Chapter Text
Adrien always believed that his parents loved him. When they flew to China to search for “new inspiration”, his mother’s words, he knew they loved him because they brought him along. He might have only been 5-years-old. But he knew that you didn’t leave those you loved behind. Natalie was there to help. She made sure he was fed while they went to parties and danced the night away. If he had a nightmare and Natalie had already gone to her own room and his parents were still not back yet. It was okay. They would be back eventually. He wasn’t forgotten. He was loved.
When his parents visited an old temple and came back with three pieces of jewelry. It was all the more proof. There was one for each of them. If his parents became even more distant, having secret conversations with each other and with two pieces of jewelry. It was okay. They still remembered him. The night they came back, he wandered over to the two broaches. One was shaped like a butterfly. It was pretty. Not as pretty as the Peacock feather one. However, it was the black ring that really got his attention. It called to him and he picked it up.
Adrien nearly dropped it in shock as a small cat came out of it. He kept his mouth shut, no matter how much he wanted to scream. Because he knew. Children should be seen, not heard. He didn’t want to make his parents unhappy with him.
“Whatcha’s name, kitten?” the creature asked. Adrien blinked in shock. It spoke.
“A-Adrien,” Adrien stuttered quietly.
“Nice to meet ya, I’m Plagg.” Adrien blinked as the cat creature held out its paw. Adrien shook it and gave a small smile. “Now I’m starving. Got any cheese?” Adrien nodded quickly and ran to get some of the cheese leftovers from his dinner. He was told not to eat it. Something about too much fat. He didn’t fully understand but Mother had told him he was getting too big and needed to be on a diet. The best way was to learn not to eat all your food. To learn to leave some on your plate.
He then brought it to Plagg. As he watched him eat it, Adrien gave a small smile.
“Will you be my friend?” Plagg stopped eating and looked at him.
“You’re small. How old are you?” Plagg asked seriously. Adrien was suddenly worried. Was he too young to be his friend?
“I’m five,” Adrien muttered as he looked down, his shoulders drooping at the thought. He was so excited about having a friend. Now, now he was not able to because he was too small.
“FIVE!” Plagg shouted. Adrien rushed to shush him. If his parents found out he was still awake. He was going to be in so much trouble. They might not love him anymore. They had always said. Good boys get to be a part of the family. Bad boys get kicked out of families. Plagg looked at him seriously and then glanced around the room. “How did you get the ring?” Plagg asked hesitantly.
“Mother and Father had it,” Adrien said as he fiddled with the ring. It felt like his. “I’m sorry.” Plagg shook his head.
“No. It’s yours, my little kitten.” Plagg said as he floated over and patted Adrien on the head. Adrien leaned into the pat and gave a small nuzzle towards it. It was the first time he had been touched since getting to China two weeks ago. It felt nice. “Kitten. You must promise me something.”
“Anything,” Adrien promised and he noted that Plagg’s eyes softened as he looked at him.
“Promise me, you will not let your parents know you have the ring. You must keep it hidden from them.” Plagg said seriously.
“But.”
“Promise.” Adrien glanced over to the shut door of his parent’s room and nodded sadly. He didn’t like lying.
“Okay,” Adrien said. “I promise.” Adrien watched as Plagg turned back to his cheese. “Umm,” Adrien paused. “Does that mean you’ll be my friend?”
“I guess it does.” Plagg shrugged and Adrien beamed at him. He got his first friend.
***
Adrien stayed on the ground after getting hit by his father. His father was angry about the loss of the ring. Adrien didn’t know if his father knew he had it or not. But he wasn’t going to tell him. He promised Plagg he wouldn’t. He could feel Plagg vibrate within the collar of his shirt, but didn’t move to come out. There was something about his parents that made Plagg nervous. Enough that he refused to come out and speak with them.
Adrien stayed seated until his Father finished turning the hotel room around, looking for the ring Adrien had hidden around his neck. His mother was refusing to look at him. He cast a quick glance over at Natalie and saw that she was simply writing away at her tablet. She wasn’t paying attention to him right now. It was okay. She’d take care of him later.
His mother threw a vase at the wall and Adrien watched as it shattered. He had liked that vase. It was pretty. Adrien wondered if he should have been more worried when they started packing up their things. Adrien quickly made sure his things were put into their luggage and got into the car with his parent. They were still muttering to one another and to the jewelry. He wondered if they had Plaggs too.
Coming back to the house in Paris, Adrien sighed. He knew that he would have to spend time in his room. His father didn’t like it when he was bothered, and his mother had to go film another movie. He was lonely. However, it was a little easier now. He had Plagg. He ignored the look Plagg gave him as he showed him around the room. There wasn’t much. Just a bed and a whole bunch of books. However, it was home. He hoped he would be able to get more things to fill in space as he got older. He might even be able to make another friend. Yes, Plagg would disappear for a few hours every couple of days, but it was okay. He always came back.
Adrien shook his head. That was greedy of him. He already had one friend. Asking for two, was just too much.
When Adrien was eight, his mother and father got into a big fight. He didn’t know what it was about, but he knew that they had started to throw things at one another. He had been woken up by Plagg who had been worried about the sudden sound outside his room. It had been two weeks since he had seen either of his parents. The only person he had seen was the chef who left his food outside his room. He did not have permission to leave the room. Plagg kept trying to get him to explore, but he kept telling him that he didn’t want to get into trouble. Often, Plagg looked like he wanted to say something, but then stopped and shake his head.
Adrien wondered if he should be more worried about the noise but decided that it was probably better if he didn’t interfere. His mother and father would probably be mad. It took a long time before it suddenly became quiet with the slamming of a door. He could hear one of his parents head to a different part of the house before the door slammed once again and the whole house was silent.
“You okay, my Kitten?” Plagg asked rubbing his head against Adrien. Adrien still didn’t know why Plagg asked him questions like that, always touching him, but he knew he liked it.
“I’m okay. Why?” Adrien asked. Plagg looked at him and then shook his head again.
“You know I’ll protect you. Right?” Plagg stated. “Always.”
“I know,” Adrien replied with certainty. “You’re my friend.”
“Always,” Plagg replied. The two of them sat there for hours listening to the silence.
Adrien knew something was wrong when he woke up late. He glanced at the clock and jump before realizing that no one had woken him up. His tutors should have been there by now. He opened his door and his usual breakfast wasn’t waiting for him. Blinking, he crept down the stairs and looked throughout the house, noticing that there was no one there. He wondered where everyone is.
“I will kill them,” Plagg growled as he hovered right beside him. Black energy surrounding each of his paws.
“Kill who?” Adrien asked confused. This wasn’t the first time he had been left home alone. It happened often before Plagg. He shook his head. Besides, he was not alone. He had Plagg. “Why?” Plagg looked at him oddly before sighing.
“Kitten. We need to leave.”
“and go where?” Adrien asked. Yes, sometimes his parents stopped loving him and left him home alone. But they usually sent someone back. His parents would remember to love him. Once everything calmed down. It might take a few days, but it would happen.
“Anywhere but here,” Plagg said.
“I won’t be able to get the cheese that you like.”
“I don’t need cheese,” Plagg said with rage in his eyes. Adrien wondered why he was so mad. He had also never seen Plagg say no to cheese. Adrien nodded and went back to his room. He grabbed a backpack that he managed to buy when Natalie wasn’t looking after a photoshoot. He packed some clothes and then grabbed a jacket. He then went into the kitchen and went to the drawer where he knew his mother left the money for the chef to buy food. It wasn’t much, only a couple of thousand euros, but he took it all and placed it in his bag. He then grabbed a tote bag and filled it with food. He focused on putting some cheese into the bag, along with water. He knew that while Plagg followed him, muttering about Cataclysms and destruction, he would want to eat the cheese later on. As he filled the tote, he noticed a box of strawberries sitting in the fridge. He wanted to bring some, but he could barely lift the bag as it was. He would have to decide. Strawberries for him or Cheese for Plagg. He shook his head. He wanted Plagg to stay with him. Cheese it was. Turning, he didn’t notice the sad look that entered Plagg’s eyes.
As he walked out the back door, Adrien glanced back at his home and shuddered. Was this the right thing to do? Plagg pulled him along. They started to walk down the street and Adrien could barely keep his eyes forward as he was constantly looking around. Plagg had moved them towards a different part of the city and then into an alleyway.
“Adrien,” Plagg said as he turned towards him. Adrien knew this was important. Plagg only used his name for important things. “I know somewhere safe. It’s hard to get to, but it’ll be better than that place.” Plagg spat the words out. “However, to get up there, you will need a special skill.”
“What type of skill?” Adrien asked as he shifted his bags. They were starting to hurt his shoulder. He knew better than to complain. Complaining meant that you were bad and bad boys did not get to be loved nor did they get friends. He really didn't want to lose Plagg.
“I’ll need you to say ‘Plagg. Claws out.” Plagg said. “It’ll give you powers. These powers will help you get up into that building.” Plagg pointed upward to a slightly run-down building. There are no doors. The only way in is through that window. It’ll be safe for you.”
“I’ll be okay if I have you,” Adrien said. Plagg shook his head.
“I’ll disappear for a bit, but it’s okay. When you say ‘Claws in’ I’ll reappear.”
“You promise,” Adrien asked nervously. His eyes shifting side to side, as his shoulders hunched down. He did not want to lose Plagg.
“Promise,” Plagg said. Adrien nodded and took a deep breath.
“Pl…Plagg. Claws Out.” Adrien blinked as he saw light cover him and he was left standing wearing a black catsuit and mask. He turned his head to look at Plagg only to notice him gone and to hear a soft jingle. He was wearing a bell. He gave a small laugh as he played with it. He shook his head and jumped for the window. He believed in Plagg. He made it up in a single jump and moved into the room. It was small. It looked to be as if it was a hidden room inside the roof. The one door he could see was sealed shut through years and years of paint. No one could get in. He set his bags against the wall with the window and closed it. It was a little chilly, but it would be okay. “Claws In.” Adrien breathed a sigh of relief when Plaggs reappeared. He felt bad that he thought his friend had been lying.
“What do you think?” Plagg asked hesitantly. Adrien looked at him and saw that he looked nervous.
“It’s amazing. Is there where we should live until Father and Mother get home?” Adrien asked.
“No,” Plagg said. “This is where we should live from now on. Adrien, your parents are terrible people. They are abusers and thieves. You can’t live with them anymore.”
Adrien blinked at the harsh words Plagg was using to describe his parents. “What? They love me!” Plagg gave him that usually sad look and shook his head.
“If they really loved you, they would never have left you,” Plagg said brutally honest. Adrien blinked back tears he didn’t even know were forming. Was that true? Did his parents really not love him? Plagg floated over and nuzzled against Adrien’s head.
“Don’t worry my Kitten. I’ll love you enough for the both of them.”
“Thank you,” Adrien murmured as the thoughts raced throughout his head.
“No thanks needed.”
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