Ch9

Adrien sat at his desk looking over Nathaniel's resume. His former classmate sat across from him wearing a suit. Nathaniel's face was calm but his hands were fidgeting in his lap. Looking over the designs Nathaniel submitted he was impressed by the drawings. Even though they weren't comics the clothing designs were pretty creative.

"Well I remember you were a great artist and though these aren't comics they are decent," he said turning to face Nathaniel. "I'm impressed by how much you improve. If you are ok with it I would like to hire you as a sketch designer for our promotional department. You'll mainly work with advertisements but if you wish I don't mind looking at any clothing ideas you may have."

Nathaniel's eyes widened. "Th-Thanks Adrien. I won't let you down."

"Don't worry I'm sure you'll do great things here," he said. "I know we weren't that close in school but how are things?"

Nathaniel shrugged. "Alright. I live with Marc, we both go to university together and are sharing a place."

"I see," he said doing his best to not appear as if he already knew that. "Well I know the fashion industry isn't the comic industry but I'm sure you'll gain a lot of experience. I'll have my secretary show you to your office."

"Thank you," Nathaniel said quickly. "I won't let you down."

He smiled at him and got up. "No problem." The two shook hands before Nathaniel was shown to his new office.

It's so weird connecting with my old friends again. Looking at his reflection in the computer he realized he never really had a chance to say goodbye to them. Back when my life was simpler.

"Mr. Agreste Lila Rossi is here to see you again," said his secretary over the intercom. "She insists on seeing you."

Great now what? He frowned and pushed the intercom button. "Send her up escorted." He figured if he kicked her out now she'd just continue to bother him, so he might as well humor her.

His posture turned rigid as Lila came in wearing a fancy business suit. "Hello Adrien nice to see you again," She said with a wide grin as she sat herself down on the chair in front of him. "Have you been well?"

"I've been alright," he said curtly. "What brings you here this time?"

Lila smiled at him. "Why Adrien I think I can continue to help your company grow."

"My company is doing fine by itself at the moment," he said calmly.

"True. But you could use a partner," Lila said with a wide grin. "Your father always held me in high regard. I could help you as a vice president of this company."

Lila grinned. "Perhaps we can meet up on the weekend?"

He shook his head. "Sorry but I have an important out of town meeting."

Lila pouted her gaze betraying irritation. "I see. Well another time then." She turned around and headed towards the door. "Oh by the way try to stay out of trouble, Mr. Astruc is always after a new scoop these days."

"I'll keep that in mind," he said as his bodyguard came and escorted her out.

That guy is so annoying. I wonder how he would take knowing that his golden boy Adrien Agreste is that thieving tom cat.

He chuckled to himself as he looked at the Daily Horn's website. As usual there was the usual political section followed by the Cat Noir bashing section. What did I even do to get this guy to hate me again? Looking through the website he bit his lip laughing at the ridiculous articles this man had cocked up bashing Cat Noir. If only he ever knew the truth. Frankly he found it amusing as well as annoying.

He smirked as he stumbled upon an article praising the Agreste brand. Shaking his head he turned off his computer and continued his work.

As he was working he heard screams from out the window. What now? He frowned and went to the window and opened it.

His eyes widened as he saw a familiar figure lead a group of pigeons to terrorize the city. Mr. Pigeon? But how? There hasn't been an akuma attack in ages.

He quickly grabbed his phone and saw the akuma alert flash for the first time in ages. "Breaking news an akuma attack, the first in many years. All residents are to remain calm."

Hawkmoth is back? His mind raced through a million different ideas as he locked his door and hit the intercom. "Make sure all employees are safe inside and evacuate the top floors."

What's going on? Looking out the window for a moment he was a child again. "Plagg lets do this," he said as he opened the window.

Plagg came out and stared at Mr. Pigeon in shock. "It's been ages since we fought an akuma."

A smile spread across his face. "Don't worry. We'll show him how much we changed," he said as he clenched his fists. "Plagg claws out!"

As soon as he was transformed he leaped out of the window and into the city. I haven't fought an akuma in ages. He paused as he thought of Ladybug. I imagine I'll see her too.

As soon as he got close enough to Mr. Pigeon an array of pigeons dived bombed at him. He lunged at the attack and swung his baton. The pigeons scattered as he landed on another rooftop more pigeons flew at him. Long time no see!" he yelled as he effortlessly knocked down the pigeons.

Mr. Pigeon turned to him and pointed at him. The pigeons in the sky dive bombed at him. He dodged the attacks and struck the pigeons that came too close to him. "You'll have to do better than that, this kitty learned a trick or two since we last saw each other."

He dodged the pigeons and charged at Mr. Pigeon and knocked him out of the air with his baton. Mr. Pigeon got back up and glared at him gripping his whistle he blew it and more pigeons took to the sky.

I have to get to that whistle. He dodged another strike of pigeons but just as he lunged at Mr. Pigeon the man flew into the air.

He swore and grabbed his baton when he noticed a figure fly at Mr. Pigeon. His eyes widened as he saw the new Ladybug kick Mr. Pigeon sending him flying in the air.

"Sorry I'm late," Ladybug said as she landed near him.

His posture turned rigid. "Lets just take him down." Just get this over with. The less I have to do with you the better. This was for the city nothing more.

Ladybug frowned but nodded as she swung her yoyo in the air and flew in the air. He sighed and grabbed his baton and extended it.

As Ladybug knocked Mr. Pigeon off of his palace in the air, he took the opportunity to lunge at him. He decked Mr. Pigeon in the face, gripping him by the collar he repeatedly punched him in the face as they fell to the ground. "Cataclysm!"

He destroyed the whistle as the black butterfly flew out of it. Ladybug's yoyo grabbed the butterfly. "Miraculous Ladybug!"

Don't look. Looking down his heart raced as the city of Paris was repaired. Don't be amazed, don't let her in. His heart hardened as a sheet of ice.

He looked up at Ladybug who was watching him with her wide eyes. "Thanks," he said before turning around.

"Wait!" Ladybug said. "We need to talk."

"I get it Hawkmoth is back," he said rolling his eyes. "It changes nothing between us." Turning to Ladybug he almost felt bad at how she flinched at his gaze. "Send my regards to the real Ladybug. Don't ever forget I work alone unless necessary."

Ladybug looked at him, her arms up. "Ok," she said calmly. "I'll pass the message on."

He looked up at the Eiffel Tower in the distance. "Whatever she's been up to I hope she is ready." With that he extended his baton and leaped away.

Various emotions filled him as he returned to his office. "Claws in."

"Hey kid it's been a while since we fought an akuma huh?" Plagg asked.

He took off his suit jacket and threw it harder than he intended onto the ground. "If I do anything it is for the city." Taking a deep breath he played with the miraculous on his fingers. "I don't want anyone to lose their loved ones like I did."

Plagg gave him a sad look but nodded. "You've helped a lot of people, don't let what happened in the past disrupt you."

He sighed and rubbed his head as he looked up at the portrait of his father. "You know sometimes I see him in my dreams; with Nathalie and mom." He pushed down those emotions. "I still miss them."

Plagg avoided his gaze. "About Ladybug are we going to work together?"

Picking up the portrait of his father and Nathalie on his desk. He gently cleaned the dust off it. "I work alone." Setting the portrait down he pressed the intercom. "I want a head count of every employee, when it's done send them home for the day."

"Yes sir," his secretary said.

He exited the office and quickly went to make his rounds to every department. Anxiety and fear were etched on everyone's faces. "Don't worry everyone just calm down, if anyone needs help contacting loved ones let me know."

He then saw Nathaniel and the other members of the advertisement division. "Hey you alright Nathaniel?"

The redhead nodded. "Y-Yeah. Just like old times. Wh would've thought that an akuma would come back?"

"Yeah tell me about it." After such a long time too.

"Well at least Cat Noir and Ladybug are still around," Nathaniel said.

He sighed. "Yup." Frankly he didn't know what he could say to the real Ladybug if he saw her again, it had been ages since they spoke. "Oh how's Marc? You both still together?"

Nathaniel avoided his gaze. "He's alright. Things are a little stressful but I try to manage things."

There was a bit of tension in his words that he couldn't place but from what he knew of Nathaniel he knew he was a private person. "Well let me know if you need anything ok?"

Nathaniel nodded. "Thanks."

Marc frowned as he paced the apartment restlessly. "Come on Nathaniel pick up." He had called his boyfriend countless times and sent him dozens of texts but so far he had not responded. Come on where are you? Panic filled him, he tried to hide it but when he heard about the akuma attack he immediately called Nathaniel by any means he could, the worst part his work said he was off.

The door opened and Nathaniel walked in. "Oh my god where were you! I've been calling you for hours!"

"Sorry I was hiding from the akuma attack." Nathaniel avoided his gaze not evening wanting to face him.

He frowned. "Do you know how worried I was? Why was your phone off?"

Nathaniel avoided his gaze. "I had a job interview."

"What?" He didn't think he heard him right. "Wh-Why didn't you tell me?

Nathaniel sat on the couch and avoided his gaze. "I uh wanted to surprise you."

His heart raced. Why would he keep this from him? "Wh-Where are you working at?"

"Remember Adrien Agreste? Well I'm working at his company," Nathaniel said calmly.

It took him a moment to process what he said. "What are you going to even do there?"

Nathaniel shrugged. "Design things and work in his advertisement division."

His boyfriend said it so casually it hurt. "B-But I thought we were going to publish a comic together."

"We are," Nathaniel said quickly his eyes darting around the room. "But we need to pay the bills and you don't have a job still."

He avoided his gaze. "I-I've been looking." How could you get another job without telling me? His Nathaniel seemed so casual about it that his suspicions grew. We were supposed to publish our work together.

Nathaniel got up. "Well we need the money. I'm going to prepare for tomorrow don't bother me."

He watched Nathaniel go into his room and close the door without so much as looking back at him. Anxiety swelled up inside of him. No he can't be seeing someone else. Fear spread throughout his body, why wouldn't he tell him about this interview? Was he hiding anything else?

No. He couldn't see anyone else. Shaking his head he headed towards his room and fell onto the bed as he pushed his anxiety and fear down. Nathaniel why are you being like this? Dating was one thing but living together was another. He didn't know when his paranoia began but their honeymoon phase ended abruptly and Nathaniel seemed to prefer being alone at times which made him frustrated.

Why are we growing apart? Shaking his head he sat up. No I won't let us grow apart.