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The police officer shoved Adrien down into the metal chair hard.
This precinct was clearly unconcerned about impressing the Agreste family. The room they'd placed him in was dingy, with chipped plaster walls and a cracked linoleum floor, warped and peeling back at the corners. The rattling ventilation fan emitted a grating whine Adrien pegged as E flat. The metal table in front of him was stained and dinged with age. There were times he felt cooped up even in his palatial bedroom. This room, at barely 2.5m squared? This was confined.
He tried not to think about it.
At least he wasn't handcuffed.
A large mirror, undoubtedly a one-way window, occupied one wall. Chat Noir would've given the people behind it a friendly salute.
There was no clock, but Adrien guessed it was about 30 minutes removed from the police collecting him from a post-fencing/akuma snack in the mansion for "questioning." That was about 2 hours after the public announcement via the Ladyblog that Mayura was taken into custody, and 3 hours after the similar announcement—based on an anonymous-but-confirmed tip—that Mayura was none other than Nathalie Sancoeur.
Surprising, to say the least.
He could see why he might be implicated in this.
As near as he could tell, he had three things going for him:
1) He didn't do anything.
2) He still had Plagg, safely hidden inside his pocket and, he suspected, sometimes within Adrien's corporeal frame itself. The kwami was determined to remain undetected.
He tried not to think about it.
3) His ring hadn't been confiscated as evidence. This was, to Adrien's mind, undeniable proof that Ladybug's luck could rub off on him. He wasn't sure what he'd do if the ring was taken.
He tried not to think about it.
He needed to clear his name.
He needed to keep the ring safe.
The first one might be a little difficult.
The second was non-negotiable.
The interrogation room door burst open, ending his train of thought. Roger Raincomprix entered, shadowed by another man Adrien hadn't seen yet, tall and severe. Two more officers lingered outside, standing guard. How dangerous did they think Adrien was?
Adrien wished he could talk to Plagg.
"I want to talk to my lawyer," Adrien said promptly. "I don't know who they are and my father's in Milan."
Why was father traveling without Nathalie, anyway?
Not important.
Raincomprix nodded to one of the officers outside, who turned and departed. To Adrien's surprise, it wasn't Roger who spoke but the severe-looking man.
"Someone will contact them. While we wait, let's talk."
He took the other seat beside the table, leaning back with affected nonchalance. Maybe he was a detective.
"The akuma attack half an hour ago was pretty intense, right?" the detective asked conversationally. "Do you remember what you were doing during it?"
Fighting it.
"Um. I usually hide," Adrien said. "The akumas make me anxious. That one was close to my school, so I hid in the bathroom until it was over."
"The bathroom?" The detective raised an eyebrow.
"Best place to hide," Adrien said casually. "There's a toilet if you need to… go. And you can drink from the sink if you're thirsty." He tried to smile pleasantly, suppressing a gag at the thought of drinking unfiltered Paris tap water.
"Uh-huh. Do you remember who you were with?"
The love of my life.
"Um."
"Anyone who can corroborate your story, I mean."
What a meowvelous question…
"That was during after-school fencing, so… everyone was probably preoccupied sparring. Someone may have seen me slip out, though."
Kagami could vouch for him, but Adrien didn't think it was in his best interest to name names. Surely they'd track her down, stretching out this whole ordeal. There would be a 23-minute hole in any alibi she could provide for him, anyway.
"Uh-huh," the detective repeated, unimpressed with the vague answer.
"If this is going to take a while, could I please get a cup of water?" Adrien asked politely. "And maybe something to eat?"
The detective sighed, but was just sympathetic enough to grant the request.
"Yeah. I'll have someone run down and grab a sandwich. What do you want? Ham? Ham-and-cheese? We got—"
"Ham-and-cheese," Adrien replied instantly.
The detective nodded and without looking he motioned for someone else to fetch it. Raincomprix left.
Adrien wondered what was unfolding outside. News must have spread by now. What were people saying about him? Did Ladybug make some kind of statement? They didn't normally talk to the press, but for something like this, it seemed inevitable. "#2 Magical Terrorist Captured" was an impressive headline, as was "Teen Model May Be #1." If he was lucky, he might get "Is Adrien Agreste Hawk Moth?" and fully embrace Betteridge's Law.
Mostly, though, he felt bad that his lady had to deal with everything herself. She'd probably give him hell afterward too, considering Chat Noir wouldn't be able to help her or provide a decent alibi for his disappearance either.
Oh well. He'd sacrificed for her before.
"About how much contact would you say you've had with Ms. Sancoeur?"
"A lot? She was my father's assistant and lived in our house. She usually managed my schedule too."
"Uh-huh. What sort of things did you do together besides that?"
"That's basically it. She's not MY assistant."
She's not my mother.
Plagg had enough awareness of Adrien's thoughts and mood to start purring somewhere near his liver. It shouldn't have been as comforting as it was.
"She just reminded you about some things?"
More ‘told' than ‘reminded' and more ‘every' than ‘some.'
"Yeah, basically."
Raincomprix returned with a paper cup of water and the sandwich. Plagg switched to full-on vibrating in excitement just from proximity.
"Did she ever ask you to do anything that made you uncomfortable?"
Half of his life was uncomfortable, no asking involved.
Adrien sipped water, shook his head, and took one half of the sandwich. He carefully nibbled the edge, avoiding the cheese, then discretely lowered it into his lap, just below table level. When he put it back on the plate a few seconds later, it was just a ham sandwich.
"Was there ever any indication she was doing anything unusual? Or inappropriate?"
"No."
"What about your father?" He asked without warning.
He'd have to see his father for that.
"No."
"Your father ever talk to you about anything unusual?"
Talking to his father at all was unusual.
"If we talked, it was usually about school or modeling."
"What about you?"
"Well, yeah, we talked about me sometimes."
"I mean, have you done anything unusual or inappropriate lately?"
Adrien's eyes snapped up as the door opened again. Another officer leaned inside.
"We've got someone here to question him," the officer informed.
The detective looked a little put out but nodded all the same before sitting back and folding his arms. The officer pulled out of the doorway, and Adrien waited for whichever Sergeant or Captain or DGSI agent might enter next. It turned out to be the last person he expected—and maybe the first he should have called, absent a lawyer.
Ladybug.
She may as well have been silhouetted by ethereal light and a dozen doves taking flight.
In this horrid room, though, she looked unnatural and uncomfortable. She didn't belong. Ladybug should be on a rooftop, wind in her hair, open sky around her. Not in this cramped, undeserving hole.
"Hello, Adrien," she said, waving awkwardly.
Adrien rose automatically.
"O-oh, you don't have to get up for me," she said, giggling.
"I've been sitting for a while," he said, senselessly.
Ladybug considered him curiously. She had some partially-conflicting issues to address, in no particular order:
1) She knew Adrien couldn't be guilty. The idea was unthinkable. There wasn't a mean bone in his body, nor a doubt in her mind this perfect boy, the picture of innocence, had done nothing wrong.
2) She might not be able to prove that.
3) It might not even be true, though she really didn't want to consider that.
4) She nevertheless needed to take this seriously. If there was the slightest chance that somehow, against all odds, against every fiber of her being knowing it shouldn't be possible, that Adrien was a supervillain, Ladybug needed to handle it properly.
She once had the terrifying thought Adrien might be Hawk Moth. She really didn't want to be wrong twice.
Also she was in love with him, which complicated things a little.
Fortunately, he looked safe and healthy. It wasn't like the police were roughing him up or anything. Judging from the plate on the table containing half a sandwich, they were even feeding him. He mostly looked distraught. In need of a nap. And a hug. Some gentle lips—
"—ay?"
Crud, he was talking to her.
"YES?" she asked, louder than necessary.
"I asked if everything was okay," Adrien said. Was there a fresh akuma? Did she need Chat Noir?
"O-oh, yes! Everything's great!" she said, clasping her hands together and nodding. "How's everything with you?"
"I'm getting questioned on suspicion of being a terrorist accomplice," he pointed out. "Or possibly a terrorist myself."
He glanced sideways at the detective's impressive poker face.
"Haha! Right! Yes. I knew that. I was testing you. Making sure you were still good! No insanity defense for you!"
She laughed nervously, then turned her attention to the detective. Keeping Adrien out of her direct line of sight was, for now, important for staying focused.
"What's the meaning of this?" Ladybug demanded. "They said you were just talking to him. This looks like an interrogation!"
"We have just been talking," the detective stressed. "Isn't that right, Adrien? He wasn't charged with anything, but given the circumstances we don't want to let him leave yet. With his proximity to Mayura, even if he's not directly implicated, she, or anyone else working with her might put Adrien's wellbeing at risk. He's safe here for the time being."
There was something in her eyes Ladybug didn't trust. Despite his assertion, Adrien hadn't entirely escaped suspicion. They definitely still thought he could be Hawk Moth.
"Well he's certainly not responsible for any of this!" she said. "I can vouch for his whereabouts during several attacks! He was present and endangered during Gorizilla. Style Queen turned him to gold. There's others, too!"
"Ah," the cop said, with a slight sneer, "but those could've been caused by Ms. Sancoeur. The reason we're asking about the last akuma is because it occurred after she was in custody."
Adrien paled.
"Well I'm sure he has an alibi for that too!"
"Um," Adrien said, less than helpful.
"W-w-well it's not him! It's just not!"
Adrien knew they were getting nowhere. There was nothing he could tell the detective that would actually exonerate him. Maybe a private conversation was in order. Adrien raised a hand like they were in class.
"Can… Can I talk to Ladybug alone?"
This surely sounded guilty, but he wasn't guilty and he was in trouble. The risk was worth it.
"Is that a good idea?" Raincomprix asked, turning to Ladybug.
All of them wondered the same.
"Even if he was a supervillain…" Ladybug gave him an affectionate smirk that he did not know what to do with. "...I'm confident I could take him."
Adrien gulped. Why did that sound so hot? Raincomprix wasn't so easily persuaded.
"Well, it's highly irregular. Normally we only leave people alone with their legal counsel, or insist their legal counsel be present."
"Can Ladybug be my lawyer?" Adrien blurted out.
"What?" Ladybug jumped.
"W-what?" Raincomprix gaped. "You can't be serious!"
Adrien was serious.
"Can you be my lawyer?" Adrien asked his partner. "We'd have lawyer-client confidentiality, right? We could have a private conversation alone in this room."
For some reason, this made Ladybug start blushing. Raincomprix struggled to find his words.
"W-w-we brought her in to QUESTION you!"
"I'd be happy to be questioned by you," Adrien told her adoringly.
Raincomprix gaped for several seconds before shaking his head emphatically.
"I'm sorry, we simply can't allow that."
Adrien and Ladybug sighed in resignation.
"Because I'm a hero and must remain impartial," Ladybug said, balling a fist against her chest.
"Because she's a teenager," Adrien said simultaneously.
"No," Raincomprix said, "because you're not a lawyer."
"Please," Ladybug said. "I don't normally pull rank saying something is superhero business, but… this is superhero business. I'm not trying to stop you from doing your duty, but if Adrien has important information he doesn't feel safe sharing with police, it's my duty to hear it. I just want to talk to him."
"Well… Well alright. I don't know if we can grant you proper confidentiality, but you can have the room."
"Really?" the detective asked.
"I think it's a good idea," Raincomprix insisted.
The detective frustratedly acquiesced and followed Raincomprix outside, slamming the door behind them.
It was now just the Bug and Cat Team.
"We're being recorded," he told her, jerking his head toward the mirror. "Video and audio."
Watch what you say, she heard.
"Is that a problem?" Ladybug asked.
"For me? Yes. I don't know how to prove my innocence."
Adrien's mind was awash with a dozen things he couldn't say without sounding suspicious on camera or revealing himself to Ladybug. She'd definitely be upset about it.
Let must just show you something…
Hey, check out this ring…
I'm Chat Noir.
He couldn't mention the ring. He couldn't suggest he had something on him that was important, or exonerating, or otherwise valuable as evidence. He couldn't risk telling her he had "something to show her" or "something she might want to see." He could tell her he'd never do anything to harm her, and would in fact die for her, but that admission probably didn't matter much in the eyes of the police. And she'd ask questions.
"Oh, Adrien. You don't have to prove your innocence to me."
"I mean prove it to them."
"Oh. Yeah, I don't have a plan for this yet. Sorry to say, we might have trouble proving a negative unless we get lucky and an akuma shows up while you're in here."
"I'm not that lucky."
"Hopefully I'm lucky enough for both of us."
At best, Adrien thought, it was probably a wash. Another fact he'd keep to himself. At the very least, it was surely a sign of supernaturally bad luck that Chat Noir somehow lived with one of Paris's two magical terrorists and never noticed.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I lived with Nathalie and I had no idea."
"That's nothing to apologize for, Adrien. You couldn't have known. And even if you did, it's not your responsibility to take down supervillains." He laughed before he could stop himself. "Even if it was, I'd never fault you for not suspecting her. If anyone knows how thoroughly someone can hide their identity, it's me, right?"
Right.
"What's going on outside?"
"Oh. Um. Don't worry about that."
"People know I'm in here," he said. "There were reporters and photographers outside the mansion. Me getting taken away in a police car is big news. Please, tell me how people are reacting."
She could tell him. It wasn't like she worked for the police or government and needed to follow their PR or something. For better or worse, Ladybug and Chat Noir existed outside the law. She wasn't beholden to anyone.
"There are protests," she admitted.
He nodded.
"For or against me?"
It stood to reason there'd be fury toward their tormentors. He always expected that when they took down Hawk Moth there'd be celebrating in the streets. Ideally a parade, some floats, his lady beside him. He pulls her close and—
"Both. People know your family is rich and reclusive and think that's enough for you to be capable of this, especially with your father's reputation for being… difficult. It wasn't hard for them to hear the news and accept it at face value. But there's other people who know you're good and kind and would never do this. Your classmates are being very vocal. People are defending you and I'm first in line."
He took solace in that. He could easily imagine Nino and Alya and Marinette leading a rowdy crowd as they marched on city hall carrying signs made by Marinette. Chloe was surely screaming at her father over it.
"Where is my father?"
He had no idea how much time had passed anymore. Surely his father was back by now. He almost expected the imposing figure of Gabriel Agreste to have arrived himself to emancipate Adrien. Even if his father wouldn't leave the mansion, he'd be on the phone, threatening with his voice of icy steel to have whoever involved fired or whatever agency disbanded. Given enough sway with the mayor, he might even make headway.
"Nobody knows."
"W-what?"
"Nobody knows where he is. The Gabriel PR office won't comment. It was reported he was in Milan for business, but his private jet is still here in Paris and the airport says it hasn't been used in weeks. I went to your house but nobody is answering."
His father was… missing?
Did the police also take his father due to his proximity to Nathalie?
Ladybug pulled out her yoyo and scoffed.
"I can't believe Chat Noir isn't here yet. I messaged him saying to come."
Or maybe his father was too wrapped up in work to even notice his son was gone.
"Maybe he doesn't care about me," Adrien muttered.
"Then I'll skin him alive."
"W-what?"
"I mean! He should! You're great! We've helped you before! For Chat not to come running when called, he must be busy with something serious."
"Oh. I'm sure he'd be here if he could be."
She softened.
"I know he would."
She reattached the yoyo to her hip.
"Adrien, please believe me when I say we care about you. I… I care about you more than any else in this city. I don't think you're involved in this in any way."
Obviously, he was involved in this in a major way. Once again, what could he possibly say to prove his innocence?
"You know how the police dust for fingerprints? Can you… magically 'dust' for whether someone's used a Miraculous?"
"For my sake, I hope not!" she giggled. The tension broke some and he chuckled along with her.
"I wasn't sure if the guardian had that power."
As soon as he spoke, he realized his mistake. He felt Plagg vibrate in concern as alarms well off in his head.
"Adrien?" she said slowly, "how do you know about the guardian?"
As far as she knew, the only people who knew she was the guardian—or about the guardian at all—were her and Chat Noir, Mayura, and… Hawk Moth.
The door opened again. An officer poked in.
"Five minutes," he said.
"Where's my father?" Adrien asked urgently. Ladybug's earlier answer wasn't enough. He needed an official answer. "My aunt? My cousin? Anyone."
The officer looked between the two teens.
"We haven't received a word from anyone."
He backed out.
Nothing? At all? His father wasn't coming? His father wasn't calling? His father wasn't doing everything he could for his only son?
"Well," he said shakily. "You were right about one thing. It doesn't seem like anyone in my family cares about me. Maybe you are first in line."
All the color drained from her face. She collapsed into the chair and buried her face in her hands.
"Oh, Adrien… I didn't mean that I care about you more than the other people in your life. I meant that I care about you more than I care about almost anyone else in mine."
"L-Ladybug?"
She looked up, blushing scarlet.
"What about Chat Noir?" he asked selfishly.
Ladybug pulled at her lips with her teeth.
"Chat Noir's great," she conceded, "but the fact that he isn't here with me for this is definitely a point against him right now."
He let out a single puff of air, relief masquerading as a laugh.
"What if… he was here?"
She looked at his neckline. Adrien never wore a broach, much less a butterfly one. He didn't necessarily have to wear it all the time, though.
But the way he was looking at her pulled Ladybug back to sensibility.
"Then he'd agree with me. We know you're a good person. For you to be behind everything we deal with is literally unbelievable."
This was Adrien, kind beyond belief. Whose life was frequently imperiled by akumas. Who'd helped her fight akumas.
"You… Snake."
"W-what?"
"Snake."
Oh! She wasn't insulting him. He glanced sideways at the mirror.
"Aspik," he said vaguely.
She understood, and cocked an amused eyebrow.
"Really?"
"I mean, technically no. But to me, yes. And to you for about 1 minute."
"You were my savior for longer than that."
As Chat Noir? Much longer. As Aspik? There wasn't much saving.
"You just don't remember it like I do."
"I don't need to."
"You remember Gorizilla? You have a different recollection of that than I do too."
She grimaced. He must have been so scared.
"I remember you jumped off a building for me."
He did a lot of things for her. The pros greatly outweighed the cons.
Her yoyo beeped. Not her earrings—her yoyo. She pulled it off her hip and opened it. A relieved smile overcame her.
"It seems like you are getting some Ladybug luck today," she said. "Akuma."
Adrien had never been happier to hear this, which was saying something considering they gave him the opportunity to see his lady. However, the knowledge that she, duty-bound, was leaving to face it presented a different problem: his lady would be without her cat. Alone, with no backup, and no knowledge why.
If he couldn't leave, she needed to know Chat Noir wouldn't be able to protect her. She needed to know she'd have to find another Chat Noir—and the thought pained him—to take his place by her side.
"Wait." He glanced at the one-way mirror.
"I'm afraid that's the one thing I can't do," she said. "I need to save the city first, then I can save you, okay?" She flashed him an adorable smile then took a step toward the door. "Bug o—"
"Wait!"
She stopped.
The situation was enough to override secrecy and self-preservation. This was just another way of protecting her, and she'd ultimately understand. He needed to get the ring to her, subtly.
He started tapping his ring against the table with a quiet clink.
"I didn't want to eat the rest of my sandwich," he said abruptly.
Clink.
She watched him from the doorway, perplexed.
"Maybe you can take it home," she joked. "Then again, you might be here for hours."
Clink.
"Doesn't matter. I'm saving the cheese for someone."
Clink.
Her mouth twitched into a smirk.
"You think they'll want your room temperature leftovers?"
Clink.
"They'll eat any cheese at any time," he said.
Clink.
She blinked and her mouth went slack.
Clink.
"Adrien? Is there something you want to tell the class?"
Clink.
"The class? No way."
Clink.
"Is there something you want to tell me?"
Clink.
"Same thing I always have."
At that moment, Raincomprix and the detective barged into the room.
"Ladybug, we've received reports of an akuma at the Trocadéro."
"Yes, thank you. I wondered how that could happen if Mr. Agreste here has been accused of being Hawk Moth."
"Yes, that does seem to contradict some things."
"So you'll be letting him go, right?" Ladybug asked in a commanding voice.
"Well, we'll see. We still have more questions."
"Fine," she spat. She marched over to kneel by Adrien's side and placed her hands over his balled fists. "I have to do this, but I promise, Adrien, I'll come right back, okay?" He unfolded his hands and laced his fingers through hers, shocking her with the intimate action. "I-I-I am not done trying to help—"
She froze abruptly and it took every ounce of willpower for him to not grin like a fool.
"A-Adrien?" she breathed weakly.
"Usually. You have to go," he reassured. "I'd much rather be out there watching you work, but I'm stuck here. I know you'll come up with a plan."
She unlaced their fingers and slowly pulled away, careful to hang on to the ring he'd placed against her palm.
She stood, shakily, limbs barely remembering how to function. He couldn't tell whether her eyes swam with sadness or happiness, but her fierce gaze didn't break until she nodded sharply, turned, and stormed from the room.
God, he hoped they'd be okay.
Plagg was no longer with him.
"Well…" the detective said, "Now that that's over, let's talk more."
He sat waiting for the miraculous ladybugs to cleanse the city. He probably wouldn't be able to see them from this miniscule room. They only went where the damage was, and unless the fight was nearby, they'd have no reason to zip across the police station.
"Seems like you have some history with our spotted heroine."
"She's saved me a few times," Adrien said. "Can I get more water?"
Raincomprix ducked out.
"You don't exactly talk like two people who only know each other as reclusive model and city hero."
Nope. They sure don't.
"I'm comfortable talking to anyone. My father raised me to represent the brand well."
"So you'd say you're good at talking your way out of things? Telling people what they want to hear?" The detective had a sly grin.
Raincomprix returned, cup of water in hand, and placed it down beside Adrien.
"What's going on out there?" Adrien asked, ignoring the detective.
"With the akuma fight?" The cop looked to the detective, clearly unsure if this was information that Adrien was allowed to know. The detective merely shrugged, presumably knowing it'd be easy to learn after the fact. "Fight ended a few minutes ago. It gave Scarabella and Lady Noire some trouble, but they came through."
Adrien sucked in a breath. Ladybug used his Miraculous again. The first time, she took it without asking. This time he gave it without warning. Somehow it felt more meaningful now that she knew who he was.
The cop ducked out again, and the detective resumed his pointless questions.
‘A few minutes ago' didn't have much bearing on Ladybug's return, however. It shouldn't have taken long for a simple recharge and earring retrieval—especially if, as he suspected, Ladybug and Scarabella already knew each other. It felt like an hour later when she marched back into the room. Ladybug. Not Lady Noire. The detective sprang to his feet but didn't try to intervene when she strode over to Adrien, took his hand, and gave something back.
"Hi," she said. "I promised we'd be back."
She had, and promises she kept were his favorite ones. All the better for bringing her back to him. She was so shaken up when she left, he wondered how she'd act upon return. It seemed "fiercely determined" was still in season.
"We?"
"Yes," she said weightily.
"Oh. Thank you. I thought you might've meant you and… Scarabella…"
He trailed off, realizing that wouldn't even work. She smirked, clearly on the same wavelength.
"I think we've got a big enough audience."
"Yeah. Also: Scarabella?"
To his surprise, Ladybug withdrew her hand from his and flushed under her mask.
"Chat Noir was busy," she explained. "I knew I'd need some help without my trusty kitty by my side. This arrangement was more practical than on-the-job training."
"You handled it fine the first time," he said, pulling his hand under the table and slipping the ring back on. He was pretty sure he felt Plagg purr with approval upon his return.
"And yet I'm no Chat Noir," she asserted with a tone that would accept no argument. "I also thought he'd feel better if the borrower was someone he knows and trusts."
Meaning her.
Adrien swallowed thickly. He really shouldn't have been surprised by her compassion, but this gesture was still moving beyond words. In the heat of the moment, it wouldn't have even occurred to him as something worth worrying about, but her seeing it that way made it that much more touching.
He kind of wanted to kiss her.
Prior to today, she was the only other person who'd handled his ring. After today… that was unexpectedly still true. He cherished Plagg a little too much to get used to this, but it was easier knowing he was in her good hands.
"For a given definition of 'knows.'"
"I promise it's several definitions, Adrien."
His heart skipped a beat. Did his lady, always unerringly adamant about keeping a professional distance and not sharing too many personal details with one another, just give him—deliberately—a hint that they actually knew each other? Something only she would know with his identity now laid bare?
"Y-yeah?"
"I'd tell you directly but now's not the time or place. A hint would be more classy."
"If that's one, I can't put my finger on it.
"Shame. Gloves don't leave fingerprints, but bare fingers do."
"Do I… have your fingerprints? For comparison? Or a dusting kit?"
"You've probably wiped off the former already but I could definitely get you some fresh ones and my pink friend could probably furnish the latter. I'm sure there's a much easier way, though."
"Ladybug, do you have something you want to share with the class?"
"No, just with you."
He beamed.
"You were right about Gorizilla," she continued. "A lot of things, actually, plus that. The trust fall makes more sense. Now I can see it."
"Yeah. You saw me do a few things I didn't do."
"Sheds light on Oblivio too."
"Good light, I hope."
"Very," she assured. "Very good light."
"That also illuminates your hope that dogs and cats could work together a little better."
To his surprise, she looked embarrassed about this.
"I like my dog and cat…"
"Same pet, though," Adrien smiled.
"Yeah," Ladybug smiled back. "Same pet."
"Um," Raincomprox broke in, and they both jumped at the reminder that they were not alone. "I don't mean to interrupt, but—"
"IS HE FREE TO GO OR NOT?" Ladybug snapped.
"W-w-welll… If we don't have anything else, then… I guess… yes?"
"Wonderful," she seethed.
Ladybug grabbed his arm and dragged him out of the room. They made quite a sight careening through the precinct hallways with him practically sliding on the heels of his shoes. She didn't stop until they burst outside into bright sunlight and deafening shouting.
True to her word, there was an enormous crowd of protesters out in front of the police station. Two, in fact: one clearly in support of Adrien and one very much against the captured Mayura and the alleged Hawk Moth. In the former he could make out some familiar faces, including Alya and Nino. No sign of Marinette. Both crowds were held at bay by a row of police barricades. Both crowds and police officers momentarily stilled and quieted at the appearance of both superheroine and potential supervillain, visibly unshackled.
"This feels like a perp walk," he said warily. "You might need to address them."
Behind her, he saw several police officials had followed them out, including Roger Raincomprix. Ladybug only had eyes for Adrien.
"I'll leave that to the professionals. You're free," Ladybug beamed.
"Right until I get home," he replied, rubbing the back of his neck.
"God." She rubbed her temples. "No wonder you love when Chat Noir and I patrol."
"There's multiple things to love about it," he said, sickeningly sweet. "How much do I owe you?"
She dropped her hand, her face a mask of confusion underneath the other literal mask.
"For… For what?"
"Legal fees," Adrien said as seriously as he could.
Ladybug held back a laugh. It might take a while to get used to Chat's antics coming from Adrien's lips.
"You know I'm not a lawyer."
"I actually don't know what you are," he said. "Which feels unbalanced now."
It was exhilarating, in a way, opening up to him now that he'd been forced to do the same. With the policing having handed the Peacock back, the risk was that much lower. With Mayura captured, they had the most concrete lead yet. And they could follow it together.
"I'm a designer," Ladybug admitted nervously.
"Oh? Starving artist?"
"I promise I'm not starving," she giggled. "Not by a long shot."
"Well I still owe you something for saving my skin."
"I think the deficit currently goes the other way."
"Sometimes," Adrien shrugged. "At the end of the day it's always you, though."
"Not alone."
"No," he agreed. "Never alone. So, once again, what may I offer in return?"
She bit her lip and gathered up as much courage as she could carry.
"Well… m-maybe a kiss?" she said, turning scarlet.
They heard one of the police officers wolf whistle. Adrien felt his face grow warm.
"A-a-are you sure?"
"I know," she began hesitantly, "that probably seems like an abrupt turnaround."
"Well I am the poster boy for quick transformations."
"I promise the allure is neither the former nor the latter.
He knew she didn't have any interest in Chat Noir, so it was a relief that wasn't a deal breaker for her. But what did she know about Adrien Agreste besides the obvious?
"Then what is it?"
She bit her lip.
"Something we can share with the class."
He looked at her, really looked at her, and felt like the world grew brighter just because of her smile. There were only so many girls in his class, and only so many designers, and only so many reasons one might look at him like that.
"You said you were a designer," he said. "Is that just because you have designs on someone?"
"Let's say I like to wear multiple hats."
"You mean multiple masks."
"Only when the choice is that or getting Busted."
He squinted his eyes. Then widened them.
"Oh you have got to be joking."
Ladybug couldn't help but explode with laughter. It was one thing to fool Chat Noir in the first place. It was another thing entirely to see him learn that fact for himself. Poor chaton.
"As demonstrated, I am no great comedian."
He wasn't sure why he was astonished. He saw the proof of her cleverness every single day.
"Yet still funny, along with every other positive quality under the sun."
"Does that mean you stand by your sentiment about the girl under the mask?"
"Always," he breathed. Like she even needed to ask. "Since there's so many people watching, how about we save my payment for tomorrow night?"
Meaning patrol.
"I'm surprised you don't want to bump that up to tonight."
"For once," he grinned, all Chat Noir swagger, "I kind of want to leave you hanging in anticipation." She rolled her eyes.
"I'll be surprised if I don't hear a knock by 10pm," she said, smirking. She detached her yoyo and held out a hand. "Do you want a lift home?"
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'll take a rain check." Her face fell. "After being stuck in that room, I want as much time outside as I can get right now. I think I'll walk home."
She softened and the smirk returned.
"Walk. Sure." She leaned in close and gave him a soft kiss on his cheek and whispered. "I'll see you in school tomorrow, chaton."
Before she could regret her decision not to just kiss him fully right there in public, she threw the yoyo and zipped away. He watched her departure, just as he always loved to, then blew her a soft kiss.
"See you tonight, princess."
When he turned back to the crowd, he noticed that Alya was right up front against the police barricade, recording.