Chapter Text
White, that's all he saw. And he hated how it was familiar. Sitting up he looked around him. He’s back in the white room his dad put him in. Standing up he walks around the room. Going to where the door is he froze to see it gone. Turning around he searched for the exit but the 4 walls looked the same. Feeling around them trying to find a crack or a sign of a hidden door, stopped when he saw his ring missing.
“No no no…”
He panicked as he whisper yelled. “Plagg?? Plagg??”
Did Ladybug have him?? Is he just stuck experiencing it all again?? Is she going to fight Monarch alone? Is his dad going to die again?
Sitting down he held onto his legs squeezing them. “Why…why do I have to relive this? I thought I was finally doing better. Therapy was helping. I was moving on. Why am I back here?”
“Son.”
Standing up in panic, Adrien found himself stepping away from the voice. In the middle of the room stood his father. White suit, leering eyes, towering built. “Dad..”
Gabriel opened his arms and Adrien hesitated.
“You’re…you’re not real.” He looked at the man in front of him. Somewhere he wanted to hug his father. But he knew it hurt in the end. Having experienced these same messed up dreams with his mother. He won’t fall for it.
“Even so, haven’t you missed your dad?”
Adrien thought about it. Ofcourse he did, but he also didn’t in the sense that the last time they talked he was mad at his father. Mad for taking him away from his home, away from his friends, away from Ladybug and Marinette.
“....Why.”
“Why what son?”
Adrine clenched his fist. “Why did you take me away from them?!”
“To protect you-”
“You always say that but all it does is end up hurting me?!”
“Nonsense! All I do is to keep you safe! Safe from the people, save from the darkness of life, save from the Akuma attacks!”
“An Akuma attack can happen everyday, but that doesn’t mean you can just lock me up everyday?!”
“I know that! That's why I let you go to school on certain days, or have your photoshoots planned on certain days!”
“Then why am I here now?!”
“Cause today is the day Monarch tries to take over the world.”
Adrien frees. His fathers expression unreadable. ‘Something isn’t right.’
“How do you know that?”
Silence.
He only knew that after he got out. Once Bugnoir told him. Kagami didn’t know either. But she was there to be “safe” too.
Their parents worked together. They made these rooms for them.
His father never anwsered.
“How did you know Monarch was gonna attack?” Adrien stepped further away from his father, his back hit the cold wall. The eeriness reminding him off the awfull sensation the room gave him. Negative emotions. His fathers technology ring being the only thing soothing those emotions.
“No no no..” his hands come to his hair as he scratches his brain.
Strong emotions help Akuma’s find hosts. Negative ones…
The fight between Bugnoir and Monarch was in his house. His father was there. ‘But why was Monarch there?’
His father helped Bugnoir defeat Monarch and even sacrificed himself for the world. ‘But why did he care about the world if all he did was hide me from it?’
“Adrien, you're thinking too much about it. Stop that.” And many times he did. He would stop thinking after his father told him too. Not doubting something anymore. No arguing back. No rebelling. ‘But being ChatNoir is rebelling.’
But his mind is still going. Still racing on the meanings of it all. If what his dad did to him was to keep him save, why weren’t others also kept save. If he knew Monarch would be planning to endanger so many lives. Why did his father only chose his and Kagami’s life.
And then still save the lives of others himself by sacrificing his own?
“How did you know about Monarch’s plan?”
“What plan?”
“The one that made trap me in this box.”
Adrien stepped closer. The walls felt suffocating. Gabriel taking in so much space was suffocating.
“This box is to keep you save”
“Save from what!”
“...” Staring eyes watch him.
“How did you know it would be today?!”
Adrien came closer well Gabriel stays still in place.
"Answer me!”
Gabriel stayed silent.
Adrien clung onto the man’s suit. Staring up into his eyes with frustration.
“If you trapped me in here today. Exactly on the day Monarch strikes. Telling me that it’s to keep me save.”
Gabriel’s eyes looked away from him. Staring straight ahead and ignoring all of Adrien’s words.
“Then you knew what Monarch was planning. Then you knew each time an Akuma showed up, right? Thats why I couldn’t go out with my friends that time, or couldn’t go to school that day. Or had a photoshoot planned on the other side of Paris.”
Leaning his face into his fathers chest Adrien breathed heavily. His fathers body was cold. His father was cold, has been since his mom died. ‘Hero my ass’
“You’re just a teenager, you don’t know nothing.”
Adrien felt water sting his eyes, he knows so much. He knows so much about Akuma’s, after a whole year of fighting them with Ladybug. He’d be blind if he didn’t.
“Teenagers, are the embodiment of emotions. Negative ones too, and thats what attracks Akuma’s the most.”
The brightness surrounding him vanished. The room of white turned into a void of darkness. Moving away from his father he looked around. “What is- dad hey! Why is eve-” Blue eyes.
But not with red.
Purple.
“Monarch!!?”
“Adrien…”
“Stay a-away from me!!”
“Adrien!”
“DON’T TOUCH ME!!”
“ADRIEN!!”
“CLAWS OUT!”
A thumb to the floor cause him to squirm. Struggling to breath he tries to open his eyes again and sees his bedroom floor. Lifting .himself up he notices his clawed hands. “..crap.” He takes in his surroundings to find him perfectly fine in his room. His lights are off but his night vision keeps everything clear in sight. No white room, no father, no Monarch….
“Monarch…”
His bell rings as he makes his way over to the corner of his room. Sitting against the two walls his belt curls around his legs as he curls into himself. His ears flatten against his hair. Eyes light green in the darkness. Once his breathing steadied and his tension left. He dropped his suit and watched his Kwami appear before him.
“Are you alright?!” Plagg jumped right into his face. Paws on either sides of Adrien’s nose as he squeezed it. “I’m fine Plagg, just a bad dre-mmm no this was more of a nightmare to be fair. Huffing in annoyance Plagg floated above him landing on Adrien’s dark golden hair. “Pfft, no crap. You were yelling all about, even shoved me off the bed.”
Adrien giggled. “Sorry bud.”
“You were mumbling in your sleep, when I tried to wake you up you started yelling at me untill you called for your claws.” Plagg moved around Adrien’s hair with a force of annoyance. But there was concern in the Kwami’s voice. Adrien hummed in acknowledgement. Revisiting the nightmare in his head, Adrien tensed up again.
“Kit?”
“Monarch.”
“Yeah you yelled that too. I had a guess you had a dreamed about him.”
“No..wait yes but no. It was about my dad.” Adrien crossed his arms and leaned them over his legs.
“Your dad?” There was a concern in Plagg’s voice. The Kwami came down from Adrien’s hair and placed himself ontop of his crossed arms, a soft nuzzle against Adrien’s face along with a comforting purr.
Since his fathers passing Plagg has been more open to show comforting affection. Each night with another nightmare or no desire to sleep. Would in trade be filled with a night of nuzzles and purrs to zone out the quietness and the heavy thoughts.
Adrien listened to the sound but kept his thoughts in mind. ‘Plagg was there, Plagg knows something. But Ladybug has him quiet.’ This he has known for a while now. He doesn’t blame the Kwami, and he can’t find a reason to blame Ladybug. He partly blames himself for not having been able to be there. The other part he blames on his father, for having been the reason he wasn’t able to be there in the first place. But with his death the blame fell back to himself.
“My father knew.”
Plagg’s purring stopped.”Knew what?”
Uncurling himself Adrien took Plagg into the palm of his hands. “He knew Monarch had something planned that day, that's why he trapped me in that room. It had something to do with those rings and as Kagami’s mother also worked on the rings, Kagami was kept in a room too. For our ‘safety’.”
There was a movement in Plagg’s expression but the Kwami stayed silent. ‘fine’
“My father knew, which either meant he worked for Monarch…or he knows who he is…or just anything in that direction but there is a connection between Monarch and my fathers. Thats why he was there when Bugnoir fought Monarch. Maybe he tried to stop the fight from escalating. Monarch risking it all that day which could have caused my fathers exposing. Or my father tried to help Monarch in the fight, but why? Monarch is insane and dangerous, why would my father side with him. The only one who helped Monarch was Mayura. My dad couldn’t be Mayura as Mayura was clearly a woman. Though Miraculouses can disguise genders too.” Standing up Adrien walked up to his bed. Turning on his bedside lamp he finally saw the whole of the mess he made. His pillows were on the floor and his blanket tangled all over. Picking up his pillow he finds his frog plushie. He grabbed it and out of reflex wanted to press it’s audio but he stopped as his brain went back to his father.
“Either way. My father sided with a villain. I don’t know how or for what purpose. I don’t know why Ladybug is hiding the truth or why she is having you keep your mouth shut about it.” He looked towards Plagg at his last sentence making the Kwami frown. “But I’m gonna find out.” Throwing the plush to the corner he sat in before, Adrien made his way to his bedroom door.
“Wow hey hey! Kit what’s the plan?! It’s the middle of the night.” Plagg flew in front of him.
“Where are you gonna find any of these anwsers. Ladybug won’t tell a thing. Both Monarch and your father are out of the picture too. Who else is there to ask?”
Adrien stops, holding onto his chin he thinks for a second. He could go back and think about it what longer, even if he finds a person they wouldn’t be awake at this time. But he can’t just do nothing. And his brain is too loud to even think about going back to sleep.
“I’d say go back to sleep-” a cling is heard through the walls silencing both Plagg and Adrien.
“What was that?” Adrien spoke.
“How should I know?” Plagg replied.
“You're the one with the better sense of hearing and ability to go through walls. What if it’s another break in?”
"Oh what? You mean when those idiots thought the mansion was empty and tried to steal all of your dad’s left over business stuff that costs a fortune? Then we’ll just Chat Noir scare them off again. No biggie." Plagg crossed his arms smugly making Adrien huff. Walking out his bedroom he made his way to his door. Listening against it but hearing nothing. He pointed Plagg to take a look.
Phasing through the door Plagg looked around and saw a light down the stairs. Ears flicking he heard the familiar footsteps of Nathalie.
A grumble comes from his chest,, having been suspicious of the woman for the past few months due to her interrupting his nightly kitchen cheese run. He has also overheard her late night conversations on the phone with people. He just hasn’t been able to talk to anyone about it except Tikkie but even she has to keep it on the down low as his spying on Nathalie can reveal the home of his holder if ever asked how he has encountered these conversations.
Floating back to Adrien he shook of his suspicion and did his act of unbotherdness. “Just Nathalie.” Adrien looked surprised. “She’s still up this late?”
“Apperently.” Sitting on Adrien’s shoulder, Plagg yawned as he awaited Adrien’s next move. He was a little stressed, his kitten is on his way finding out the truth, how far he’ll get is concerning. He can’t tell Ladybug any of this but he also can’t stop it. And then is even the question. Why should he stop it. Cause being honest, he is sick of lying to him. He doesn’t mind it to anyone else, he has lied before and about worse things. But this feels worse. Too personal. Adrien is just a kit. Who is now orphaned in the worst possible way, and is being lied about how it happened and with secrets his father has kept from him and the world. Would knowing do Adrien any good? In terms of emotionally no. But he’ll heal from it. The earlier he finds out the faster he can get over it. Ladybug is still a kit too, which makes her choices be caused by emotional pain too. Tikkie has told him how it’s been hurting her. How the lies has been eating Marinette up inside. The guilt pressuring up her stress.
“I’ll ask her first.”
Plagg almost coughed out a hairball.
“What?!?”
“If anyone knows of anything about my dad’s doing or sceduling it be her. She was basically his second in command.”
Adrien reached for the handle but Plagg stopped.
“Yeah yeah but you already asked her, remember? You did a whole recording documentary for it , with Nino and Marinette.”
“Right.” Adrien hummed. “But she has a motive to lie to me if she did lie. She won’t have a reason to lie to Chat Noir.” Plagg hesitated but he couldn’t stop him as before he knew it, Adrien spoke the words.
“Claws out”
Opening his door Chat Noir jumped onto the stair ledge. Stopping as he heard the sound of his own bell. “No no I need you to be stealthy.” Thinking deeply he manifested the ball inside his bell to be gone. Erasing the whole bell was out of his comfort. He grew attached to it and loved it whenever Ladybug or even Marinette made it chime as they flicked it in annoyance or intention to tease. The ringing tickling his ears. Though right now he needed to be at his quiests. So goodbye sound for now.
Making his way downstairs with the lightest of steps. He heard Nathalie on the phone. The sound leading to the kitchen had him peek through the gap of the door to see Nathalie at the counter facing his way. Chosing his approach he runs over to the other door behind her instead that leads too the dining area.
Reaching the door he listens to her speak.
“I have told you before. I will not share any of Gabriel’s documents with you. The world will not know and neither will you!” Hanging up, Nathalie combed her hair out of her face with her hand. A deep sigh as she massaged the bridge of her nose. A small breeze comes from behind her making her turn her head around. Watching the dining room door be slightly agape, she frowns. ‘That door was closed when I came in.’
A small thump sound makes her neck turn back infront of her. The apple in the fruit basket has falled out and is now slowly rolling to the edge of the counter. Nathalie watched it tensely. She’s not alone. Tightening her bathrope she curses under her breath of not having a weapon in hand. She leers at the cabinet with the kitchen knife but it’s one step out of reach if she has to react quickly. As the apple nears the counter edge, she watches it fall only to never heard the sound of the apple reaching the ground. Instead a crunch is heard and 2 black triangles make it’s way over the counter.
‘Cat’
A claw comes onto the counter and before she knows it, Chat Noir is crouched onto the Agrest counter top. Apple in hand as he takes another bite. Unbothered by her cautious look.
“Chat Noir”
Chat’s ear twitched at his name. “Madam.”
Although she knows he means no harm and is just a kid like Ladybug. His suit is more intimidating in the dark. Clearly it’s natural element. She hasn’t had many encounters with the Feline Hero and when she did he was there to either save him, or detain her when she was Mayura. What confused her about the visit though is why he is here. And how he entered unnoticed by the alarms.
“Seems like your bell is defect. I would have sworn that bell is meant to have cats not enter places unnoticed.” She was double wording it, both the ringing of his actual bell, and the ringing of the house alarm having been silent and unheard, well they should work.
Placing the half eaten apple on the counter Chat Noir glared at it for a while. He can’t get too comfortable with her. Even though she has been taking care of him even before his father passed. She still is keeping things from him, and even so he has to seperate his lives. She cares for Adrien, but right now she is talking to Chat Noir.
“What will the world not know?” His green eyes leered at her.
“Those ears hear a lot don’t they? Didn’t Ladybug tell you to stay down?” ‘So he heard, what more did he hear? What does he knows.’ Ladybug told her nothing about Chat Noir’s inclusion. And she honestly has no clue what he knows. He wasn’t there when it happened and she and Ladybug talked about not telling anyone. But what is Chat Noir’s place of knowing?
“Gabriel Agreste.”
“Is dead.” She remarked.
If it wasn’t dark she would have seen his expression falter.
“He made an interesting decision that day. And I wanna know why.”
“Ask your ‘Lady’”
“M’Lady is having her beauty sleep at this hour.”
“Good for her.”
“That decision. Could have only been done based on what he knew.” His voice was serious. Eyes glowing as his pupils slit thinly.
“And what do you think he knew?” She was not having it.
Chat Noir thought about his next words carefully. He could either expose new news to her or tell her something she already knows. Though if she knows this. She will know more, and by the way she has tried to change the subject twice. He might be on the right track.
“Gabriel Agreste knew Monarch’s plan on the day of the Akuma takeover. Which means he had contact with Monarch somehow. And as his assistant I thought you’d know if he’s had any meeting with the guy, you know over tea or something?” With a casual step backwards Nathalie leaned against the kitchen counter, away from the island he was still crouched ontop of.
“I have no reason to tell you that information. Same thing you heard me tell those people on the phone. None of your business." Her hands are now placed on the counter behind her. The drawer is only 30 cm away from her.
“But Ladybug already knows, doesn't she.” His face is tense. If Ladybug knows Nathalie was involved, in what way then? Ofcourse as Gabriel secretary but what other role? What other reason?
His ear twitched at the sound of a drawer opening. With his cat reflexes he dodged the kitchen knife thrown at him and watches it stick to the wall. It wasn’t a sharp one. And the aim wasn’t completely directed at his head. But it was clearly a sign that he was asking too much.
Watching the woman in front of him, something clicks. A woman that size, with that skill. Her determent glare at him. Her body language of defense but also ready to strike any minute. The blue lighting of her phone hovering over her. ‘So it was her…’ his ears flattened. Why would she do that? She and her father were close, or at least he thought so. But in the fights it was clear that Monarch cared for Mayura. She protected him with her words and he protected her with his power. Why would Nathalie go a long with all of that? Or is he missing something more?
If Nathalie was close with his father. She’d do a lot for him. So becoming Mayura for him…was that an ask from Gabriel or an ask from Monarch?
“I believe to feel unwanted, Mayura.” His already lowered ears joined his act as he drooped his head sideways. A fake pout on his face.
Grabbing another sharp utensil, Nathalie motioned it in the air for him to shoo.
“I believe you have overstayed Chat Noir. I need you out of this house now.” There was a tense anger in her voice.
“Cat’s out of the bag now, isn’t it? A bummer that I have to leave now though.” He kept his breathing in control. He couldn’t freak out here and now. Chat Noir can’t feel the emotions Adrien should feel. Not in front of others.
Stepping of the island he lands on the floor and walks to the fridge. He places his half eaten apple in there and closes it, Nathalie watching in confusion. He walks too the door and opens it, looking up the stairs which Nathalie speaks threatenly. “Leave cat.”
Chat Noir looks at her from the door. “For who was it?”
“...was what?”
“For who did you become Mayura? Monarch, or Gabriel?” It felt weird to say his fathers name like that. So casual.
Nathalie hesitated with her answer. Chat Noir didn’t even expect her to answer it. She barely answered any of his questions. Ready to leave she gives him her last words.
“...Gabriel…but it was a mistake.”
Chat Noir grinned. “A little too late for that huh?” And as he closes the door he jumps up the stairs to Adrien’s room.
"Hey, wait!" Nathalie follows him. Up the stairs in panic. She doubts Chat Noir would go and immediately tell this too Adrien. Cause if he does…
Entering Adrien’s room Nathalie watches the open window. The curtains moving as the wind blows a fresh breeze inside. ‘So thats how he got in. Adrien needs to learn to close his window at night.’ Just to be sure she goes up the stairs to his bedroom. Seeing the door open on a small gap she moves it just enough to see Adrien sleeping right there on his bed. Warm under the covers, safe and sound. She closes the door and leaves the room. Making her way back to the stairs as she sits there for a minute or 2. Her fist clenched as she curses under her breath. After thinking about the man she mistakenly fell in love with. She stood up and made her way to her own bed. Exhausted from the day and encounter.
‘Should I tell Ladybug?’
As he listened to his room door close. Adrien sat up straight and climbed out of bed. “Claw out” with only 2 leaps he made it to his windows. Tears stung his eyes and the cold breeze wiped them away. Into the night he want as he ran on all fours from roof to roof. Claws digging into stone as he missed a jump but clawed himself back onto the building. He needed to hide. Just hide some place he could be alone. With no memory of anything bad. With no ghost of his father following him around. With no lie hanging in the air. With his staff he stop himself up in the air. Eyes eying down at his option as he had the birds view of paris infront of him. A weak scent of a bakery caught his nose but he ignored it.
His eyes instead catching an old broken place.
Diving down he landed on it’s roof. The stone felt cold against his gloved hands. Finding a way inside he makes it through as his eyes lead the way. A crack behind him stops him in his track and he falls down as the wood beneathe him gives off. Landing on all fours with his tail up in shock. He calms at the podium infront of him. Red dusty curtains on each side. Rows of seats to his left and right. Old flyers scatter the floor with texts of actors of all kind that will be going to perform. Reading closer it seems they already have, 6 years ago. Grabbing one that catches his eye. He chilled as he saw his mother. Young, maybe early twenties. Before she had him. Before any of this. He smiled happyly at it. But as his mind tracks back to everything current. He turns the paper around to it’s empty back and takes out a pen from his staff.
‘Who was Monarch.’ Grabbing another flyer from the ground he writes something else. ‘Why did Ladybug lie?’
Grabbing more paper he made his way onto the podium. A large cut-out carton that was clearly meant as a background has now made the title of “Chat Noir’s investigation board.”
Pinning each of his written questions. He also went in and filled some answers. “Nathalie was Mayura” “Gabriel knows Monarch” “Gabriel helped Monarch.”
Stepping back, he watched his board in agony.
“Claws in.”
Plagg looked at the board with him. “You sure you wanna start this kit?”
Adrien walked to one of the curtains and loosened it from the ropes. With a big pull the curtain closed over the podium hiding the board from the seats in the podium,a stray cat uncurling from it’s sleep as it hears the rummaging on the stage.
“I have to Plagg.”