Chapter Text
The next morning came without any regards to Adrien's inability to fall asleep the night before. The bright sunshine beamed through his wall of windows, beckoning Adrien with the promise of a brand new day.
Adrien fought the urge to bury his head under the pillow and ignore the world. Skipping school wasn't an option, and trying to fake a sick day and he would loose every privilege he had worked himself to the bone for.
So he pushed the blankets off him, sitting up and swinging his feet onto the chilled wooden floor. Goosebumps traveled up his legs. His skin prickled and he found himself spinning the silver Miraculous around his finger. His eyes darted around the room, but there was no sign of the bad luck cat who would usually have woken Adrien before the sun was this bright with wails for his precious camemberet.
Even though he had brushed his teeth last night, purely out of habit, the thick, heavy taste of the cheese lingered in his mouth. It was the smallest affront to Adrien's free will, but it was a reminder of how badly he had screwed up as the eclipse had progressed.
“Yeah, don't expect any extra of this stuff,” he grumbled, stomping is way over to the fridge. Adrien grabbed a wedge of the smelly cheese, throat convulsing as he fought his gag reflex. “But here's breakfast.” Up into the air he tossed the wedge, the small triangle spinning as it reached the peak of its arc, and then back down it came, hitting the floor with a quiet splat.
He blinked. His eyes scanned his room again, his desk, the foosball table, the arcade games, the basketball hoop hanging on his wall, the rock climbing set leading up to his second floor, but he didn't see a tail, ear, or whisker of the Kwami.
“Plagg?” Adrien rushed around the room, checking all the hiding spaces he couldn't see from his mini fridge. Behind the computer monitor, inside the foosball table goals, behind the arcade cabinets, between the shelves taking up his second floor. “Plagg!”
Not good. Adrien's feet slammed the ground when he jumped off the wall, the shock working its way up his body, but it was nothing compared to the sense of dread washing over him. Plagg was his responsibility and after last night it was vital Adrien knew where he was and what he was up too.
He slid on his knees back to his bed, scanning the shadows while his heart pounded and the first beads of sweat collected on his forehead. His hand was slow as he reached out for the glass jar, stashed sideways among the lost socks, dust bunnies, and the bundle of supplies Master Fu had given him in order to fix the switch of the blue moon.
Plagg was still curled up in the jar, black fur streaked with peanut butter, ears drooped down, thin tail curled around him, and his eyes closed. Not even a twitch as Adrien held the jar up to his face, resting back on his heels. He narrowed his eyes, suspicious of a calm, resting Plagg, especially since the magical cat could probably smell the wedge of cheese still sitting on Adrien's floor through the air holes Adrien had punched in the lid.
What was the king of chaos and destruction really up too?
“Plagg?” Adrien tilted his head. Ever since he met the tiny creature Plagg had never missed the opportunity to eat, especially his dearest camemberet. By now he should have swallowed the first piece and be begging for more. “Okay Plagg. Time to wake up.” One of Plagg's ears twitched, and then slowly his eyes opened.
He opened his mouth, and Adrien was preparing himself for some scathing or sarcastic remark about waking him up, but instead the pink tongue reached out, Plagg yawning loudly while he stretched. Well, at least he was awake. Plagg sat, tilting his head back at Adrien. A silent staring contest. So many questions were on the tip of Adrien's tongue, but he wasn't sure where to start.
“All right,” Plagg ran a paw across his side, spreading a streak of peanut butter. “I'm awake.” Plagg shook his paw, but the coat of peanut butter wasn't going anywhere. Plagg looked up at Adrien, dropping his paw to his side. “Are you sure you're awake?”
“Really!” Adrien's fingers clenched on the jar. “That's what you got to say to me! After everything you did yesterday!” Adrien wasn't prone to emotional outbursts, he had been doing as much as he could to control his emotions since he starting modeling for his father, but he had been unable to sleep, soaking in guilt and anger as the hours passed. Adrien shook the jar thinking it would be a harmless way to let off a little of the pent up frustration, but after hearing a couple hollow thumps he stopped.
“Guess I deserved that.” Plagg groaned and sat back up.
“Why didn't you phase through the jar?” Adrien tilted his head.
“Very observant of you genius.” Plagg shook his head.
“Plagg!” Adrien scowled.
“Long story short, when placed in a sealed vessel by a Miraculous wielder while I am in a feral state, I cannot phase out of the vessel. I must be let out.”
“How-”
“I said long story short didn't I?”
“Plagg-”
“Look, kid,” Adrien narrowed his eyes, “Adrien, it's a long story we don't have time for. You have school and we have plenty of more pressing matters to discuss.” Adrien's fingers chilled, and then suddenly felt numb. The jar pitched and nearly slipped from his fingers. “Adrien!” He fumbled for the jar, pulling it close to his chest before it hit the ground.
“Nice catch.” Plagg braced himself against one of the sides. “So, what do you want to talk about? A long story about me being unable to phase through things certain times? Or would you rather focus on what happened yesterday?”
“School.” Adrien mumbled. “I have to go to school.” He held the jar back up to look Plagg in the eye. “What am I going to do about school? Marinette is going to be there.” Adrien moaned. Pinned, Plagg had her pinned and drew blood while Adrien could only helplessly watch his own body do something so horrible.
“She'll be fine. It wasn't that bad of a scratch.” Plagg looked away, ears flattened on his head.
“It's not just about the scratch.” Adrien growled. “You broke into her home, threatened her parents, destroyed some of their property, and all because they had some camemberet!”
“Exactly,” Plagg held up his paws, “those are things I did. Not you.” Plagg's voice suddenly softened. “You stopped me before anything worse happened. I did horrible things, you stopped me.”
Adrien's head pounded, his breathing was shallow. His vision felt narrowed on the tiny magical being who had turned back towards him. Adrien had a fleeting thought of how weird it was both their eyes were green. But then he was back to thinking about the disturbing events of the night before.
“But...” Adrien's voice caught in his throat. A couple beads of sweat rolled down the side of his face, guilt rushing over him faster than that. “But-”
“You stopped me.” Plagg pressed his head against the side of the jar. “Remember that. I need you to remember that.”
“But I should have been able to stop you earlier!”
“You still stopped me before anything too terribly irreversible happened.”
“Nice to know you think traumatizing my friend isn't too terribly irreversible!” In that moment, Adrien didn't recognize his own voice.
“You should probably leave the scathing remarks to me.” Plagg's mouth twitched into a smirk for a moment, but then he went back into a more apologetic stance. “Marinette is tough. She's going to be okay. You stopped me before I did anything worse than the cut to her face. Got it?”
Adrien blinked. Plagg blinked too. “Adrien,” Plagg broke the silence once again, “I need to know you understand that you stopped me before it was too late. Yes, I fought with Marinette, and hurt her, but she's going to be okay. Do you understand?”
Adrien blinked again. He tried to fit what Plagg was telling him, with all the memories and the feelings swirling around. Marinette had been hurt. He was supposed to be able to stop Plagg. But he hadn't managed to stop Plagg. But...
“It... it could have been worse?” The words were thick and heavy in Adrien's mouth. Plagg nodded. Adrien closed his eyes, his breath shuddering. His room was quiet, but there were sounds, signs the rest of the house was getting up. Doors creaking, footsteps moving in the halls. The barely perceptible scuff of his father's stride, the heavy footfalls of Gorrilla, and the clacking of Natalie's heels.
“Adrien?” Plagg tapped on the glass. “Natalie's coming.” Adrien nodded. He took another breath, a little stronger.
“Grab your breakfast and hide.” Adrien twisted the cap off the jar.
“Are you-”
“Go!” Plagg nodded, zooming to the wedge of cheese, grabbing it, and then disappearing in the shadows of the foosball table. Adrien capped the jar, rolling it back under his bed, sitting up on his knees just as Natalie knocked twice before opening the door open enough to poke her head through.
“Breakfast in ten Adrien.” Her blue eyes looked Adrien up and down, a moment or two longer than usual.
“Thank you Natalie.” He tried to smile, his usual one, but everything felt off. His breaths still felt a little off, almost a buzzing under his skin. Natalie nodded, backing out slowly, the clack of her heels picking up speed down the hall.
Adrien sighed, running a hand through his hair. The roots slick with sweat, slipping through his fingers much the same way his feelings and thoughts were hard to pin down. Everything was different now.
“Adrien?” Plagg floated up to eye level. “You have to get ready-.”
“I know.” Adrien huffed, finally pushing himself off his knees and turning towards his bathroom. Once getting a look at himself in the mirror, Adrien understood why Natalie took a longer look at him. And why Plagg asked if he was awake. It may have been only one night, but his normally pale skin made the dark circles under his eyes a bold purple. His eyes were red and a little puffy too.
So he quickly got ready, needing a couple extra minutes to apply extra products to give the appearance of a good night's sleep. Though he didn't sleep at all.
When he came out, Plagg flew over, keeping a little bit of distance. Plagg studied his face, and nodded.
“Ya look like a million bucks again kid.” Adrien rolled his eyes.
“And you are still covered in peanut butter.”
“Peanut butter is gross, so there is no way I'm cleaning myself with my tongue. That's barbaric.”
“You ate camemberet off the floor.” Adrien pulled the jar out from under the bed. “That's gross. A cat cleaning themselves is perfectly normal.”
“You missed a pun.” Plagg whistled, “a pun you've made like, hundreds of times.”
“Forgive me for not being in the mood for puns.” Adrien shook the jar in Plagg's direction. “And why don't you use magic to clean off?”
“It doesn't work like that kid.” Adrien adjusted his hands on the jar, facing his recycling bin near his desk. “Why are you tossing it?”
“Why do you care?”
“Well...” Adrien turned to face Plagg as he trailed off. He didn't do that. Plagg would usually nag or complain, until he was sure Adrien was annoyed. “So, um, the whole, feral thing...” Plagg swallowed and his ears flattened back again. “It's possible it could happen again.” This time the jar did slip from his fingers, the thick glass surviving the fall to the ground.
“What!” Plagg flinched at Adrien's outburst. “What do you mean it could happen again!”
“Just that. It could happen again. Maybe.” While Adrien's face contorted between anger and worry, Plagg kept talking. “Which is why it is so important you remember you stopped me. You are strong enough to keep me under control if, if, it happens again.”
Adrien picked up the jar and headed back into his bathroom. Hot water from the sink, extra soap, and one of the washcloths and he scrubbed the jar, his hand just barely fitting into the opening. He could see Plagg hovering over his shoulder in the mirror, so when the jar was clean, Adrien scooped up the mini cat and brought him to the sink as well.
“What-”
“Don't complain.” Adrien grabbed another washcloth. “The last thing I need, after worrying about you going feral, and Marinette being hurt, is worrying about you ruining my clothes because you are covered in peanut butter.”
Plagg stuck his tongue out, only to end up sputtering on some soapy water. Adrien chuckled while his Kwami glared at him, but without that intimidating edge he usually had. A soggy cat with fur sticking all the wrong way was more hilarious than anything.
“There.” Adrien set Plagg on the windowsill. “You're clean at least. So, you can wait here to dry while I go and have breakfast.”
“Yeah yeah.” Plagg confidently stuck out his tongue again, though Adrien had already turned his back. The small cat shook off the excess water, and curled up in the sunbeam.
Adrien sighed, poking at his eggs benedict. As usual, his father was taking breakfast in his office to work, and Natalie's full attention was on her tablet. It had been the first time in a long time Adrien didn't have the warmth of Plagg in his pocket during breakfast.
He didn't want to admit it, not after what had happened yesterday, but he missed the Kwami's presence. As annoying, gluttonous, sarcastic, and lazy as his magical cat was, at least he was present in Adrien's life consistently.
But he hurt Marinette.
In the guise of the hero Chat Noir.
Using Adrien's own body.
And it might happen again.
The facts were there, and they pointed towards one conclusion, one way he should feel.
But the emotional center of his brain didn't get the message. And how could he eat if he couldn't even decide how he felt?
Natalie flicked her eyes in his direction and Adrien shoved a big bite into his mouth, the sauce dribbling down his chin. She was like his father in keeping emotions off her face, but either Adrien had gotten good at reading her, or she let her walls drop around him sometimes. There was a tiny quirk to her lip before she smoothed her face out again.
His father would have scolded him, but Natalie just turned back to her tablet, like the unsightly moment never happened. The egg, bread, and sauce was thick in his mouth, hard to chew, but chew he did. He wasn't sure if he actually tasted the rich yolk, the crisp on the outside of the bread, the brightness of the sauce, or if he was just remembering it from all the other times he had eaten it. Either way, the act of chewing and swallowing seemed to wake his appetite.
Adrien finished quickly, swiping the grey cloth napkin across his mouth before standing. Natalie glanced at his plate, before looking at him and nodding.
He found Plagg sitting not where he left him, but back in his bedroom, atop the foosball table. Plagg looked over, tail moving slowly back and forth. Adrien studied him for a moment, his back resting against his bedroom door. Plagg's eyes were clear, focused, and he wasn't a hissing camemberet craving fur-ball. At least, for now.
“Now.” Plagg yawned before he continued, his pink tongue curling up between his tiny little canines. “About school. You've had plenty of practice keeping this a secret. So keep it up kid.” Plagg tilted his head. “It's not complicated.”
Adrien rolled his eyes. Sure. It sounded not complicated. But with each akuma, and now with Plagg's first feral outing, his web of lies was large enough for a whole family of spiders needed to create the web. Each time he needed to lie in order to hide his activities as Chat Noir, he had trouble remembering what lies he had used recently, or which ones would be the most believable in this situation.
His phone dinged, and every inch of his skin felt cold. It could be any number of things, a text, an email or game notification, but the thing that made Adrien's breath hitch was that it could be about the Ladyblog. With stiff legs he moved to his desk, flipping his phone over.
Adrien sighed, pressing his hands into his desk as his legs went weak for a moment. It was just a text from Nino. And there were a few older things too, things that came in during the night while his phone was set to silent. But none of them were about the Ladyblog either. Adrien picked up his phone, scanning through the various messages.
There were a couple texts from Chloé, reminding him about the eclipse party, complaining he was late, and then a worried text not long after Chat had crashed it, asking if he was okay. Adrien didn't respond, knowing Chloé would confront him about it at school either way.
There was a couple junk emails, and a game notification, both unimportant. And then, he looked at the most recent message, the one from Nino.
Nino: Have you heard anything from Alya? She ran off yesterday, chasing Chat, hoping for a story... She hasn't posted or responded to me.
Adrien opened the Ladyblog, confronted with the most recent post, Ladybug and Chat Noir's success at beating the last of Hawk Moth's victims, before the blue moon. This wasn't like Alya at all.
“Plagg!” Adrien looked up, confronted with Plagg tilting his huge chibi head at him. “What happened to Alya?”
“I don't know.”
“What do you mean you don't know?”
“You put me in a glass jar last night remember? We both slept it off.” Adrien clenched his fists. “Look, I didn't do anything to Alya okay.”
“But she... she saw and she...” Adrien waved his phone as if that could finish the question. Plagg's big eyes followed the phone.
“So she didn't post anything... isn't that a good thing?” Plagg rolled his eyes. “If she had posted something it certainly would have painted Chat Noir in terrible light.”
“That's,” Adrien scratched the back of his neck, “not the point.” It was a point. A very good point. But it wasn't the point Adrien wanted to discuss and he wanted to finish discussing his point. “Why didn't she post anything?”
“You're going to have to ask her.” Plagg shrugged his shoulders.
“And how would I do that without making myself suspicious! I wouldn't know anything as Adrien!”
Plagg yawned. “You could ask as Chat.”
“That's a terrible idea.” Adrien crossed his arms. Though, as he pursed his lips he remembered that Plagg was usually much, much worse when it came to ideas or advice on what to do. At least Plagg was normal at the moment... but what if he didn't stay that way? Adrien rolled his eyes and walked past his Kwami.
“Fine, that's less work for me.” Plagg floated along besides Adrien. “And less work for you. Having a laissez faire attitude about more stuff would make things easier for you.”
“Don't start on that now.” Adrien took the glass jar, quickly drying it. “I think I liked you better when the only two things you did was sleep and demand more camemberet.” Adrien grumbled.
“Yeah well, speaking of camemberet...” Plagg grinned.
“No!” Adrien shook the moist towel at him. “No more camemberet.” He narrowed his eyes and huffed. “Not until lunch.”
“Or you transform.” Adrien's hands shook at Plagg's reminder. He didn't say anything in return. Instead he walked past Plagg and shoved the glass jar into his school bag, padding it with a couple scarves he had hanging over the back of his computer chair. “Good plan.” Plagg hovered over the messenger bag as Adrien flipped the top closed.
“An Agreste is always prepared.” He muttered, the words tasting sour on the back of his tongue.
“An Agreste is always a killjoy.” Plagg mocked, his usual. Adrien only rolled his eyes, not sure he wanted to continue this banter today. “Including right now.” Plagg landed on Adrien's shoulder when he didn't reply. “Not going to spar with words today?”
“No.” Adrien jerked his shoulder, making Plagg tumble off his shoulder. “Not today.” Adrien grabbed his phone, sent a reply to Nino before he forgot and pulled his bag onto his shoulder. Plagg sent Adrien a dirty look before he slipped into his usual hiding space, Adrien's pocket.
For all the conflicting feelings he had about the little fur-ball, the weight and the warmth above his heart was familiar, comforting. But he couldn't think about that. He had to go to school, and try to survive a long day with the knowledge and the guilt taking a ride on his shoulders.
#
It wasn't all that surprising to see no sign of Marinette when he arrived at school. She was almost always late to things. Tardiness wasn't a good trait, but this time at least Adrien was thankful for it. He might be able to avoid her until lunch, more time to prepare himself to see the constant reminder of what Plagg had done.
He did find Nino, leaning against the stone railings of the stairs leading up to the school. Adrien joined him, glancing around before daring to ask the question.
“Still nothing from Alya?”
“Yeah.” Nino drummed his fingers on the railing, bouncing one of his legs. “Maybe her phone broke. Her parents warned her that if she broke it again she'd have to pay for a new one.”
“Maybe.” Adrien looked down, watching Nino's foot as it moved up and down, never pressing the heel of his high top onto the stair.
Yesterday, Adrien had control by the time he had noticed her presence. He hadn't done anything to her. And while her decision not to post anything was good for him, the fact she hadn't posted anything worried him. It didn't make any sense, Alya posted everything related to the heroes and the akumas, good or bad, even covered the details of her own akumatization. She didn't flinch from the ugly truth.
The warning bell rang and Nino sighed heavily. “Guess we should go in.” Nino mumbled, but when Adrien looked up Nino's gaze was still down the street, Alya's route to school.
As much as Adrien also wanted to wait, to get a chance to see what Alya would say when Nino asked her what happened, but with his activity as Chat Noir, he was pushing the number of late arrivals his father was going to ignore before returning Adrien to homeschooling.
“Come on.” Adrien grabbed Nino's elbow and gently pulled him up towards the door. “Alya will be here soon. You can catch her between classes” Nino moved sluggishly, not bothering to pull away from Adrien's hand.
#
Adrien plopped into his seat, resisting the urge to bury his head in his arms. The last thing he wanted to do was to draw any extra attention to himself. So he sat there, perfect posture, hands in his lap.
He was rubbing his thumb on the side of his pencil, the smooth plastic getting warm and then slick with sweat as the clock ticked by the last few minutes before class.
It wasn't like Alya to not post. It wasn't like Alya to not answer Nino, her boyfriend. It wasn't like Alya to be late.
It was weird and he didn't like it. Adrien couldn't banish the twisting of his stomach that insisted something was wrong.
Time was almost up when Alya burst into the room, heading straight to Miss Bustier.
“Marinette will be absent today.” Alya spoke quietly, but Adrien's desk was so close he heard it anyway. His chest constricted. He hoped it was... okay. He hoped she wasn't feeling too bad after what happened.
Plagg had insisted she would be okay. That it was just a scratch. That it was just a scratch. But... now that Adrien was thinking about it... why didn't Miraculous Ladybug fix that? Maybe it did and Marinette was just taking the day off so she could recover from the attack from a mental standpoint. Yeah. That had to be it. Probably.
“Why didn't you-” Nino hissed, half turned in his seat to look back at Alya as she sat down. But before he could finish, class was starting.
Adrien was trying to pay attention. Really. It just wasn't working out very well. For once, he was thankful for all the extra tutors, since that meant he wasn't falling behind... because he was already ahead.
#
Lunch. Adrien was thankful for the break from appearing like he was paying attention. He could relax a little. First he had to feed the annoying fur-ball. He went to his favorite little closet, not far from the bathroom so it wasn't weird for him to be near. And it was full of teacher supplies and wasn't used too often. He could make various excuses if he was found in or near the closet.
“Here.” Adrien tossed Plagg a camemberet wedge as he leaned against the back wall of the closet. Plagg flew out of his pocket and started munching. He was chewing with his mouth open, but that was the least of his problems at the moment. “Did Miraculous Ladybug fix the scratch?” He said it like it was no big deal, but Adrien's memory reminded him just how much crimson blood splashed out of Marinette's cheek and glistened on his claw.
“Er...” Plagg swallowed the rest of his wedge. “No. Because of weird eclipse, blue moon, other long complicated explanations, the scratch will have to heal on its own. But she'll be fine, really. Don't be such a worrywart.”
Adrien narrowed his eyes, and then pinched the bridge of his nose. He reminded himself of his father in that moment, which was the sour cherry on top of the freezer burned ice cream sundae.
“Plagg-”
“It's fine.” Plagg groaned. “Really. She'll heal. I did no permanent damage to her. Well, maybe a scar.”
“Plagg!”
“I'm sorry!” He threw his tiny paws in the air. “You were warned and I'm pretty sure she's smart enough to realize she put herself danger by confronting Chat Noir. And that was her choice.”
“Don't blame her! You tiny little annoying jerk.”
“I'm not.” Plagg rolled his eyes. “I know what I did was wrong. I'm reminding you she knew what she was getting into. And her deciding to confront me, is not your fault.”
“Why is this so complicated?” Adrien sighed.
“Long story. But,” Plagg tucked himself back in Adrien's pocket with a yawn, “you should go eat. Keep that energy up.”
Adrien rolled his eyes as he left the closet. Keep his energy up, ha. What energy? He didn't have any right now. His limbs felt heavy, his brain felt like a cotton ball being squeezed into a space too small for its inherent fluffiness. There was no reason he should be awake. He was exhausted.
All the more reason to eat he supposed. Just to try to have some energy. Since he didn't need to fall asleep in class. It wouldn't end well for him. He didn't want to deal with a lecture from his father on top of everything else he was worried about.
Adrien sighed as he sat across from Nino. Whatever he and Alya had been talking about ended the moment he arrived.
“Are you okay?” Nino asked.
“Fine.” Adrien pulled out his model smile, usually enough to convince anyone that yes, indeed he was fine.
“Adrikins!” Chloé threw her thin arms around Adrien's shoulders and he lurched sideways from the unexpected weight. “How come you didn't answer any of my texts?” Alya snorted, but Nino was quick to hush her. Ironic since she was probably having to answer the same question from Nino.
“I wasn't feeling all that well yesterday. So I was sleeping.” Chloé grabbed his chin, her thumb pressing hard just under his lip. She turned his face towards hers and she stared right at him, her calculating blue eyed gaze locked on his.
Adrien swallowed, hard. She knew. She had been his closest friend for years, she could tell he was hiding the very fact he didn't sleep with makeup. They both knew how to look their best even when they were not feeling it. But for all of Chloé's faults, and Adrien was aware of all of them, she didn't call him out on his secret.
“Well, I'm glad you're feeling better.” She sighed and pulled away. “Talk to you later Adrikins!”
“By Chloé.” He waved, knowing he was going to hear from her and he needed to come up with a good excuse for not sleeping and hiding it. More lies. He was okay with keeping his superhero activities a secret, but now he was about to reach a breaking point.
“Anyway,” Adrien turned to his friends. “Nino mentioned something about Chat Noir yesterday...”
Alya rolled her eyes and elbowed Nino. “Yeah, he was just asking too.” Adrien swallowed. For someone who had chased him around asking for interviews, her reaction now was going to be problematic the next time he had to transform. “And I was just telling him that I didn't manage to figure out what was going on.”
Why is she lying?
“So, you slept through Chloé's party?” Nino tilted his head. “Then why are you here?”
“Because I'm not sick.” Adrien started pulling out his lunch, perfectly created to fit his metabolism needs.
“Oh, you were avoiding her to make a statement.” Alya grinned. “You think that's going to break through and make her realize how insufferable she is?”
“She wasn't always like that.” Adrien shrugged as he sort of defended Chloé. Partially out of habit. She had been a good friend when Adrien didn't have any. She was always a bit much, dramatic and over the top. Why she suddenly turned all her annoyance and cynicism at everyone around them was a question he didn't know the answer too.
“You keep saying that.” Nino tilted his head and glanced the way Chloé had walked away. “Still find it hard to believe.” He rolled his eyes, but not at Chloé, at the fancy lunch Adrien had.
“Whatever.” Alya sighed. “At least she's not being too much of a pain today.” Adrien glanced up at her, studied her face. Alya wasn't quite looking like herself either. Her scowl was deeper than Chloé usually caused. Her hazel gaze barely meeting anyone's, his, or Nino's. And for once she wasn't continuously fiddling with her phone, or talking about the heroes.
Alya was sullen. That was the emotion Adrien settled on. Not that he knew what to do with that information, or even if he was right. But his biggest worry was what all that meant for the Ladyblog and what she saw happen with Chat Noir.
As terrifying as it was, he was tempted to do Plagg's stupid idea. To transform into Chat Noir and ask her why she hadn't posted anything about it. But all he could think of was all the ways it could go wrong. His visit may prompt her to post it, as a warning to Paris.
“Earth to Adrien.” Nino's hand flashed past Adrien's face. He realized he had been staring at his lunch, glaring at it, without eating or paying attention to anything happening around him. “Did your fancy lunch offend you?”
“No,” Adrien forced a chuckle. “Just thinking about stuff.” Had his lies always sounded so lame? How had he managed to keep any secret, much less a secret as big as him being a superhero? He was terrible at things like this!
“Dude,” Nino shook his head, “if you came to school today, feeling sick, in order not to get in trouble with your father, that's messed up.”
“That's not it.” Adrien was quick to say poking at his fancy lettuce wrap. For once, his mood had nothing to do with his father or the many rules and expectations Adrien had to follow.
“Will you let up with the third degree Nino?” Alya snapped, which was out of character for her.
“Did everyone except Chloé get up on the wrong side of the bed today?” Nino grumbled. “Jeez, she was downright pleasant compared to the two of you.”
“Well sorry I'm in a bad mood!” Alya scooped up her stuff and stomped away.
“Am I really being that pushy?” Nino tilted his head.
“I...” Adrien shrugged as he watched Alya sit at a table by herself, rather than a table with other kids from their class. “I don't know.”
“Something must have happened.” Nino sighed. “But I guess I have to wait for her to explain.”
“Yeah. Guess so.”
“Okay, so, did did you take good notes today?” Adrien slowly shook his head. “Well, regardless, you can totally explain things to me right? You must already be leagues ahead anyway with your tutors.”
“Yeah. I'll help you out.” A distraction. That's what he needed. To drown himself in something that was easy to follow, number and equations, which came out either right or wrong, no emotions to muddle anything.
“Sweet.” Nino pulled out his notebook and flipped to the page for the day. While the bulk of it was notes from class, in the margins there were other odd notes. Lyrics, notes on dream film projects, a superhero documentary repeated on several pages, and doodles of the word problems.
Adrien didn't pay it much mind, focusing instead on getting Nino through the word problems. The distraction working to allow him to relax a little, and eat his fancy lettuce wrap while Nino worked on the problems. The back of his mind was filled with all the problems he had to worry about, but for the moment he could act like everything was completely normal.
#
By the time the final bell of the day rang out, Adrien was acting more normal. The routine lulled him into a false sense of security, of ease. Then his routine changed.
“Come on Nino, please.” Alya was holding out a packet of papers towards Nino. “Just take this to Mari for me, will you?”
“I'm busy today Alya. I have to take Chris to his practice, and then try to make it on time to the studio so I can record my demo.” Nino glanced over and smiled at Adrien. “What about Adrien? He's actually sort of free today.”
Alya looked over, and while her eyes lit up his own stomach twisted. “Can you Adrien? This is the work for today, so she doesn't fall any further behind.”
This was the only time he remembered being disappointed for a rare chunk of free time after school, no fencing, no tutors, for nearly two hours. “I, uh, yeah.” He couldn't think of a way to say no, no good lies came to mind, and Plagg had said he was supposed to act normal. Normally, why would he hesitate to help the girl always one of the first to offer a helping hand to those in need?
“Thank you!” Alya pushed the packet against his chest, and he reached up to hold it as she whirled around and ran off, hair bouncing below her shoulders.
“Uh,” Adrien straightened the papers and looked at Nino. “Did Alya say why she couldn't deliver this to Marinette?” Nino's mouth opened, and then shut as he shook his head. Adrien sighed. Another way she was acting strange, and Adrien could do nothing about it. It was curious though, but he really had bigger things to worry about. He was going to Marinette's house, her parents' bakery, the place where everything went so very wrong.
#
Adrien stepped out of the car, his stomach twisting, his heart pounding in his ears. He hadn't said anything in the car after telling Gorrilla where to go. He had felt Plagg looking at him, but Adrien couldn't look at him, couldn't muster up the courage to say anything.
How was he supposed to act normal around Marinette if he couldn't sit still in the few minutes in the car, or say anything to Plagg, one of his closest allies, one of his only friends?
“Hurry up.” Plagg hissed from his pocket. “Delaying won't make it easier.”
Adrien felt like he lurched forward, holding the packet of papers against his chest. The window showed his reflection, posture still good, eyes a little wider than normal. The little chimes above the door rang out ominously as he passed through. First he tried to peer past the counter, a glimpse of the stainless steel fridge back to its usual state.
“Oh, hello Adrien.” The soft, cheery voice of Mrs. Dupain-Cheng greeted him, the polar opposite of the screams Plagg had elicited from her the last time he was here.
“Hi.” He yanked his gaze back to her, forced the model smile on his face, even as his blood pounded in his ears. “Um, I have Marinette's homework-”
“Wonderful.” She smiled, rosy cheeks split wide. “You remember don't you?” The apron wearing mother didn't wait for Adrien to respond, which was probably good since he felt his throat constricting. “Straight up the back stairs, down the hall, and up the ladder to Marinette's room.” She chuckled. “Go on up.”
“Uh,” Adrien wanted to flee, just drop the packet and run. Plagg pinched his skin, and Adrien remembered he was supposed to be acting normal. Running away, an Agreste running away is not normal. “Okay.” He dipped his head to her as he passed.
It's just like when we were practicing for the video game thing. Go up, say hi, hand over the packet, leave. That's all.
“Hey Marinette?” Adrien poked his head through the trapdoor.
“Adrien!?” She squeaked, and spun the chair so fast she slipped right off and landed on the floor.
“Marinette!” Up through the trapdoor, packet left on the floor, and he was kneeling next to her all before he took another breath. “Are you okay?”
Those bright blue eyes widened, pastel lips parted, “I'm okay.” Adrien could feel his heart beat again, and then his eyes found the gauze on her cheek.
Claws. Blood. Her blood. My claws.
Every breath burned, those he could suck in as his chest was feeling tighter and tighter. His mind was spinning, that terrible moment the only thing he could really see, could really hear. Stuck. His breath, his heart, his mind all stuck.
“Adrien!” It was a high pitched yelp he only remembered hearing when she would slip halfway down the stairs at school. He blinked, realized her face was inches from his own, and he pushed himself back with a shaky breath. “Are you okay? You went really pale, and you kinda spaced out...”
“I, uh,” Adrien ran a hand through his hair, “sorry. I'm okay.” His heart was still pounding.
“Are you sure?” Marinette leaned forward again, but Adrien's senses were still stuck on the gauze on her face.
“Yeah.” Adrien turned away, pushing himself to his feet. She's okay. You're okay. Move on. “Um, Alya gave me your homework packet.” He picked it up and held it out to her, without looking at her face.
“Oh.” He felt the paper being pulled and he loosened his grip. “Thanks. But really, Adrien, are you okay? You looked like you were about to pass out.”
His eyes jumped up for a second, long enough to see those big worried eyes, that stark white gauze, and his blood ran cold as he looked away.
“Fine.” The word felt heavy, forcing it out like phlegm. He took another step back, and another, eyes on his feet. “Gotta g-go.” There was no room in his throat for words, there was barely any room for air to pass through.
He knew she was saying something, probably insisting to check up on him, but Adrien had to get out of there. He needed to get away, he needed to get fresh air. He certainly didn't feel very graceful or cat like, feet missing the rungs on the ladder, stumbling down the stairs, dashing out the door with a very awkward goodbye to Mrs. Dupain-Cheng.
Adrien waved Gorilla back in the car and he threw himself into the backseat. Head between his knees, he was gulping down air.
“You okay kid?” Plagg's voice was accompanied by warm breath on Adrien's ear.
“I'll be okay.” Focusing on his own breathing, slowing it down, his heart started to match. “I'll be okay.” He said a little stronger. Plagg's fur was warm and soft against the side of Adrien's neck.
“Yeah kid.” He said around a purr. “You'll be okay.” Adrien shifted, letting his fingers rest in Plagg's fur.
Despite everything, his whole world feeling like it was imploding, how Plagg was partly at fault, it was comforting to have the little black cat here with him when otherwise he'd be alone.
#
Neither of them really said anything about the incident with Marinette. Instead, Adrien threw himself into the rest of his routine, his schedule and his homework. The little Kwami was never far, and Adrien felt those green eyes always on him.
He didn't want to talk about it. He didn't really want to talk about any of it anymore. But when Adrien found himself checking the Ladyblog again after dinner, out of habit, he realized there was something very important they hadn't discussed at all.
“What happened to Ladybug?” Adrien spun his chair, peering at Plagg who had curled up on the corner of a Kleenex box.
“She's fine too. We didn't do anything to her either.”
“No, like, where was she?” One moment she was there, fighting with Plagg, trying to contain him, and the next, she was gone. “She called for a Lucky Charm right? So... why didn't she use it?”
They had just made a promise, to always be there for each other, for Paris. So why didn't she show up to prevent Plagg from attacking the innocent bystanders at the bakery?
“The eclipse messes with a lot of things. Maybe it screwed up her Lucky Charm. And the incident with Marinette didn't last too long, and then you were back to normal.” Plagg yawned.
“And since then? Wouldn't she have tried to contact me by now?”
“You saw the bakery fixed up. If the eclipse messed up her Lucky Charm, Tikki is probably still resting it off.”
Adrien spun his Miraculous around his finger. For a moment he watched the glinting silver, and then he looked up and caught his reflection in the mirror. Paler than normal once more, all sense of good posture gone.
“Don't worry. Once Tikki feels better, I'll bet Ladybug will be blowing up the baton.” Plagg was surprisingly good at human idioms, but Adrien didn't feel impressed.
“I should apologize to Marinette.” The thought was in the back of his mind most of the day, and now, after seeing the gauze learning for sure the injury was still there, and that it might scar, Adrien knew he at least owed his friend that.
“As long as you don't tell her about the whole feral situation.” Plagg stretched, ears flicking. “Don't need to go spilling any secrets with your apology.”
“Well, duh.” Adrien pushed himself out of the chair, shaking out his hands. He stood in front of the floor length mirror, the same one he stood in front of the first time he transformed with Plagg. “Claws out.”
There always seemed to be a breeze that stirred with the magic activating and that was when Adrien instinctively closed his eyes, this time tighter than he ever had before. The magic was familiar, it was quick, but it didn't feel quick. The costume was tight, and it squeezed his body, his chest tightening even further. Heart pounding, hands shaking, breath hitching, and his pupils were wide when he opened them.
Even having control of his body, Adrien was doubly aware of Plagg's presence in his mind, of the magic and the influence. If it happens again. If. If. Again. Again. What if... If it happens again.
“Claws in.” He forced the words out, crossing his arms over his chest as he hung his head. Every breath was uneven, his heart was running in his chest, banging against his ribs.
“Adrien?” He had never heard such a soft tone out of Plagg. It was supposed to be comforting, Adrien knew that, but it was just as infuriating.
“I... can't.” Adrien gasped. He was in no condition to stop Plagg if indeed, he went feral again. “I- If, you.” Teeth clenched, he sucked in a breath. Warm fur nestled against his neck.
“It's okay. You don't have to transform yet.”
Adrien never felt so conflicted in his entire life. Shaking fingers wrapped around the necklace, finding the long baguette shape instead of the bulbous heart of his mother's locket. Their promise sitting heavy on his shoulders.
“I'm sorry Adrien.”
He thought, if anything, Plagg would have poked fun at him. Instead, Adrien had to live with the realization his Kwami, a stubborn, lazy, sarcastic being apologized to him. Before he could muster up the courage to do so.