is Lomri?" another nod, "Blue just likes to be funny." Chat blinked a few more times, "Gotcha, there anything else I should know about?" A smirk crept across the vixen's face, "Actually there is," the flute was suddenly pressed to his throat, "I see you anywhere near the Dupain-Chengs and I will make your life bloody hell." Before he could even ask what she meant Lomri was gone.
Adrien was walking down the street a million thoughts running around his head. His home had a new villain with new heroes to fight back, one of which definitely didn't like him, and something was up with Marinette's family? It was almost too much to handle. Bypassing Plagg and his Camembert, the blond grabbed his phone. There were a few messages from old friends welcoming him back or talking about how excited they were to see him at the party tomorrow. Every single one warmed his heart but Marinette's was his favorite. Call him biased but hey she did give him some of the best memories. The message itself wasn't much, just a friendly hello and something about not being a stranger but she had signed it with a smiling cat emoji! Seeing the little feline from her messages always brightened his day. At least until Plagg opened his, not so big, mouth, "Are you still staring at that text?" Leave it up to the little chaos kwami to ruin it.
It was strange. Ever since that night Plagg's attitude regarding the girl had changed. He was still the snarky little shit and Adrien loved him to death but every time something about Marinette came up he seemed sad. It was almost like he felt for the girl. Shaking off such thoughts, Adrien narrowed his eyes at the Kwami, "And if I am?" Plagg just looked at him, long and hard, before speaking again, "Just don't hurt her." Well that was unexpected. The blonde just stopped, "What do you mean?" Now being thousands of years old had taught Plagg a lot of thing and had given him some insufferable habits. Like now. Instead of answering the question Plagg just gave him a hard look before diving back into his pocket. Adrien didn't have time to think about it much. Someone was shouting as a hand grabbed him. It was the kid from the bakery… oh no. The brunette finally caught his breath and looked at him. "Are you all right Monsieur? You weren't in the back and I wanted to make sure those goblins didn't get you." Huh, what a great kid. Placing a gentle hand on those brown locks, he ruffled it up effectively silencing the rambling youth. A laugh escaped the old hero at the familiarity of it all, "I'm all right. Thanks for checking up on me." Removing his hand Adrien smiled the teen just stared confused. "I have to get to my hotel but i'll stop by the bakery soon, Okay?" still confused he just nodded slowly turning around and heading back the way he came.
Adrien watched the boy go before making his way to the hotel. Walking soon became daydreaming as the blocks disappeared under his feet. It had been far too long and Paris never lost it's whimsy. His meanderings soon landed him in the fashion district. Once upon a time it would have been littered with ads using his youthful visage to gain attention, luckily the present was a bit different. Now billboards and posters were strewn with campaigns for an up and coming house. Agreste fashion house had gained a fierce competitor a rising star by the name of Minou. The name was quite cute and in no way conveyed the force that was behind it. He expected nothing less from his princess. Despite having to put off college for a year she made her dream come true. Pride swelled in his chest at all she had accomplished and hope bloomed under the idea that maybe Adrien could be part of that dream at well. Dreams of a future with his midnight haired princess slammed to a halt as a door hit smashed into his former model face. "Oh my goodness I'm so sorry! I should have been looking where I was going and…" the poor girl was ranting and while he felt horrible damage control was a must. After a quick check that his nose was indeed not broken he turned to address the girl. She wasn't ranting anymore thankfully as there was another voice calming her down.
All the pretty blonde could do was stand there. He knew that voice. It haunted his dreams and comforted him in his loneliness. Skype did not do her justice. Her midnight pigtails replaced by an equally mature but adorable pixie cut framing her face that no longer held the roundness of childhood, instead soft lines hide the sharpness of woman that would kill for those she loved. She had filled out greatly but he wasn't able to admire her figure for long. "Monsieur? Do I need to escort you inside?" Her eyes were so blue Adrien felt like he was drowning in the sky. Her lips were mesmerizing painted in red and they were moving… oh shit! Pink blossomed, "Sorry you were saying?" Those red devils rose into smirk short circuiting his brain. "Monsieur Agreste, sixteen years and you already forget us little people, how dare." While portions of his brain were rebooting Adrien caught the teasing in her tone and ran with it, "Oh Mademoiselle Dupain-Cheng I would never forget you," he grabbed her hand, "I was just so lost in your beauty I couldn't be bothered to listen." The street filled with their laughter as they hugged. "Oh I missed you!" She smiled into his shoulder. Nothing beat Marinette's crushing hugs but it was over to soon. "You need to tell me everything!" She all but dragged him into the quaint boutique.
Almost immediately he had been swept up by her talking, laughing and falling in love all over again. They parted ways with a smile on her lips. Lips Adrien desperately wanted to kiss. Images of those little devils colliding with his rather under dressed lips filled his mind as he wandered to the hotel. Half present and misty-eyed he checked in barely making it up to his room and flopping on the bed immediately. Giggles poured into the space as he thought about the afternoon. "Yeesh, what are you a schoolgirl?" Plagg hovered before him with some cheese, "Plagg this afternoon was wonderful." The Kwami just rolled his eyes as the blonde hugged a pillow, "Yeah yeah whatever. You were gonna see her tomorrow anyway." His chosen bolted up, "I need to see her." Plagg didn't get to voice his confusion, "I know I saw her like twenty minutes ago but I need to see her… Chat needs to see her." He sighed, "Are you sure that's a good idea?" Adrien looked at him, "No but I need to do it. Chat's the one that left with explanation. Besides I'm sure the news is all over the fact I'm back in Paris." Despair filled the cracks until Plagg couldn't take it anymore. "All right." With a grateful smile from his chosen and a quick text asking for Marinette's address Chat Noir was soaring over the rooftops of his hometown for the second time that day. The Eiffel tower watched over him as he trekked to the home of the girl, no she wasn't a girl anymore, of the woman he loved. Ready to face the consequences of a boy's mistake like a man. Boots hit the floor of a little balcony garden only a tad more impressive than the one from their youth but filled with just as much, maybe even more, love. Before he could even gather the nerve to knock the glass doors swung open revealing the women of her dreams. "Hey Princess.
Some quick notes~
Zhū is Mandarin for "pig"
Hujing is an older Chinese term for "exquisite fox"
Lomri is Hindi for "fox" or "vixen"
