A/N: So this isn't nearly as good grammatically as I would have wanted. I apologize. The friend who is an amazing editor basically couldn't help me anymore and after three weeks of sitting on this I just had to publish it. I have re-read it over and over again, but I can't see anymore mistakes. I know they are there though. Between trying to do this between a toddler, my dyslexia and just general mental state, I have done my best. I just you enjoy it. Its a short introduction, and next chapter will be a hell of a lot longer, so I hope this will tide you all over for now.

Consequences of Falling With You

Chapter 1

It was an uneventful evening. Ladybug and Chat Noir met up halfway through their respective patrols, and decided to finish together as they made their way to the Eiffel Tower. Often they would avoid going to the top of the tower, but on these quiet nights, they preferred the overlook. The pair sat near each other, but still gave space between themselves. Both watched over the city, enjoying the way the lights glowed around them. Ladybug even admitted, despite being nineteen now, her favourite part of their patrols had remained their nightly visits to the tower.

After years of growing and maturing, Chat Noir was still the flirty cat who loved to make puns, only now he saved it for when the danger had disappeared. Ladybug liked that compromise, so she gave him considerably less grief for the jokes, and let him flirt, while reminding him later of her lack of romantic interest. Her partner, maturer, didn't take it to heart, and their bond had grown.

The one thing she never got used to was the late night patrols, being neither a night owl, nor a morning person. Still, the company was pleasant. Ladybug stole a glance of her partner, who was intently looking over the city, apparently deep in thought. Over the years, Chat Noir had opened up to her and told her bits and pieces of his home life, though only in the most basic of ways.

A father who expected the world of his son, but would never give his son the time of day; not to mention an absentee mother. He struggled to find his own identity in the world. Ladybug gave him a friendly ear when he needed it, and it helped him a lot to confide in her. Tonight he seemed to have a lot on his shoulders, and so Ladybug reached out to place her hand on his shoulders, which seemed to snap him out of his daze. His eyes widened, and he looked at her. Chat Noir realized there was no danger, and his body relaxed.

"Sorry," he apologized. "I got lost and thought there was an Akuma for a moment."

"Something happening at home?" she asked.

Chat Noir's green eyes stopped on her worried face. Their eyes met for only a moment, but he broke the contact and nodded with a sigh. "The usual. My father has me working for him everyday now. He controls the people I interact with, talk to, and controls every bit of my life now. But somehow he is still neglectful."

Ladybug gave him a sympathetic expression and listened as he continued. "Sometimes, I'd want, like, him to sit and have a meal with me. Allow me to spend time with my best friend once in a while. Let me go to university, find a career. Let me… be myself."

"And talking does no good," Ladybug stated as a matter of fact rather than asking rhetorically, as she knew well from years, hearing his woes many times before. Her partner sighed again.

"But that's not what I'm thinking," he said. "I have the next few days on my mind. I'm moving out very soon; I've found a place, and I have a job."

"You did?" she gasped. "Somewhere safe?"

He cracked a smile, "Yes, it's with someone I trust. They helped me find the job too. Did it all with e-mail and Facetime."

"Will we have to change up the patrol schedule?" she asked. "Just so we can figure out a new one if we have to."

"We could do a rotation schedule. One night you would do the patrol solo, the next night I would, and then we'd join up for the third night; wash, rinse, repeat. And, if for whatever reason, one of us is unavailable to patrol, the other one can pick up the slack. That way the city is always safe."

To Ladybug's surprise, Chat shook his head. "I don't think we will need to. My shifts start at, like, 6:00 AM once a week, and for evening shifts I work no later than 10:30 PM. I can patrol on my way to my new place."

"Okay," Ladybug chirped. "Similar to my days then."

Chat pulled his feet over the edge of the tower and turned to look at her straight on. "So school's starting up again, are you prepared?"

Ladybug smiled. "Just about. I'm excited to be going back. The workload will be rougher this year though."

"I can't imagine everything you have to balance, and be a superhero too," he said. "It must be rough."

She shook her head. "Don't downplay your own work/life balance. We all have it rough."

He chuckled, looked at her, and smiled. "Thanks, Bugaboo, for listening when I have no one else I can turn to."

She flashed him a smile. "No problem, Kitten."

He climbed to his feet and stretched. "Well then, good night. I have some packing to do."

"Wait, Chat," Ladybug interrupted, climbing to her feet. He had been ready to jump off the tower, but stopped and looked at her. "If you need to take some time to pack and move, let me take your patrol tomorrow. I have a few days before school starts. You should focus on what you need to do, and in three days I'll see you on our joint patrol. Just keep the Akuma app open and come if one shows up."

"You don't need to do that," he smiled.

"We're partners. Of course I do. Can you promise me you'll focus on your move?" Ladybug pleaded.

He rested his arm on one of the steel beams and gave her a soft smile. "Alright. Thank you."

Ladybug stood and smiled at him too. "Of course. We're partners after all."

He reached his fist over to her, which made her giggle and shake her head in amusement. That was so typical of him, only now she found it sort of amusing. Chat Noir was who he was, and that was the best partner she has ever hoped for. Ladybug raised her fist and bumped her fist against his.

"Pound it," they said in unison.

"See you later, L.B.," he remarked, and this time he leapt from the tower and landed on the ground below. There were still some people in the park this time of night, but they froze and looked at the sight of the hero running along the path. When he was within jumping distance, he jumped high up and landed on a nearby rooftop. With more jumping along roofs he neared his home. He could see his open window nearby, and with a last leap, he jumped into his bedroom window and landed inside.

While inside, Adrien glanced around his childhood bedroom and a little sadness came over him. As much as he hated living with his overbearing father, he had spent much of his childhood in this bedroom. It would be the one part about his departure that he would miss. He walked over to his bed and knelt down,pulled a huge duffle bag and backpack from underneath, and placed it on top of the bed to pack the last of the things he would be bringing with him. Clothes, an old laptop, a tablet that he bought himself… and that was when he saw the letter he wrote.

He pulled the letter out of the bag and placed it on his pillows staring at the addressing to his father on the front. When it was out of his hand, the immense weight he carried with him came off his shoulders. He was leaving pretty much everything, including his cellphone, all his video games, movies, and music. They were all staying behind. It was pathetic that he would miss his stuff more than his own father, but he wanted as little of his things bought by his father as possible. Leaving behind things bought to keep him happy here at home, instead of out in the actual world. He knew he was ready to forge his own path.

With a last glance around, Adrien pulled his bags off the bed. His backpack, and then his large duffle bag. Still transformed, he carried these bags with ease, and he would carry them most of the way, so there would be no problem. Adrien walked to the window, and jumped out at an angle to land on the roof across the way. Continuing on this path, he headed to the south-eastern area of Paris, the twelfth district.

It was further away from many of the so-called touristy areas, but it was an inexpensive area to live and still had transit for Adrien to get around. And it would be the site of his new apartment. His new home. He could see the roof. He picked up his pace and ran to the street across from it, then jumped down into the alley. When he landed, he looked around to be sure no one else could see him. The coast was clear. "Claw's in," he said. He de-transformed. There he stood, just Adrien Agreste.

A dizzy Plagg had struggled to keep his balance in midair during all of this. "So much jumping around," Plagg cried. "Don't complain, I got a reward for you," Adrien stated, pulling out a piece of Camembert cheese. Plagg's eyes burst open, and he flew over without another complaint and snacked on the cheese. Adrien gave him a minute to enjoy the cheese before he offered his shirt as a hiding place. Once Plagg was hidden, Adrien gave out a groan as he lifted the duffle bag; now much heavier than before, and struggled his way across the street. He made it to the front door, dropping them down at his feet and pressed the buzzer. He found Nino's name listed and pressed the button and waited.

Within a minute, a voice cracked through the speaker. "Is that you, dude?" Nino inquired through the intercom.

"Yeah, it's me," he answered.

"I'll be right down to help," Nino stated. There was crackling, and then the intercom went silent. The door opened about a minute later and Nino popped his head out and smiled at Adrien.

"Dude!" he greeted. Nino saw the large duffle bag and reached out to it. Adrien offered it and he took it. Nino struggled with the brute of a bag for a moment, but as soon as he got a good hold of it, they made their way inside. Adrien followed Nino up the stairs to the second floor, and then down the hall to the second door on the left. Nino opened the door and let Adrien into his apartment, which he had only been in a handful of times before. He felt much relief when he was inside.

He felt free now. Adrien slipped the backpack off his shoulder and put it down beside his duffle bag which Nino had already hastily removed from his now aching shoulder. He was surprised at how heavy it was. He began rubbing his shoulder for relief.

It was a tiny apartment. Smaller than his bedroom in square feet. There was no place to put a table, and so they would have to eat at the coffee table and sit on the couches. Adrien did not mind in the least. There was hardly any room between the few pieces of furniture that there were. The bathroom could only hold one person, but barely. Both bedrooms could just fit the dresser and the bed. And Adrien's bed had pressed against the wall, making the bedroom a tight squeeze. And his bed was a small double. It was everything he wanted. He knew people would call it a shitty apartment, but to him, for the first time, it was home.

A/N: That's it for now. I hope you enjoyed it. Until next time.