Chapter Text
Adrien's eighteenth birthday was a birthday he would always remember, but not because it was his eighteenth birthday.
He wouldn't remember it as the first birthday in countless years that his father had given him a gift himself, nor as the day where his best friend Nino threw him one of the biggest parties he'd seen, even managing to invite Ladybug, his celebrity crush.
He wouldn't remember it for the feeling of freedom as his father allowed him to find a new job if he so desired, nor for the kiss on his cheek that his Lady had given Chat Noir that evening on patrol because she was in a more cheerful mood than normal.
No, he would remember it as the day that Ladybug and Chat Noir saved Paris from the clutches of Hawkmoth, but also as the last happy day of his life.
On patrol that night, Ladybug and Chat Noir came across an akuma and decided to use a risky strategy in order to find Hawkmoth: they pretended to fall unconscious, and the akuma, an annoyed bodybuilder, luckily decided to carry them back to Hawkmoth's lair rather than just try to remove their Miraculouses. When they arrived, Ladybug snatched the akumatized object and purified it while Chat attacked Hawkmoth, who could barely hold him off. When Ladybug joined in, her battle experience with Chat far outweighed Hawkmoth's experience, and they beat him quicker than any akuma previously.
Taking a yo-yo-wrapped Hawkmoth to the police station, they first made sure that Officer Roger knows who it is before removing his Miraculous, forcing him to detransform. The room went silent as Hawkmoth was replaced by Gabriel Agreste, who kept his composure. Both Ladybug and Chat Noir remained silent, then with a mumble about agreeing to be a witness later, Chat Noir left, leaving Ladybug to question his father.
News spreads like wildfire. By noon the next day, the entire country of France knew who Hawkmoth was. By the end of the day, the entire world learned of the dastardly deeds of one Gabriel Agreste.
By the end of the second day, the Gabriel fashion line lost all of its partners and sponsors, going bankrupt. Gabriel's bank accounts were frozen, and he arrived in court. Ladybug, Chat Noir, and countless others acted as witnesses against Hawkmoth and his deeds. Gabriel himself admitted Hawkmoth's actions were indeed his own and that he had accomplices in his home.
Nathalie Sancoeur was soon arrested after evidence from Gabriel confirmed that she not only knew about his identity but also aided in hiding it, scheduling fake meetings out of the city in order to create alibis for him. The rest of the Agreste household was watched closely, especially Gabriel's son Adrien, who had testified against him in court. Adrien had no knowledge of his identity, anyone could see that, but rage and fear often blinds people.
By the end of the third day, Adrien received his first death threat. By the end of the week, he didn't bother to open his mail anymore, and nor could he once the bank decided that the Agreste mansion would be worth enough to close all of the debts created by the bankruptcy of the Gabriel line. And, because he had just turned eighteen, Adrien Agreste was left with nothing other than a suitcase with clothes that no one wanted, a bank account with only a thousand euros in it, and a ring that housed his closest friend.
Adrien was a cursed person, a leper to the world, someone that if you associated yourself with, then it had better be to hurt him and nothing else lest you become cursed too. No one wanted him around. His classmates would leave the class if he entered, so he stopped going to school. Chloé Bourgeois, his oldest friend, turned her nose up at him. Nino Lahiffe, his best friend, the person who would do anything for him and vice versa, stayed at arms length if they happened to pass each other on the streets where Adrien now lived. He couldn't get a job, couldn't find anywhere that would let him spend the night, and could only buy food for him and Plagg if he wore a sweatshirt with a hood.
In short, Adrien's life was miserable. The only time where he felt like anyone would even tolerate him was when he was Chat Noir, but even that had to come to a close.
Before they captured Hawkmoth, Ladybug and Chat Noir made two promises to each other: that they would reveal their identities two weeks after they beat Hawkmoth and that they would return the Miraculouses to Master Fu when they revealed. The promises gave them enough time to say their goodbyes to their kwami and would ensure the continued safekeeping of the Miraculouses until the next threat.
But now, standing on the roof above Fu's parlor, waiting for Ladybug, Adrien realized that he wouldn't be able to give Plagg up. Plagg was his last true friend, the only being who loved him on both sides of the mask, and the only thing left from his previous life. He knew he had to return the Miraculous, but he also knew he wouldn't be able to give it up. So he came to the decision that he'd break those two promises he made to Ladybug, but before he could leave, she arrived. She was nervous, but he knew what had to be done.
"Hey Chat, are you ready to do this?" Ladybug asked, rubbing her arm.
Looking out across the city, the word left his lips without his permission: "No."
Ladybug chuckled, "I know what you mean. This is...frightening. I hoped Tikki would stay, but you know what they say. All good things-"
"I'm sorry, Ladybug, but I can't give Plagg up. Not..not yet," Chat said, looking away from her. "I won't tell you who I am either. Maybe one day, but not today."
"Chat..." her voice was filled with worry and something else, like a warning. "You've been acting odd ever since we captured Hawkmoth. I know how close you must be with Plagg, but we have to return the Miraculouses. Who knows what could happen otherwise?"
"Tell Master Fu I'll return it later. You can hand yours in now if you want, but I just can't."
"Minou, we promised that we'd return them. Together. Detransformez-moi."
Chat Noir closed his eyes, keeping them closed and remembering how far the edge of the building was from him.
"Look at me, Chat. Look at me!" He could hear her walk in front of him, but still his eyes remained shut.
A new voice spoke to him. "Chat Noir, you must keep your promise. I can sense your bond with Plagg is strong, but Hawkmoth is gone. We're not needed here anymore."
"Tikki's right, Chat. Please, just return the ring." Chat remained quiet, but a tear threatened to escape his closed eyes.
"Fine. Pleased to meet you, Chat Noir. My name is-" She was cut off as he pushed her to the side, counting his steps and jumping just before the edge of the building. Marinette watched his silhouette vanish from her position on the ground, mouth open. "Tikki...what should we do?"
"I think we should talk to Master Fu first, see what he has to say." Marinette nodded. Ladybug jumped down from the roof a minute later, entering Fu's Massage Parlor a moment later.
Adrien discovered an underground metro station in southern Paris that was closed down a little under a week ago. The only way to get in without bolt cutters required the skills of a certain superhero, which gave Adrien a place to stay where no one could go. The dark halls of the subway tunnels made every noise he made reverberate, which meant that if anyone found out how to get in, he'd hear them. They also made it sound like there was something else here besides him, filling up the tunnels with imaginary people to keep him company.
As Chat Noir entered the terminal he now called home, he detransformed and fell to his knees. "I'm sorry for breaking my promise, Plagg, but I just can't lose you too," he said. Chat Noir didn't cry, but that doesn't mean that Adrien couldn't as the tears he hid from Ladybug found freedom on the tiled floor. "I know I'm being selfish, but-"
He felt something warm and fuzzy press against his cheek. "Kid, take all the time you need. I'm not going anywhere until you're ready."
Adrien reached out to his suitcase and unzipped the suitcase, revealing it to be half filled with the all the Camembert that was left at his former home. Taking out a container, he handed it to his kwami before pulling out a sheet to sleep on for the evening.
"I don't know how long my money will last," he said to Plagg, "so I just want you to know that I may end up having to...having to steal some food when I run out."
Plagg held the Camembert, staring at his Chosen. Half of that suitcase just for me...without a second thought. He quietly ate half of the wheel, putting the rest back into the suitcase as Adrien tried to sleep. Suddenly, he heard Wayzz communicating with him: Plagg? Are you there Plagg?
Yea, I'm here.
Where are you? Ladybug said Chat ran away and wouldn't let you go.
He did, but you should know why he did.
Where are you, Plagg?
Plagg looked at Adrien, watching him try to sleep. I'm with my Chosen, and will remain with him until I want to leave.
You know we must get the ring back; we have to protect you!
Wayzz, you don't know what this kid is going through. You might think that you do, but you don't. So I'm not leaving him until he's ready for me to leave.
Plagg, Master is going to send Ladybug after him. Do you really want that on top of everything else? Just return to us and save him a manhunt.
Plagg couldn't believe it. To send one after the other in malice? But it was Master Fu, and he seemed determined, more so than usual. Flying over to where Adrien lay down, he asked, "you still awake?" Adrien's eyes opened, and he nodded slightly. "Master Fu is going to make Ladybug try to get me from you. Will you be able to fight her if you need to?"
"Fu would send Ladybug after me?" he asked, some fear in his eyes. Plagg nodded, "but he's already vowed to never reveal your identities, so she'll be going after Chat Noir, not Adrien Agreste."
Adrien lay back down, staring at the ceiling. "There's no other way, is there?" he asked.
"No."
"Then, to protect you, I'll hurt Ladybug if, and only if, I need to," Adrien said, his voice echoing throughout the chilly room.
Wayzz, you still there?
I'm here, Plagg.
Then I have only one thing to say: do your worst.
There was silence from Wayzz for a minute, then, finally: So be it. Farewell, Plagg. I hope that the next time I see you, you'll have learned when to quit while you still can.
It was several hours until Adrien fell asleep. Plagg left a minute later, returning an hour later rolling a stolen sleeping bag towards his Chosen.
"What did he say," Marinette asked once Wayzz opened his eyes. "Did he explain why Chat Noir took him away?" Tikki inquired.
In response, Wayzz flew to Master Fu's ear and whispered something to him. Fu frowned, handing a cup of tea to the worried superhero in front of him.
"In giving you the Miraculous of Creation, I gave you a responsibility that no one as young as yourself should have. Now that you've won the battle against Hawkmoth, you deserve peace. But, unfortunately, I must ask you for another favor. Chat Noir will not give up his Miraculous, so," Fu put down his cup of tea, "may I ask you, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, Ladybug, to bring it back to me any way that you can."
Marinette gulped and Tikki gasped. "I know I am asking far too much from you, but Chat Noir's Miraculous is no longer needed. It must be returned so that I can keep it safe until a new threat emerges. You may have to hurt him in order to get it, but it is for the greater good."
"Chat is abusing his kwami's powers right now," Marinette said. "We both promised to return them, and he broke his promise. I will return the Miraculous to you, Master Fu, but I don't want to hurt him. Can you tell me anything that might help me?"
Tikki remained silent at her Chosen's decision as Fu spoke. "I have sworn against revealing your identities, and that includes to each other. I can say no more, unfortunately."
Marinette nodded. "I'll return Chat's Miraculous to you, Master Fu." And figure out why Chat would turn evil...
"Thank you Marinette. I wish you luck on your mission," Fu said, bowing as she left.