Ch2

"Thank you come again," Marinette said forcing a wide smile on her face as another customer left the shop.

As soon as he left she began to take another order and then another one. Each step was the same with each customer. A fake smile, take the order, pay, and give them their food. Rinse and repeat, some customers were nicer than others but it dulled the numbness inside of her. It had been that way for about ten years. She didn't mind it so much anymore, after all she didn't have much going for her.

"Marinette dear do you need any help?" her mother asked as she brought about a dozen loaves of bread from the kitchen.

"No mom I'm good," she said as she went to make some coffee. The bakery along with evening university classes were all that she had going for her at the moment.

The morning rush was a sight she had long grown accustomed, every morning it seemed the same, and by the time she finished the morning rush she didn't feel that tired.

Grabbing a coffee she was about to head to her room when she heard the door open and saw a familiar face. "Hey Marinette," Alya said with a wide smile. Her friend had grown over the years but still retained her smile and their friendship remained as strong as ever.

"Hey Alya lets talk upstairs," she said giving her friend a cup of coffee before they headed up to her room. "Anything new with you?" She asked as she closed the door behind her.

Alya sighed as they sat in front of her computer. "Well the patrols are the same. He still is cold to me."

Her friend reached into her bag and pulled out a small box containing earrings. Upon putting them on Tikki flew. "Hey Marinette."

She gave her kwami a small smile. "Hey Tikki thanks for doing this." She said it countless times, they were partners but she was taking a break for now. Ever since that day, she couldn't find it in herself to wield the ladybug miraculous.

"No problem let me know if you ever want to do it again," Tikki said avoiding her gaze. "I hope one day you can move on from what happened."

Her stomach dropped. Move on. How do I do that when I killed the family of the person I loved. Swallowing a lump in her throat she took a breath forcing herself to not relive that memory. "Maybe one day," she said softly.

"I know you are strong Marinette," Alya said grabbing her shoulder and looked her in the eyes. "It wasn't just your fault that day."

Alya constantly told her that yet the guilt was enough to make her anxiety go up. "I made the call to do go," she said as she turned on her computer. "We did it though, we defeated Hawkmoth." The words rang hollow, yeah they defeated Hawkmoth but at the cost of Adrien's happiness.

While browsing Youtube she found the channel of a familiar news anchor. "Hello this is Thomas Astruc from the Daily Horn," Thomas Astruc said with a wide grin. "Bringing all Parisians news about the city."

She sighed. "I miss him arguing with fans about how much better Ladybug is than everyone else."

"I know right?" Alya said with a small laugh.

Thomas Astruc pointed to the screen next to him and an image of Adrien Agreste appeared. "The Agreste brand will be doing a new lineup of clothes modeled by darling angel Adrien Agreste himself!" Thomas squealed in delight. "Isn't he just perfect in every way! I'll keep you posted on the updates of his new fashion show!"

A shiver went down her spine as an image of Adrien appeared on the screen, tears fell down her face as memories from that day flashed in her head. Her anxiety flared as she remembered his glare and the hatred in his eyes. Closing the browser, she grabbed a tissue and cleaned the tears as her stomach turned.

"It's ok Marinette," Alya said softly as she patted her back.

"How can it be?" she sobbed "I took everything from him and nearly ruined him."

Her body shook as the memories of that fateful day replayed in her head.

Ladybug ran through the city of Paris with Rena Rouge. "That akuma was pretty difficult," she sighed as they rested on a rooftop.

Seeing the Agreste mansion in the distance her heart fluttered. Adrien.

"Hey what's that?" Rena Rouge said.

She squinted as she saw a finger leap over the fence of the Agreste mansion. She covered her mouth her eyes widening. "Hawkmoth!" What if he hurts Adrien?

The timer for her miraculous was about to go off but she had to get to the bottom of this. "Lets see what he is up to," she said as they both headed towards the Agreste mansion.

A part of her wanted to call Cat Noir for back up but all she could think about was Adrien getting hurt by Hawkmoth. Whatever he is doing here it isn't good.

They landed close to a mirror and her eyes widened as she saw Mayura and Hawkmoth detransform. "No," she said softly her eyes widening as she recognized the two people.

"It's Mr. Agreste," Rena Rouge said as they carefully hid and transformed back into their civilian forms.

"No this can't be," She said shaking her head as she took a step back as the realization hit her. Adrien's dad is Hawkmoth. It was as if her world was turning upside down. Oh god Adrien. She debated what to do, could she leave him and pretend she saw nothing? Or should she take the opportunity to take him out now.

"Marinette I know what you are thinking," Alya said grabbing her shoulder. "I'm sure Adrien will understand but if we let them continue people will get hurt."

She nodded a heavy feeling pressing against. "Lets end this." This was their chance to end it all, they couldn't continue allowing Hawkmoth to continue his reign of terror.

They fed their kwamis and quickly transformed back into superheroes. I'm sorry Adrien I'll explain it to you when it is over.

Mr. Agreste and Nathalie were still talking as they broke through the door. "What is the meaning of this!" Mr. Agreste demanded.

"It's over," she growled. "No need to pretend anymore."

Gabriel and Nathalie exchanged a knowing look their eyes widening to the realization. They had been caught and their miraculouses had to recharge. "Stand back!" Nathalie said as she charged at them.

Rena Rouge played a tune of her flute and sent a barrage of illusions. She knew Nathalie was a skilled fighter but she couldn't take two superheroes at once. They both attacked her with everything they had.

Gabriel charged at Rena who dodged his kick and punched him in the jaw sending him against the wall. "Ladybug watch out these two are well trained."

"You don't have to tell me twice," she said dodging Nathalie's fist. The secretary avoided most of her moves but a few punches knocked her back.

"Gabriel stand behind me," Nathalie said

To her great Nathalie put up a good fight, despite being distracted by the illusion she took a few hits before she was punched in the gut and thrown against the table nearly knocking it to the ground.

"No!" Mr Agreste yelled as he ran to Nathalie.

"It's over surrender!" She said firmly pleading with God that Adrien was not around.

"G-Gabriel get out," Nathalie said as she coughed up blood.

Gabriel Agreste's body shook as he slowly got up and glared daggers at her. "You'll pay for this," he growled as he grabbed a cane from the side of his desk and unsheathed a sword. "You'll pay!"

Mr. Agreste charged at her, using her yoyo she knocked the sword out of his hands and punched her with everything she had. Adrien I'm sorry. The sound of a few bones breaking made her wince. She saw Gabriel's eyes roll over as he was thrown against the desk his head slamming against it.

Rena Rouge came at him before he could get up and struck him so hard she heard bones break. "It's over!"

Please don't be home. Gabriel Agreste glared at them his body shaking as he stood in front of Nathalie. "I won't let you both succeed," he said his body shaking as he coughed up blood. "I won't let you get away with this." Gabriel spat out blood his gaze as hard as ice. "I will fight for my family if it is the last thing I do."

He reached into his pocket and her mind reacted thinking it might be a weapon, or worse a miraculous. She struck him in the rib cage, Gabriel Agreste's eyes bulged out at the sound of bones breaking as he flew to the floor, his hand fell open revealing a picture of him and his family, it took all her will power to not cry.

Gabriel Agreste coughed up blood and gripped his chest as if trying to gasp for air. He gingerly reached over and held Nathalie. "Forgive me," he said softly.

Nathalie smiled at him and gently held his cheek. "I'm sorry Gabriel," she said softly.

That was when the door to the study opened. "Father?"

Her blood ran cold as she saw Adrien wide eyed staring at his father and Nathalie. No. No this can't be happening. Her body shook, she didn't know what to say or how to respond to the eyes that Adrien gave her.

"Why," Adrien muttered tears falling down his face his eyes looking as if he had been betrayed by the one closest to him. Her mind went blank as his sad eyes hit her as if she had personally stabbed him in the back.

"A-Adrien I-I," she tried to form words but Adrien's anguished cry as his father slumped dead on in his arms. Tears fell down Adrien's face as her heart broke.

She wished she could've made it better, fixed it all but as Adrien gripped his father's body the sorrow in his eyes turned to hatred. "You murdered him!" Adrien yelled as his bodyguard stood in front of him protectively.

"Lets go," Rena Rouge said grabbing her hand. The last thing she saw was Adrien in tears lying on the ground holding his father and Nathalie in his arms. Her heart broke as tears fell down her face. I'm sorry Adrien.

The next few days were hell. Adrien didn't so much as come to school and the death of Gabriel Agreste was all over the news. She mostly stayed in bed crying at what she did. How can I be with him now? I murdered his family.

Shaking her head Alya came inside her room. "Hey girl you ok?"

"How can I be?" she said softly. Her insides were numb, how could she live with what she did? I killed him.

Alya sat next to her, she knew her friend was also sad about what had happened. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have pushed for us to go in like that. Maybe you can go and explain to him what happened."

"What could I say," she muttered cleaning the tears from her face. "Your dad was Hawkmoth and his assistant who you also cared for was Mayura?" She shook her head. "You saw his look, he called me a murderer."

"It's I'm with you all the way," Alya said softly. "We are in this together."

The Agreste Affair as it was known became one of the most controversial topics in the decade. The Agreste estate didn't press charge but released the video of the confrontation and a great debate occurred in Paris. The video had only recorded Ladybug and Rena Rouge entering and fighting Gabriel and Nathalie without any hint or indication about them being supervillains.

A part of the city wanted her charged while the other half viewed her as the city's savior and that if she confronted him it must have been for a good reason. The Ladyblog and other social medias were battlegrounds between the two groups, eventually her supporters gained the edge and no court in France would bring the hero of Paris to trial.

Ladybug had gotten away with murder. No she Marinette Dupain Chang had gotten away with it.

During that time she debated talking to Adrien, to explain to him who his father really was. However, the Agreste estate was constantly surrounded by private security and policemen and Adrien never left his house without a retinue of security.

One night she approached the Agreste mansion in an attempt to talk to him and explain things only to be met by a familiar face.

Cat Noir landed in front of her his arms folded. "What brings you here." He was different, his posture rigid his gaze sharp and any feelings he may have had for her were not seen in the cold hard gaze he gave her.

"I want to talk to Adrien Agreste and explain what happened," she said. Something inside of her was telling her to be cautious, the look Cat Noir gave her was anything but friendly. His green eyes were as cold as ice and were like a predator ready to kill.

Cat Noir laughed coldly. "He doesn't want to talk to anyone, especially you."

"Look I don't have time-" She was caught off guard by Cat Noir's staff.

"He doesn't want anything to do with you," Cat Noir said coldly his gaze narrowing. "I recommend you leave Ladybug." Her partner formed a fighting stance gripping his rod tightly, his gaze was predatory and angry.

She swallowed the lump in her throat tears forming in her eyes at the murderous gaze Cat Noir gave her. "Please let me just explain."

"Adrien Agreste is an old acquaintance of mine," Cat Noir said coldly. "After seeing his father and assistant murdered he asked me to protect him. I will not ask you again, leave and don't come back.

Her heart raced in her chest. "Cat Noir it was a misunderstanding. Mr. Agreste he was-"

"Don't speak his name," Cat Noir snarled as he lunged at her. "You are a murderer."

His words cut through her heart, tears fell down her face as Cat Noir punched her in the gut and sent her to the ground. She coughed, her teammate had never struck with the intent to hurt her before. Her body shook as she looked up and saw Cat Noir his glare cut through her like a hot knife through butter.

"I won't repeat this again," Cat Noir said coldly. "You and Rena Rouge are to stay the hell away from Adrien Agreste and the Agreste mansion or I swear you both will regret it."

Cat Noir retraced his baton and put it away before turning away. "We are done. I no longer wish to associate with you and no longer recognize any authority you may have over me as the guardian. Goodbye Ladybug."

Tears fell down her face as Cat Noir leaped off the building into the night. As soon as he was gone the tears fell down her face and she sobbed. She lost the love of her life and now she just lost her partner.

AN: I assume there is some kind of camera system in the Agreste mansion. Gabriel turned it off when he was transformed and turned it back one when he detransformed. So what the public and Adrien saw was the altercation minus any accusation of Gabriel or Nathalie being supervillains.