"It's time you told me what you knew." Luka stared at the ridiculous woman in front of him, his patience quickly wearing down. It had been three days. Three days she had strung out telling him anything to do with Marinette. Three days he had to put up with her self important attitude. Three days she had rode him so hard he wasn't sure if his dick could take much more. Three days of complete torture. Hours of her using him for her own pleasure and not caring about his own agenda. He was beyond irritated with her and beginning to get fed up with this woman, who thought she could put herself above him when he was the one that was supposed to be in control.

"Yeah, yeah. Marinette, blah blah blah. Honestly, I don't see why you're so obsessed with her when you have me right here and willing to work with you." Chloe rolled her eyes as she continued to examine her nails. Her quick mind had managed to throw him off the trail to her true intentions so far, but she was sensing that her time was running out. She knew exactly where Marinette was, not because she had seen her or kept in contact with any of their schoolmates to have been informed of her whereabouts. No, she knew because there was only one person Marinette would run to if she was in trouble. But that was the one person in the world she wasn't going to allow anyone to hurt. Not because she had any sentimental attachment to him or 'feelings' for him, but because she was the only person allowed to orchestrate his downfall.

"I do not have to explain my reasoning to you, woman. Either tell me what I want to know, or I'll have you disposed of. Quit stalling and fucking tell me what I want to know. Or…. Are you protecting her? Is that what's going on? Never took you for the loyal type." Luka sneered at her with a mocking expression.

"Puh-lease. As if I'd ever give a damn about that bitch. She-" Chloe's words were choked off as she was lifted bodily from the chair she was sitting in. Luka's hand tightened around her throat as her eyes watered. He looked down on her with a dark rage burning in his serpentine eyes. His voice was low as he shoved his face as close to hers as he could.

"Do not speak of her like that. She is my property, and you will respect that. Remember, you are only here because I have had mercy on you. Your usefulness ends with your information. If you were as intelligent as you believe yourself to be, you would start proving your worth beyond that." He flung her down and walked over to the window of her bedroom. He was suffocating here, he needed to get out and away so that he could start putting his plan into action. He had arranged for a place to stay more permanently while in Paris, but it wouldn't be ready until this afternoon. He had planned to stay here until that time, but he couldn't stomach any more of this pretentious bitch.

"...She's with Adrien Agreste." Chloe's voice was raspy and her hand was gently massaging her throat as she glared at Luka's back with hate filled eyes. "But I'll tell you right now, he's been on my hitlist for years. If you interfere, I will end you. I don't give a shit how big and bad you think you are. You're a little bitch compared to the man I work for."

Luka laughed heartily and turned to face her. "As long as he doesn't get in my way, I have no interest in him. And don't presume to know anything about me, tesoro, or the lengths I would go to. As long as the pretty boy stays away from Marinette, no harm will come to him. Unless you decide to doublecross me. Then I will destroy him while you watch. I'm not entirely convinced it's just a 'hit' for you, anyways. Especially if its taken years." A calculating look in her direction and he started walking towards her door with a wave. Now that he finally had a lead, he could get the hell out of here. He didn't even bother to glance her direction as he let himself out of her bedroom.

This suited Chloe just fine. She waited until she heard her front door open and close before going and unlocking the drawer that contained her personal items. She picked up her phone and opened up a new text window, tapping in Adrien's number.

Chloe: He knows where she is.

She watched as immediately three dots appeared at the bottom of the conversation.

Adrikins: Thks.

Chloe narrowed her eyes as she poured herself a drink at her minibar. Luka might think he knows how to play the game, but she's been trained since she was born. And she knew how to win.

Adrien sighed heavily as he put his phone down. He knew their good luck would run out at some point, but he was hoping they could've at least gotten a week before having to uproot everything. Picking up his glasses, he resumed preparing his lessons on quantum mechanics for the week. Knowing once he got home he would have to burst the happy bubble him and Marinette had been existing in since her arrival. She had been so happy the past few days, always greeting him when he arrived home from work with a smile, cooking delicious meals and spending their evenings reading or watching television. Their nights were spent wrapped around each other making up for all the lost time and loneliness of the last six months. Her job had given her a huge severance package, her boss totally understanding why she had to leave once she explained her situation. He had advised her not to disclose her reasons, but she had assured him that her superior was someone she trusted explicitly. She had been proven correct when her resignation package had arrived, along with a handwritten note assuring she would always have a place there, if she still wanted it once things were… settled. He was grateful that was one less thing she had to stress about. It also freed them up to be able to disappear. She still hadn't contacted anyone to let them know she was back in Paris. Alya and Nino had been updated on her location once he secured another phone for her.

He sighed and shut down his computer as he rubbed his eyes. Working was pointless now, and it was close enough to the end of his office hours to leave. He would have to figure out a way to maintain his classes while on the run so that they would still have income. He had a healthy amount of cash in his bank account from all his years of modeling but having a steady income never hurt. Going over different scenarios, places to go, things they would need to travel, he packed up and started home.

Adrien walked in the door, expecting to be greeted as soon as it shut just as he had been the past few days. His heart started hammering as nothing but silence greeted him. Plagg flew out of his shirt pocket with a yawn, stretching and scratching himself. Hearing his holders heart pound, his eyes sharpened. "Tikki's gone."

Those two words caused Adrien to panic. No… no no no! How could he have already found her? Adrien thought frantically as he went from room to room. Luka'd only found out today that she was with Adrien. He stopped short. Did he find out today? Did Chloe immediately text him or did she wait for some reason? He wouldn't risk talking to her any more than absolutely necessary so he couldn't ask. Besides, he still hadn't had a chance to tell Marinette about their… Whatever it was. No, talking to Chloe was out of the question. Once he ascertained Marinette wasn't in his apartment, he picked his phone up with shaking hands and called her new number. If Marinette was gone, he didn't know what he'd do.

"Adrien?" Marinette's voice filtered through the phone speakers.

Adrien sank down to the floor as he tried to even out his breathing. He knew his reaction was irrational, she wasn't a prisoner here she could come and go whenever she pleased. But hearing from Chloe and then coming home to find her gone scared the shit out of him.

"Adrien, what's wrong? Kitty?" Her voice sounded more urgent the longer he didn't respond. "I'm almost back to the apartment, where are you? ADRIEN?!"

Her words snapped him out of his panic attack, he took a deep breath and weakly told her he was already there and that he'd see her soon. She hung up but he remained on the floor in the middle of the living room until she slipped through the front door a few minutes later. She dropped down in front of him, pulling him close and laying his head above her heartbeat.

"I'm here, Kitty. I'm here. What happened? What's wrong?" His silence was starting to really concern her. It was obvious something happened, some new piece of information had come in, but she couldn't get him to talk to her. His body started to shake as he started to sob and Marinette started to really panic.

"ADRIEN!" She yanked his face up to hers. His eyes were closed, tears leaking out of the corners in a broken stream. She was tempted to slap him to try and revive him, but Tikki flew up next to her before she had the chance.

"He's in shock, Marinette. Even if you slapped him, it wouldn't help." Tikki looked over at Plagg, who was sitting on his holders shoulder with a lost expression. She flew over to him and smacked him on the back of the head. "Why aren't you helping? What did you do to him?!"

Plagg rubbed the back of his head and flew away from her. "I didn't do a damn thing to him! You two weren't here when we showed up and he just started freaking out! What the hell was I supposed to do?! I didn't know where you were either-" He flew into the other room with Tikki hot on his heels, her paw held out to smack him again.

"Chaton, talk to me. Please," She begged him. "I'm right here, nothing happened to me. I just went to visit Alya while you were at work. I didn't know you were going to be home early or I would've made sure to be here. I'm sorry I wasn't here, Kitty."

He looked up at her as she continued to apologize for something that was perfectly normal. He decided that he couldn't live like this. In fear, constantly concerned for her safety. He wouldn't dream of caging her to his apartment like a trapped songbird. Too many years of being trapped in his father's house ringing in his mind, causing him silent anguish and ricocheting like strewn bullets. He wouldn't dream of putting her into that position. He wouldn't dream of putting anyone into the hellish life like the one he had known. No matter the circumstances or threat.

"We have to leave. He knows. He knows you're here. You are no longer safe with me. You have to run-" His terrified rambling was cut off as she kissed him. He melted into her calming embrace as she continued to press soft kisses to his lips, nose, eyes and temples. Once she had calmed him down enough, he pulled away and looked at her. She smiled gently at him with nothing but trust and love in her eyes. He steeled himself and sat up. He kept her hand in his and looked at her, ashamed at his breakdown. "I'm sorry, Bug. I thought he had gotten you before I had a chance to get you away. That was irrational of me and I apologize."

She laughed out of pure relief. "Silly Kitty, there's no need to apologize. I'm afraid you're still stuck with me. I won't go down that easily. But," her expression sobered and she gazed at him levelily, "What's all this about me running? Why aren't we running? Surely you don't want to stay here while I escape? You're a smart man, Adrien. I know you know better than that." Her expression softened and she placed her hands on either side of his face. "Whatever happens, we go together. Ladybug is nothing without Chat Noir."

He turned his face towards her palms and kissed them gently. "Of course, my Lady."

"Now, tell me everything you know and lets come up with a plan while I make dinner. What're you in the mood for? And don't say 'you'-" Marinette didn't get to finish her jab as he tackled her. She laughed as he tickled her sides, thrashing back and forth on the floor where she had fallen. Adrien was so grateful that she was in his life again, he couldn't help but do everything in his power to continue making her laugh as much as he could. Everything else could wait.