Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

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Ladybug sits on a ledge looking at her yo-yo.

Ladybug: Where is he? He completely disappeared during that last akuma. I hope he’s alright…

A closeup of feet going "Plop".

Ladybug, turning: Chat! I’m so glad you’re–

She finishes turning to see a superhero in blacks and grays, face obscured, but it’s obviously not Chat Noir.

Ladybug: –Catwalker??? Why are you using Chat’s miraculous again?

Catwalker, fist clenched around his miraculous as Ladybug looks horrified: Chat Noir’s identity…has been compromised.

Flashback of a butterfly.

Catwalker (voiceover): During the last akuma attack…

Chat Noir looking at one blinking light on his miraculous. Mayura drops in from above right behind him.

Catwalker (voiceover continues): Chat Noir was on his way to recharge his miraculous when Mayura jumped him.

Chat Noir grappling with Mayura, who is on top of him.

Catwalker (voiceover continues): Of course he fought back, but…

Chat Noir cries out as his transformation releases, everything but his head shows civilian clothing. Mayura pushes Chat’s staff against his throat in glee.

Catwalker (voiceover continues): He wasn’t fast enough this time.

A close up of Adrien’s face in pure terror next to a close up of the lower half of Mayura’s, which is inscrutable.

Mayura: Adrien?

Catwalker (voiceover continues): And worse, Mayura recognized him.

The back of Adrien and Plagg as they flee for their lives. Mayura stretches out her hand towards them but does not catch them.

Catwalker (voiceover continues): It was all he could do just to break away and run. I’m so sorry, Ladybug.

Flashback ends. Ladybug is in tears, desperately clenching Catwalker’s arm. Catwalker’s face continues to be obscured.

Ladybug: Is he hurt? Where is he now? He has to be okay! I can’t lose him again, Catwalker! I CAN’T!!!

A closeup of Ladybug being embraced by Catwalker, her eyes closed as tears stream down her face.

Catwalker: Shh… He’s okay, Ladybug. He’s safe. Just hiding…

Pan down to Catwalker’s side of the hug, his face now fully seen. He’s crying too.

Catwalker: …somewhere that no one would ever think to look for him.

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Establishing shot of the windows of Adrien’s room.

Adrien frantically scribbles a note while Plagg looks on in worry.

Plagg: Adrien, are you sure you want to do this?

Adrien: Shadowmoth knows who I am! Or at least Mayura does, and she’s definitely going to tell him! As soon as I’ve gotten what I’m going to need on the run, I need to be gone. No doubt they’re already on their way to attack me, kidnap me, or brainwash me! Probably all three!

As Plagg contemplates, Adrien empties his wallet, taking only the euros he happens to have in there and leaving any his cards behind.

Plagg: But you’ll only be gone for a little while, right? I mean, if someone else—say Catwalker—started using my miraculous, wouldn’t that be a good enough reason for Shadowmoth to leave you alone?

Adrien: He’s still gone after some of the temporary heroes when they didn’t have their miraculouses. And for someone like me who’s been a thorn in Shadowmoth’s side since the beginning? He’s spiteful enough to go after me regardless…

Adrien frustratedly points at his miraculous.

Adrien: …something that is not at all helped by the fact that if I’m moonlighting as Catwalker, I’ll still have my miraculous and Shadowmoth would be able to get his hands on it while barely even trying!

Close up of Plagg looking heartbroken.

Plagg: Does that mean you’re giving me up again? For real this time?

Adrien: No. Never again.

Adrien digs through his clothing cabinet.

Adrien: Ladybug still needs a partner. Catwalker is the only version of me that can still be that for her, so from now on, he’s the only me I’ll allow myself to be.

Plagg: But—

Adrien: If the only way to be free of Shadowmoth is to demolish my old lives, then so be it.

Plagg: Okay. I’ll pack the cheese.

Adrien calls Nino.

Cut to Nino answering his phone, leaning back with a smile on his face.

Nino: Hey Adrien, my dude! What’s up?

Adrien: I’m running away from home.

Nino’s expression shifts to concern.

Nino: What?? Did your dad do something even more terrible than usual?

Adrien: Well…

Nino: You can totally bunk at my place! Stay as long as you need!

Cut back to Adrien’s room. Adrien is talking on speaker phone while changing out of his iconic Gabriel clothes for some stowed away superhero merch he’d be less likely to be recognized as a civilian. Plagg, meanwhile, fills a backpack with large wheels of Camembert.

Adrien: Thanks, but I’m pretty sure your house is the first place my father will look when he realizes I’m gone.

Nino: What about Alya? Or Marinette? Or Luka or Kagami, or even Chloé…?

Adrien: Father knows who all my friends are. He’ll search you all and ruin the life of whoever I end up being found with. I can’t do that to any of you.

Adrien: Nino, I didn’t call you because I needed your help. I called you because I needed to say goodbye.

Cut to a close-up of Nino, tears starting to form in his eyes.

Nino: Adrien…

Adrien: Don’t tell the others yet.

Adrien covers up his floofy blond hair with a black beanie.

Adrien: Whatever my father ends up doing, it’ll be safer for them if he can tell that they had no idea this was coming.

Close-up of Adrien smiling sadly.

Adrien: I just needed to make sure you knew that I’m okay and that I have absolutely adored having you guys as my first real friends. You more than anyone, Nino.

Nino rubs at the tears falling down his face.

Nino: I love you, bro. Please stay safe.

Adrien: You too. Thank you for everything.

Cut to Catwalker using his staff to propel himself out the window. In the foreground, Adrien’s phone is left behind, screen black save for the words “Complete Reset Initiated.”

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Shot of Mayura lying on the ground, hand clenched.

Hawkmoth (through communicator): Mayura, status update. Mayura? Mayura!

Hawkmoth carries Mayura to Nathalie’s bed.

Hawkmoth: I knew letting you use the peacock miraculous was a bad idea… I’m taking it back now. Please rest.

Nathalie (voiceover): I was this close.

Cut to shot of Mayura’s hand trying to hold onto Chat Noir’s staff as it disintegrates during his detransformation.

Nathalie (voiceover): If his staff hadn’t disintegrated beneath my fingers…

Mayura falls aside as Plagg helps Adrien to escape.

Nathalie (voiceover): …if my enhanced strength hadn’t failed so quickly…

Cut to Nathalie sitting in bed, angrily grabbing at the blankets.

Nathalie (voiceover): …I would have been this close…

Shot of Adrien dead, throat crushed.

Nathalie (voiceover): …to killing Adrien.

Shot of Adrien looking up wide-eyed as Mayura holds Chat’s staff above him.

Nathalie (voiceover): What would I have done if I’d actually succeeded?

Shot of Chat Noir getting disintegrated by a flash of green and white.

Nathalie (voiceover): How many times have we killed him?

Shot of a distressed Ladybug next to a dead Adrien as she tries and fails to summon a lucky charm.

Nathalie (voiceover): What will I do if Ladybug ever fails to bring him back?

Nathalie looks down at her hand in guilt.

Nathalie (voiceover): And now that I know it’s him…can I even keep going through with this?

Shot of Gabriel with his hands behind his back, looking away.

Nathalie (voiceover): Gabriel wouldn’t understand. He never takes Adrien’s defiance well. And Chat Noir would be the ultimate betrayal in his eyes.

Shot of Emilie’s statue.

Nathalie (voiceover): But I don’t think I can go against him. I pledged myself long ago to help Gabriel in any way I could.

Shot of the painting of Gabriel and Adrien in mourning.

Nathalie (voiceover): And I still want to help him. I still want to help both of them.

Shot of Shadowmoth standing between Emile in her stasis pod and Adrien in a casket.

Nathalie (voiceover): Could I protect Gabriel from having to choose between his wife and his son?

Shot of Adrien happily throwing up peace signs as he is halfway between transforming into Chat Noir.

Nathalie (voiceover): If Gabriel never learns Adrien’s secret identity… If Chat Noir never comes to serious harm again…

Shot of Shadowmoth and Chat Noir rushing towards each other, Shadowmoth with cane raised above his head and Chat reaching forward with his Cataclysm.

Nathalie (voiceover): Maybe their confrontation is inevitable…but I won’t be able to live with myself if I don’t try to avert it.

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Marinette is looking out through the trapdoor to her balcony, Tikki floating next to her. In the distance, they see the silhouette of Catwalker traveling via baton.

Marinette: What’s he doing out there? There hasn’t been an akuma alert…

Ladybug swings via yo-yo behind Catwalker, who turns towards her with a tired smile.

Ladybug: Catwalker! Wait up!

Ladybug lands in front of Catwalker.

Ladybug: You look terrible. Have you been out all night?

Catwalker looks ahead in a mixture of determination and exhaustion.

Catwalker: It’s only a matter of time before Shadowmoth strikes again. I need to be ready.

Ladybug looks away with her hand on her face. There’s an image of Chat Blanc.

Ladybug: Do you think Shadowmoth will try akumatizing Chat? He must be heartbroken after having to give up his miraculous all over again.

Catwalker puts his baton back into its normal spot behind his back.

Catwalker: Chat Noir has taken the necessary precautions. Plagg saw to it before he returned the miraculous to me.

A shot of the Paris skyline overlaid with a close-up of Ladybug looking down sadly.

Ladybug: Is he even still in Paris anymore? Wait, don’t tell me. The less I know, the safer he’ll be.

Ladybug sits on the edge of a roof looking outwards. Catwalker stands a few paces behind her, looking down in regret.

Ladybug: I still can’t believe he’s gone. It was supposed to be me and him to the very end.

Catwalker goes to sit at Ladybug’s side.

Catwalker: He’s still with you in spirit. He hasn’t left you defenseless.

Catwalker smiles and holds up a fist in encouragement.

Catwalker: He loves you too much to not continue doing everything in his power to help you, in whatever form that may take.

Overhead shot of Catwalker and Ladybug sitting side-by-side on the ledge of the roof.

Ladybug: Even if it means that you will be taking his place for good? Isn’t he worried that I’ll end up wanting you instead of him?

Catwalker gives an amused, yet pained, smile.

Catwalker: I’m the cat superhero who is not in love with you. I don’t think he feels threatened by my presence.

Ladybug looks away in embarrassment, touching her pointer fingertips together.

Ladybug: Ehehehe… Plagg told you I didn’t want Chat’s replacement to be in love with me?

Catwalker grins at Ladybug with perfect posture, his hands on his lap.

Catwalker: Plagg was very informative on what I needed to consider in order to be your ideal partner.

Ladybug looks at her hands in front of her.

Ladybug: I guess I thought the likeliest explanation was that you were already in love with someone. Am I wrong?

Catwalker looks away, his hands now hidden between his thighs.

Catwalker: Let me put it this way: If there is someone I’m in love with, Ladybug, you will not catch so much as a whiff of it from me.

Close-up of Catwalker noticing something in the distance. Catwalker stands, baton extending, while Ladybug gets to her feet.

Catwalker: Looks like Shadowmoth found his next victim. Shall we?

Catwalker and Ladybug forlornly jump the rooftops towards the next akuma/sentimonster.

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Gabriel is in his atelier looking at an Adrien SPORTS ad on his computer when Nathalie enters, clutching at the door.

Nathalie: Sir, Adrien has run away from home.

Gabriel: Why would Adrien do such a thing? Are you sure he didn’t merely sneak out to be with those friends of his?

Flashback of Nathalie holding Adrien’s phone, which reads “welcome to your new phone! set up >”. Adrien’s ID is off to the side.

Nathalie (voiceover): He left his ID behind and reset his phone to its factory settings.

Flashback continues. A shot of Nathalie from behind as she finds the note Adrien left in his room in Part 2.

Gabriel (voiceover): There has to be more evidence than that. You searched his room and didn’t find anything?

Flashback continues. Nathalie holds up the Adrien’s note. It reads:

“Father,

"Shadowmoth is going to target me with a vengeance. I know you’ll want to use that as an excuse to lock me in my room until I die, but even our security system can’t stop supervillains. The only way to escape is to ensure that no one can find me. I can’t tell you where I’m going, but I should be safer there.

"Give my love to Nathalie and the Gorilla for always being there when I needed it.

"Adrien”

Flashback ends. Close-up of Nathalie avoiding Gabriel’s gaze.

Nathalie: No, sir. There was nothing else.

Close-up of Gabriel taking off his tie.

Gabriel: I’m going to need an akuma to go after him.

Nathalie leans on her desk, back turned toward her boss, with a calculating look in her eye. Gabriel looks on in the background, standing near the portrait of his wife.

Nathalie: You can feel my protective instinct for Adrien boiling up inside me, can’t you? Akumatize me.

Gabriel helps Nathalie sit in her chair.

Gabriel: Are you sure? You over-strained yourself as Mayura yesterday. Technology and magic can only stabilize you so much.

Nathalie: You can give me a sentimonster to compensate. I need to do this for Adrien.

Gabriel transforms into Shadowmoth.

Gabriel: Your dedication always astounds me, Nathalie. Very well. Nooroo, Duusu, dual metamorphosis!

Shadowmoth’s hands are outstretched with an akuma and an amok approaching Adrien’s phone.

Shadowmoth: Maternal Instinct, I’m giving you the ability to return children to the loving arms of their guardians to never be lost again. I am also giving you the sentimonster Mothership, which will allow you to follow any who are affected by your power.

Close-up of Nathalie with Shadowmoth’s communication light hovering in front of her face.

Nathalie: I will ensure Adrien’s safety from any who would do him harm, Shadowmoth.

Nathalie is engulfed in the black-purple ether of akumatization.

The akuma, Maternal Instinct, is a figure in black and white with lines of yellow, green, and purple tracing her body. She wears a visor, wears her hair in a red fading to yellow motherly side plait, carries Adrien’s phone in her right hand. The lower half of her body is encapsulated by her sentimonster, Mothership, which is a miniature flying saucer floating in the air decorated similarly to Maternal Instinct’s outfit.

Shadowmoth: Start with Adrien’s friends. They’re probably hiding him somewhere…

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Ladybug catches up to Catwalker, her yo-yo retracting shut.

Ladybug: This is where the flash of light came from, so where’s the akuma?

A shot of the apartment building where Alya lives, yellow light flashing through the balcony window.

Catwalker: There!  There was a flash in that apartment!

Cut to Maternal Instinct (akumatized!Nathalie Sancouer) menacingly holding a phone as she floats in her flying saucer-themed sentimonster, Mothership.  Alya and Marlena Césaire look up at the akuma as tendrils of yellow, green, and purple light bind the mother and daughter together.

Maternal Instinct: Greetings, Césaires!  I am Maternal Instinct!   Since you’re tied up, I hope you don’t mind if I show myself around?

Nora Césaire runs towards Maternal Instinct, about to punch her face.  Maternal Instinct brandishes her phone at Nora, sending colorful tendrils of light to envelop her too.

Nora: Get wrecked, akuma!

Alya: Nora, wait!

Maternal Instinct: Join your sister in your mother’s arms!

Nora poofs to her mother’s side, so now Alya, Marlena, and Nora are all stuck holding each other, all bound by colorful tendrils of light.

Maternal Instinct: Don’t even try to get in my way.

Alya, Marlena, and Nora put on faces of determination, the two daughters using their free hands to hold up fists.

Alya: You don’t know our family very well.  We’ll fight you with one arm tied behind our backs!

As the three Césaires are about to attack Maternal Instinct, Catwalker leaps into the living room from the balcony, using his baton to attack Maternal Instinct from behind to send her careening.

Catwalker: Leave this to the heroes.

Maternal Instinct: Nghh!

Catwalker pins Maternal Instinct with his staff and straddles an upside-down Mothership.

Maternal Instinct: Chat Noir, I was wond—you’re not Chat Noir??

Ladybug smugly leans against Mothership as she tosses her yo-yo to tie up the akuma/sentimonster. Catwalker uses his baton to keep the phone out of Maternal Instinct’s reach.

Ladybug: Meet Catwalker.   If you could tell Shadowmoth that Chat Noir is far beyond his reach now, I’d appreciate it.

Maternal Instinct moves her other hand into a blind spot on Mothership.

Maternal Instinct: You’re getting cocky, Ladybug.

Closeup of Maternal Instinct tapping a purple icon on Mothership. Another closeup where her fingers barely glance the edge of the phone, its image now changed to a picture/caption of Nino Lahiffe.

Maternal Instinct: Mothership, let me see another child safely home.

Ladybug falls and Catwalker jumps as Maternal Instinct/Mothership poofs away.

Ladybug: Aaahhh!

Catwalker lands in the classic superhero three-point landing pose.  Ladybug lands flat on her face with her backside inelegantly up in the air and yo-yo tangled all around her.

Ladybug: She teleported away.  Of course she teleported away.  Of course that’s a thing that akumas do now.

Catwalker helps a blushing Ladybug to her feet.

Catwalker: I think I saw the name ‘Nino Lahiffe’ appear on the phone just as she disappeared.  Maybe she teleported to him?

Closeup of Alya.

Alya: That’s my boyfriend.  He got hit at the same time I did, so they’re probably with his mom.

Catwalker waits for Ladybug from the balcony.  In the background, Ladybug and the Césaires are still inside the apartment, with Ladybug placing her hands on Alya’s shoulders.

Ladybug: Thanks, Alya.  I’m sorry you’re going to be stuck to your mom for a little while longer.

Alya: Don’t worry about us, Ladybug.  You and… Catwalker can handle the akuma.

Ladybug and Catwalker start traveling to Nino’s.

Ladybug: Follow me.  Nino lives this way.

Catwalker: Why do you think the akuma is targeting the Ladyblogger and her boyfriend?

Ladybug: Not all akumas target specific people.  She’s probably going after anyone she happens to come across.

Catwalker: I’m not so sure.  She seems to be looking for something.

View of Catwalker and Ladybug from below as they travel across the sky.

Catwalker: The akuma could be teleporting kids to their mothers as a quick way to follow them into their homes.

Ladybug: That still doesn’t give the akuma a reason to target them specifically.  Except… Shadowmoth does know that they both have a history with using miraculous.

Catwalker: I can’t rule that out, but… my gut says that’s not it.   I think it has something to do with someone that Alya and Nino both know personally.

Ladybug: I guess we’ll have to catch up to the akuma to find out who’s right.

Below is the same image as above, only without text: 

Chapter Text

Image Description:

Maternal Instinct (akumatized!Nathalie Sancouer) is outside Nino’s with the Shadowmoth’s communication light framing her face.  In the background, Nino is watching her through a window, magically stuck to his mom (who is conveniently blocked from view since I have no idea what she’s supposed to look like).

Maternal Instinct: No sign of Adrien at Mr. Lahiffe’s.

Shadowmoth (over akuma connection): Keep looking.  I can’t have Adrien vanishing on me.

Maternal Instinct: You saw Chat Noir was replaced, correct?

Cut to Shadowmoth communicating from his lair.

Shadowmoth: Yes, I’ve seen “Catwalker.”

Maternal Instinct (over akuma connection): You recognize him?

Shadowmoth: He fought a late-night sentimonster a couple weeks ago.  I thought he was temporary.

Cut back to Maternal Instinct, holding the akumatized phone in contemplation.

Shadowmoth: And I’m not sure why Ladybug delayed attacking you just to introduce him to us again.

Maternal Instinct: Regardless, it seems that Chat Noir will no longer be of any concern to you…

Maternal Instinct’s attention catches on a boy with a familiar white shirt and jeans disappearing behind a building.

Maternal Instinct: Wait… Adrien?  Is that you?

Maternal Instinct points her phone at a the boy, but the magical tendrils fizzle out on contact.

Maternal Instinct: Come to your non-biological maternal guardian!

The boy–Wayhem–turns towards Maternal Instinct with a sheepish grin.  Maternal Instinct facepalms as she sends out the magical tendrils again, this time teleporting him away.

Maternal Instinct: Oh, you’re that stalker of Adrien’s… Go home to your mother!

Maternal Instinct looks at Wayhem’s image on the phone, as it’s been added to the phone’s memory.

Maternal Instinct: I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to check his home too…

Maternal Instinct teleports away just as Ladybug and Catwalker leap in to catch up with her.

Ladybug looks annoyed as she retracts her yo-yo.

Ladybug: We need a new plan. We can’t keep chasing this akuma if she’s just going to keep teleporting away.

Catwalker puts an earpiece in his ear.

Catwalker: That Nino kid might know something about who the akuma is and who she’s looking for.  If you talk to him, I’ll do a lap around Paris and contact you over our earpieces if I spot the akuma.

Ladybug hangs from her yo-yo as she talks to Nino outside his window.

Ladybug: Hey Nino, have any idea why the akuma went after you?

Nino: She’s Nathalie Sancouer and she… I think she’s hunting down Adrien Agreste.

Ladybug’s eyes go wide in shock, and she grabs at her yo-yo as it frazzles.

Ladybug: Adrien?? What happened to him?

Nino looks away tearfully.

Nino: I… I don’t know. But I’m worried he won’t come home.

Ladybug forces a smile to her face as she grips the windowsill to keep from falling.

Ladybug: It’ll be fine! I’ll go make sure he comes home safe and sound!

Ladybug swings away, still stiffly fake, and Nino watches her leave.

Ladybug: Can’t let another amazing blond boy disappear on me, can I?

Cut to Ladybug crouched in an alley, hands covering her face.

Catwalker (over comm): Ladybug, are you…

Ladybug touches her earpiece.  Tears are clearly flowing freely now but she still tries to smile, even if it completely fails.

Ladybug: I’m fine! Just need to find Adrien and make sure he’s safe!

Cut to Catwalker looking off to the side as he touches his own earpiece.

Catwalker: I’m sure he’s alright.  No sign of the akuma yet, so what’s our next move?

Cut back to Ladybug (still crying) closes her eyes and tries to think, placing her hands together up against her nose with her thumbs below her jaw.

Ladybug: She’s going after anyone friendly with Adrien, no matter how close they are.

A large group shot including: Marinette, Alya, Nino, Adrien, Kagami, Luka, Juleka, Rose, Alix, Kim, Markov, Max, Ivan, Mylene, Nathaniel, Marc, Sabrina, Zoe, and Chloe.  Catwalker looks off to the side as a tear streams down his face.

Ladybug (over comm): The problem is that Adrien has too many friends now.  Not that it isn’t wonderful that he’s been able to make so many friends! It’s just going to take forever to narrow them all down…

Catwalker: He sounds very… loved.

Ladybug (over comm): He is.

Catwalker: Let’s focus on the akuma for now. Maybe your power can give us a lead?

Cut to Ladybug summoning her lucky charm.  It’s a red and black bobbin with red thread.

Ladybug: Lucky Charm! A bobbin?

Catwalker’s expression instantly alights as he realizes who the lucky charm is referring to.

Catwalker: It’s Mar—I mean, does Adrien have any friends who are into sewing?

A close-up of Marinette.

Ladybug: Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

Ladybug holds the bobbin in one hand and grabs at her head with the other.

Ladybug: But I have no idea how I’d involve her with beating this akuma!

Catwalker is already on his way to Marinette’s, just propelling himself with his stick across the street towards her rooftop.

Catwalker: Let’s just meet at her place and go from there.

Ladybug: Okay.  See you at 12 Rue Gotlib.

Catwalker knocks on Marinette’s trapdoor.

Catwalker: Marinette Dupain-Cheng?  Are you home?

Maternal Instinct sends out her magical tendrils and Catwalker leaps out of the way.

Maternal Instinct: You’ll go home… to your mother!

Catwalker brandishes his staff as Maternal Instinct rushes towards him.

Catwalker: Sending me home to mother seems quite presumptuous of you.  What if she died?  What if I left my home behind?

Maternal Instinct comes in closer, her phone starting to send out more magical tendrils.

Catwalker: You can’t just assume that sending a kid home is the best thing for them!

Maternal Instinct: Then let’s test it, shall we?  If your mother loves you, then go to her now!

Catwalker uses his staff to yeet the phone into the sky, but light is already emitting down from it.

Cut to Ladybug surging forward, throwing her yo-yo towards the phone.

Ladybug: No!

Cut to Catwalker gritting his teeth as the light hits him and he is teleported away.

Close up of Ladybug’s face as she yells.

Ladybug: Catwalker!

Cut to Emilie’s stasis pod. It’s closed, but light is emitting through the cracks.

A shot of Catwalker teleporting into Emilie’s arms, magical tendrils binding them together.

Catwalker looks down at Emilie’s serene face in utter shock.

Catwalker: Mother?

Below is the same image as above, only without text:

Chapter Text

Image Description:

Author’s note: This comic page is structured with a left side and a right side that sometimes interact with each other and sometimes does not.  The format of the Image Description will jump around accordingly.

(Image Description starts for the left side of comic)

The akumatized phone continues to emit magical tendrils as it falls through the sky.

Maternal Instinct (akumatized!Nathalie) and Ladybug share a look before they race towards where the phone was last spotted.

The phone faces a reflective surface and it zaps itself away.

Ladybug: Where did it…?

Ladybug kicks against Maternal Instinct’s sentimonster (Mothership) and ties the akuma up with her yo-yo with an excessive amount of string.

Maternal Instinct: Mothership—

Ladybug (interrupting): Oh no you don’t!

Ladybug ties Maternal Instinct to the gates of the Agreste mansion.

Ladybug: You aren’t going anywhere!

Close up of Maternal Instinct as her hands are tied and her mouth is gagged.

Ladybug: You can’t follow him!

Ladybug looks off to the side with a close-up of the third spot on her earrings disappearing with a “beep!”

Ladybug (internally): At least… Not until my yo-yo disappears…

Ladybug taps at the earpiece that’s still in her ear.

Ladybug: Catwalker?

(Image Description jumps back to the top of the comic, this time following the right side)

An establishing shot of Emilie’s stasis pod.

Catwalker: Mother?

A close-up of Catwalker’s face in shock.

A close-up of the lower half of Emilie’s face.

Emilie’s hand touches Catwalker’s upper back, bound there with magical tendrils.

Catwalker: You’re…

Catwalker tries to move away but he’s stuck in the stasis pod and the magical tendrils prevent him from letting her go.

Catwalker: I can’t…

Catwalker contorts his hand as his ring charges with power.

Catwalker: Cataclysm!

Emilie’s stasis pod crumbles to black dust around an unharmed Emilie and Catwalker.

Catwalker looks away as he starts to scramble away, Emilie being dragged behind him.

Catwalker (internally): Why?

A side-view of Catwalker looking towards the earpiece in his ear.

Ladybug (over comm): Catwalker, are you there?

Catwalker touches his earpiece, his eyes full of relief.

Catwalker: Ladybug?

(Image Description shifts to covering both the left and right sides of the comic)

Ladybug looks forlornly to the sky, holding the ends of her yo-yo’s string that is the only thing keeping Maternal Instinct in check.

Ladybug: I’ve tied up the villain for now, but the akumatized object teleported away and I have no idea where it is… and I still have no idea what’s really happened to Adrien, and Chat’s still gone, and I lost you too, and your mom now knows who you are, and everything’s a disaster–

Catwalker lays on his side next to Emilie, reaching away from her.

Catwalker: You haven’t lost me…  My…. my mom hasn’t noticed me.  I can’t really explain why not.  But my identity is still safe.  It’s not a total disaster, Ladybug.  Everything’s going to be fine, I promise.  You can still save the day.  You always have.

A close-up of Ladybug looking right next to a close-up of Catwalker looking left.

Ladybug: But how?  The phone could be anywhere by now and I don’t have enough time to find it—as soon as I change back, the villain will escape again.  And if I ask the other heroes for help, they’ll probably end up zapped to their mothers too.

Catwalker: I may not be beside you right now, but I’m still here for you.  And not just me—compromised or not, you still have a multitude of people who can help you.  You don’t have to solve it all by yourself, Ladybug.

Ladybug looks at her lucky charm (a bobbin) in realization.

Ladybug: Or maybe I can… Okay, I’ve got a plan.  But I’m going to have to go radio silent to pull this off.  You’ll be okay without me?

Catwalker forces a smile, touching the back of his neck.

Catwalker: Nothing to worry about!  It’ll just be me and my mother here, no one else around, doing absolutely nothing. Good luck!

(Image Description returns to splitting left and right halves, again starting on the left side)

Ladybug wears the Mouse miraculous.

Ladybug: Mullo, Tikki, Unify!

Multibug is wrapped in her jump rope to activate her power.

Multibug: Multitude!

An army of Multimouses charge in every direction.  Multibug (the copy that still has the Ladybug miraculous and therefore the only one with spots) holds the bobbin above her head while a couple Multimouses keep the yo-yo strings secure.

A close-up of a Multimouse.

Multimouse: Multibug, I found the—

The Multimouse falls into the phone’s magical tendrils.

Multimouse: Aack!

Cut to Sabine Cheng, startled to have a Multimouse suddenly appear, attached to her arm.

Multimouse: Sorry! Don’t worry about little ol’ me! Just helping Ladybug!

Multibug converges on the phone, using the bobbin’s thread to Lasso!, Yoink!, and Flip! the phone. Two Multimouses throw the yo-yo at the phone with a Crack!, causing the akuma and amok to emerge from it.

Multibug poses as she holds the yo-yo string above her head.

Multibug: Time to de-evilize!

The yo-yo cleanses the akuma and amok.

Multibug throws the bobbin in the air.

Multibug: Miraculous Multibug!

(Image Description jumps back up to the top of the last split, following the right side this time)

Emilie and Catwalker lay on their backs together, with Emilie still on the destroyed stasis pod and Catwalker laying in the grass.

Catwalker: That was Ladybug. She’s amazing, Mother.  You would have loved her.

Catwalker: I’m sorry I ran away.  I couldn’t think of what else I could do.  My friends are going to believe it’s all Father’s fault when he didn’t do anything. It’s just… it’s been hard to be his son after you…  But that doesn’t mean I don’t love him anymore.  He just… misses you.

Catwalker curls up in fetal position facing towards Emilie.

Catwalker: I guess he’s the one who left you here… wherever ‘here’ is.  A garden, I guess?  You would have loved being in a place like this.  I just wish I’d known how to find you.

Catwalker looks down at Emilie’s face, his free hand starting to reach towards her.

Catwalker: And now that I’ve run away, it’ll be impossible to ask Father why he hid you here.  So I guess this is the only time I’ll be able to tell you that I—

A swarm of magical ladybugs sweep in, restoring Emilie’s stasis pod to perfect condition and depositing Catwalker alone outside.

Catwalker: —love you, Mother.

(Image Description resumes covering both left and right halves of the comic)

A shot of Catwalker’s feet, with Multibug looking at him from behind as she calls over her earpiece.

Multibug: You’re safe! No time for the 'Pound it!’ today, but I’m sure you’re exhausted.  Go home and get some rest!

Catwalker looks completely burnt out on what has been a strong contender for the worst 24 hours of his life.

Catwalker: Sure.

A shot of the ladder going down from an open manhole.

Catwalker (internally): Home.  Rest.

Catwalker curls up in the same spot in the sewers where he went with Ladybug during Heroes’ Day.

Catwalker (internally): That sounds nice.

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Chapter Text

Image Description:

Ladybug’s power restores Nino and Alya to the park bench at the Place des Vosges they were sitting prior to the akuma.

Multibug (voiceover): Miraculous Multibug!

Alya: I am so glad that that akuma is over.

Alya stands, still holding Nino’s hand.

Alya: But I need to check in with Ladybug right now.  Meet you at my place?

Cut to a Nino sitting on the edge of Alya’s bed alone.

Nino (voiceover): I… of course.  Go see Ladybug.

Rena Furtive lands on her balcony and begins opening the sliding door to her room.

Rena Furtive: Sorry, that took longer than I thought it would.

Rena Furtive closes her door as she transforms back.  Ladybug can be seen swinging across Paris in the background.

Rena Furtive: Trixx, let’s rest.

Close-up of Nino looking troubled.

Nino: I understand. Ladybug gets priority.  It’s just… it’s been a lot and I really needed to talk to you.

Alya sits next to Nino and places a hand on his shoulder.

Alya: I heard about Adrien. Ladybug’s out looking for him since they couldn’t find him during the last attack.  We don’t know if it’s a kidnapping or what, but—

Nino: Adrien wasn’t kidnapped.

Alya: What?

Close-up of Nino’s phone with Adrien’s smiling face on the screen.  The bottom of the screen reads “Adrien Agreste.  Accept call?”

Nino: He… before Adrien left, he called me.  He wouldn’t give me any details, but he’s run away from home.

Close-up of Alya’s stunned face.

Alya: Why didn’t you say anything to anyone?

Nino raises his hands in distraught.

Nino: Adrien begged me to keep quiet!  He thought that keeping us all in the dark would protect us from his dad and I couldn’t think of a way to talk him out of it.  And now I have no idea where he’s gone.

Cut to the image of Carapace raising his arms to create Shell-ter.  Adrien stands outside the dome, his hand raised in refusal.

Nino (voiceover): I feel so helpless.  Ladybug chose me to be a protector, but if I can’t even protect my best friend…  I’m not worthy of wielding the turtle miraculous.

Alya cups Nino’s face in her hands.

Alya: You are a wonderful friend and hero, Nino.  And if Adrien said that keeping quiet was the best way to protect him, then you are protecting him.

Alya looks away remorsefully.

Alya: Honestly, if anyone has proved that they aren’t worthy of their miraculous, it’s probably me.

Nino looks at Alya pleadingly.

Nino: You know that isn’t true!  Is this because you couldn’t be Rena during the fight today?  Ladybug has to understand that that wasn’t your fault!

Alya: You saw the new black cat hero with Ladybug, right?

Cut to the image of Catwalker looking gentlemanly yet aloof.

Nino (voiceover): I didn’t really talk to him, but yeah.

The image of Chat Noir with his ring slipped off his finger.

Alya (voiceover): He’s replacing Chat Noir because Mayura discovered his identity.  And that never would have happened if I had been watching out for Chat like I do with every other hero on the team.

Cut to a flashback of Rena Furtive deliberately looking away from Chat Noir as he propels himself over the rooftops, with Mayura lurking in the shadows.

Alya (voiceover): I’ve always assumed that Chat would be fine without my help.  I thought that if I watched him when he left to recharge, I’d end up accidentally learning who he was.

Close up of Mayura grinning in maniacal glee.

Alya (voiceover): So I was completely blind to Mayura lying in wait to ambush him.

Cut to image of Alya comforting Marinette as she goes through a panic attack.

Nino (voiceover): Does Ladybug blame you for that?

Alya (voiceover): I didn’t bring it up.  Ladybug has enough to worry about right now.  I can’t dump on her.

Nino grimaces.

Nino: So instead you dumped your feelings on me?

Alya: Sorry…

Nino takes Alya’s hand in his.

Nino: No, I want you dumping on me.  I don’t want you to feel like you have no one else to confide in, so if you can’t open up to Ladybug, please open up to me.  You aren’t a failure for putting Chat Noir’s identity first.  You only acted to protect him, and I know you’ll protect the new catboy this time.  He won’t be alone, and neither will you, Alya—not as long as you have me.

Alya: You aren’t alone either, Nino.  Just because I’m Ladybug’s confidant, I don’t want you to feel like you’re unimportant to me. You always want to protect the people you care about, and I want to help you do that with Adrien.  We don’t know enough yet so we’ll need to be sneaky about it, but we will figure out what’s really going on and keep Adrien safe. We’re superheroes—even Gabriel Agreste won’t be able to stop us.

Below is the same image as above, only without text:

Chapter Text

Image Description:

Viperion stands at the bottom of the ladder to the sewers.

Viperion: Sass, scales—

A close-up of Viperion’s eyes as he hears something.

Adrien, still sleeping on the ground, jolts awake.

Viperion (voiceover): —wait, who’s there?

Adrien clambers to his feet as he grabs his backpack of cheese and Plagg gets sucked into his ring.

Adrien (under his breath): Plagg, claws out!

Viperion finds Catwalker pleasantly waving at the opening of a sewer tunnel, Catwalker’s still flailing tail being the only sign of how close a call this was.

Viperion: Oh, you must be the new Chat Noir that Ladybug told me about.  Catwalker, right?

Catwalker bows to Viperion.

Catwalker:  Viperion, your reputation precedes you.  Shall we go assist Ladybug with—?

Viperion: We just beat the akuma.  I’m just here to—

Catwalker: —To give the miraculous back.  Yes, of course.

Catwalker holds up a closed hand as he looks off towards where Viperion came.

Catwalker: If you don’t mind, I think I should wait for Ladybug with you.  She’ll want to hold me accountable for not showing up on time.

Viperion: You already fought one akuma today, Ladybug won’t blame you for missing the second one.

Cut to the image of Ladybug angrily waving her arms and jumping towards Chat Noir, who stubbornly pouts.

Catwalker (voiceover): That’s no excuse.  Skipping battles was one of the reasons Chat Noir earned Ladybug’s wrath in the events leading up to the first time I ended up with his miraculous.  I cannot afford to repeat his mistakes.

Cut back to Viperion folding his arms and leaning against a wall, one eyebrow raised.

Viperion: You don’t have to compare yourself to Chat Noir, you know.

Catwalker: As the one filling his shoes, yes I do.

Viperion puts a hand on Catwalker’s shoulder in camaraderie.  Catwalker feigns a “gasp!” at what he supposedly learns.

Viperion: I might know something about what it’s like to replace another hero.  Most people don’t know this, but I was actually Ladybug’s second choice to wield the snake miraculous.

Catwalker smiles sincerely at Viperion.

Catwalker: I can’t imagine anyone being a better wielder than you.

Viperion: Thanks for the compliment.  But I know who my predecessor was…

Cut to the image of Aspik posing heroically, with the faces of Adrien and Chat Noir on either side.

Viperion (voiceover): …and he definitely could have been a hero under the right circumstances.

Cut back to Viperion strumming his lyre.

Viperion: I think I had an advantage in my first time loop that my predecessor didn’t: Chat Noir wouldn’t arrive until after I got the miraculous. The first snake wielder must have been working with an incomplete rhythm section—and it’s nearly impossible to get into the groove until all the players are there, you know?

Cut to the image of Aspik frustratedly resetting a time loop.

Viperion (voiceover): But it wasn’t his fault that he couldn’t figure out how to beat the akuma without Chat Noir.  And it wasn’t Chat Noir’s fault that his civilian identity got in the way of his being a hero.  So why should it be your fault that you’ve hit some logistical hurdles getting here today?

Cut back to Catwalker, forlornly looking at his miraculous.

Catwalker: It’s not just that.  Even when I am there… it’s like I make about as much a difference with saving the day as your predecessor did.  It’s the same problem: Chat Noir is supposed to be here.  But he isn’t coming back this time.

Viperion smiles encouragingly as he holds his lyre against his shoulder.

Viperion: If it weren’t for my predecessor suggesting me to Ladybug, I wouldn’t have become Viperion. And if it weren’t for you, Chat Noir would be completely vulnerable to Shadowmoth right now.  You both have already made all the difference.  And I’m hopeful that you both will prove your worth as heroes yet again.

Catwalker points a finger at Viperion.

Catwalker: I hope you’re not thinking of resigning and giving your miraculous back to the other guy.

Viperion: Not at all. I do want him to come back, but something tells me that a different miraculous would be a better fit for him.

Cut the image of Snake Noir wielding both the black cat and snake miraculouses.

Catwalker: But if something ever happens to me?  He’s still the one I’d trust most to use my miraculous right.

Ladybug comes down the sewer ladder.  Viperion waves while Catwalker stands at attention.

Ladybug: Hey, Lu—!  Catwalker??  What are you doing down here?

Viperion: Catwalker thought this would be a quiet place to transform, but he didn’t know I’d already called dibs.

Catwalker gives an elegant bow.

Catwalker: Ladybug, I apologize for not arriving in time to fight the akuma. It will not happen again.

Ladybug waves her hands about placatingly.

Ladybug: It’s not your fault!  I’m the one who said you should go get some sleep!

Viperion cheerfully cups his hand to whisper at a perplexed Catwalker.

Viperion (sotto voce): (Told you she’d understand.)

Ladybug places a reassuring hand on Catwalker’s shoulder.  Catwalker stares into Ladybug’s eyes in vulnerable incredulity.

Ladybug: And honestly? I’m just glad you came back at all. I got worried when you didn’t show after… you know… everything with your mom?  I thought you might have…

Catwalker’s smile oozes with kindness.

Catwalker: I haven’t left. I’ll be by your side as long as you still have need of me.

Ladybug smiles offers her fist out for a fist bump.

Ladybug: I still need you. Oh, and since I had to run out on you before we could do it last time…  Pound it?

Ladybug and Catwalker fist bump.

Catwalker: Pound it.

Below is the same image as above, only without text:

Chapter Text

Image Description:

Gabriel ominously pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose.  Behind him, Nathalie sits up in her bed.

Gabriel: I knew this was a bad idea.

Nathalie: It could have been worse.  At least Ladybug left me right outside the mansion and I didn’t have to walk all the way back.

Gabriel: You still overexerted yourself.  Again.

Nathalie: Gabriel, I knew the risks.  It was more important that I find Adrien.

A close-up shot of the back of Nathalie’s head.

Nathalie (internally): Or at least that I found him before anyone else did.  The other akumas never would have held back when fighting against him. But I could.  And with the powers I’d received, I stood a far better chance to retrieve the black cat miraculous from Adrien.  How was I supposed to know that Adrien wouldn’t be the one wielding it anymore?

Cut to Adrien’s bodyguard looking sad.

Gabriel (voiceover): I’m bringing back Gorizilla.  His nose should be more than capable of tracking Adrien down.

Cut to the image of Adrien falling from Tour Montparnasse.

Nathalie (voiceover): Isn’t that dangerous?  Adrien jumped off a building to escape that akuma last time.

Cut back to Gabriel viewed from behind, hands clasped behind his back.

Gabriel: Gorizilla merely needs to carry Adrien back home.  I have no intention of putting my son at risk.

A close-up of Nathalie with a steely gaze, her fist resting on the side of her chin.

Nathalie (internally): You did so on a regular basis—and would still be doing so if Catwalker hadn’t stepped in for him.  It was pure serendipity that Ladybug vetoed keeping Chat Noir around.  Adrien—judging the note he left—had probably intended to be a hero full-time.  But now that Shadowmoth knows he can’t be Chat Noir, he could come back home.  Adrien isn’t the type of person who would leave behind all the friends he’s made just because he might get targeted over a miraculous that he doesn’t even have anymore.

Cut to Shadowmoth with the light mask he uses to communicate with akumas illuminating his face.  In the background, a tablet on a call with Nathalie sits in a stand on a table.

Shadowmoth: What could be so difficult about tracking down one teenage boy?

Nathalie (over tablet): Sir?

Cut to Gorizilla looking frustrated.

Shadowmoth (voiceover): Gorizilla has tried to follow Adrien’s scent all over Paris and he can’t latch onto anything.

A close-up of Nathalie turning away and rubbing her chin in worry.

Nathalie (internally): Adrien left the city entirely?  Surely that’s overkill.  The danger is gone.  Does Adrien really think that Shadowmoth would… no, not Shadowmoth.  Mayura.  I saw the look on his face when I almost crushed his… when I unmasked him. He was traumatized.  Maybe even enough for him to run away with no intention of ever coming back home.

Cut to a rooftop being traversed by Carapace, Purple Tigress, Viperion, Ryuko, King Monkey, Polymouse, Pegasus, Pigella, and Vesperia.  Ladybug is leading the charge in the foreground, swinging on her yo-yo.

Shadowmoth (voiceover): And oh look, Ladybug and her merry band of heroes have arrived to thwart me.  Gorizilla, go retrieve the miraculous from Ladybug and—wait, Catwalker isn’t there?  Maybe Maternal Instinct scared him away?  Good riddance!  But we still need to find that ring!

A close-up of Nathalie covering her mouth in dismayed realization.

Nathalie (internally): I shouldn’t have targeted Catwalker.  I let myself get lured in by the prospect of finally getting the cat miraculous.  But if Catwalker’s identity leaked, what’s stopping Ladybug from bringing Chat Noir back regardless?  She still uses heroes she knows we know the identity of if she has no better options.  And if Ladybug asks Chat to return, he’ll do so without question, despite what’s happened.  I can’t let Adrien endanger himself again.

Cut back to Shadowmoth facing towards the window of his lair.  He raises a fist in the air as his butterflies swarm around him.

Shadowmoth: Noooo!!!!!! You may have thrown a monkey wrench into this plan, Ladybug, but you haven’t taken your last whiff of me!  I have to go after Adrien myself.  It’s time for the Collector to return!

Nathalie (over tablet): Gabriel, let me akumatize you this time.  Adrien will be safer if you have someone watching over your shoulder to help.

Shadowmoth screeches while a white butterfly comes to land on his hand.  In the background, the tablet on the table shows the concerned face of Nathalie.

Shadowmoth: Absolutely not. Your body cannot handle more miraculous magic today—perhaps ever.  Your health is important.

Nathalie (over tablet): Your son is important.

Shadowmoth: I can handle my son.  The butterfly miraculous is mine and I will do whatever I see fit with it.

A close-up of Nathalie grabbing the sides of her head in a panic.

Nathalie (internally): This has spun completely out of my control.  Adrien, Gabriel, Catwalker… I can’t sway any of them from the paths they’ve chosen.  And they never would have taken those paths if it weren’t for the foolhardy things I did—as Mayura, as Nathalie, as Maternal Instinct.  I must find a way to stop all of this, but what can I actually do?  How do I know that whatever I try won’t just make everything worse yet again?

Nathalie stares blankly into space.  She holds a tablet in her hands as a video from the local news loads.

Nadja Chamack (from video): Don’t be bemused, it’s just the news! I’m Nadja Chamack.  Just minutes after Gorizilla was defeated, we again are faced…

The tablet in Nathalie’s hands shows Nadia Chamack reporting live while the Collector poses menacingly in the background.

Nadja Chamack (from video): …the Collector, also known as Gabriel Agreste, whose son Adrien Agreste is currently…

The video cuts to Catwalker and Ladybug descending from the sky to fight the akuma.

Nadja Chamack (from video): …seems to be a new black cat superhero joining the fight.  We don’t know who he is or…

A close-up of Nathalie leaning back in reprieve, her hand on her chest.

Nathalie (internally): Catwalker going missing was temporary.  Okay.  Good. I don’t have to worry about Adrien getting his miraculous back, at least.  But what could have been important enough for Catwalker to miss an akuma? Maybe he was helping Adrien?  If he was, that would make Catwalker perhaps the only one who knows where Adrien is hiding.  If not, he’s probably doing something on Ladybug’s orders.  Either way, I need more information.  And this time, I must tread more carefully in how I go about getting it.

Below is the same image as above, only without text: 

Chapter Text

Image Description:

Ladybug, Catwalker, and Viperion stand together in the sewers.

Ladybug: One sec, I’m getting an alert on my yo-yo…

Ladybug looks at the message on her yo-yo and is extremely peeved.  In the background, Catwalker and Viperion rub the back of their necks and look elsewhere.

Ladybug: Another akuma?  That’s the third one today!  And it’s the Collector again?  Shadowmoth, why are you picking so many akumas who want to go after Adrien Agreste? Adrien never did anything to you!

Catwalker, Ladybug, and Viperion start running while Ladybug readies a call on her yo-yo.

Ladybug: I’m going to call back everyone that I haven’t retrieved the miraculous from yet.  With so many heroes helping, this should be a piece of cake, right?

Cut to at least five heroes (including Ladybug, Catwalker, Viperion, Ryuko, and Carapace) participating in the tradition end-of-fight fist-bump

Group of heroes: Pound it!

Viperion: That went remarkably well.  Did anyone besides Ladybug even use their powers?

The heroes stand on a roof. Ryuko holds her sword and waves her other arm behind her. Carapace approaches someone off-panel. Catwalker crouches at the roof’s edge looking down at the ground, where Gabriel Agreste is face-planted.

Ryuko: There was nothing cathartic about that fight.  He went down too quickly, and we still don’t know where Adrien is!

Carapace: Hey, Ladybug?

Gabriel is sprawled out inelegantly on the ground, his glasses having flown off and his feet waving in the air.  In the background, Catwalker jumps off the roof that the other heroes remain standing on.

Ladybug: Yes, Carapace?

Carapace: Before we head out, there was something I wanted to bring up with everyone…

Catwalker kneels next to a hunched over Gabriel and offers a hand.

Catwalker: Mr. Agreste, let me help you home.

Gabriel: I don’t need your help.

Catwalker holds up his hands in obsequence.

Catwalker: Of course not. My apologies.  And my condolences for your son’s disappearance.

Gabriel: Disappearance? It’s a disgrace to the Agreste name!

Gabriel, tie askew, angrily puts on his glasses.

Gabriel: Adrien knows better than to resort to such insolence.  How can he find it so easy to turn his back on the life I’ve made for him without so much as an explanation?

Catwalker (internally): ‘No explanation?’  Does that mean Shadowmoth intercepted the note I left?

Gabriel stands and adjusts his tie.

Catwalker (internally): I guess I knew it was a possibility, but I’d wanted to avoid having Father getting this worked up about me.  But if he’s in the dark anyway… maybe I can use this opportunity to get other answers?

Catwalker touches his chin contemplatively.  Gabriel grits his teeth at him.

Catwalker: Could it have something to do with his mother?

Gabriel: What is that supposed to mean?

Catwalker gestures with his hand to suggest that he is only speaking logically.

Catwalker: She disappeared, did she not?  Maybe Adrien is seeking her out?  If you have any information about her current whereabouts—

Gabriel points an accusatory finger at Catwalker, who dejectedly avoids his gaze.

Gabriel: I am under no obligation to explain my family’s business to anyone, least of all you!  Get out of my sight!

Catwalker: Yes, F—Mr. Agreste.

Catwalker propels himself back up to the roof while Gabriel walks away in a huff.

Catwalker (internally): What did I even expect?  I’m no one to him.  Even when I can be his son…

Catwalker reaches the roof where Ladybug and Carapace are talking, while Ryuko and Viperion stand off to the side.

Ladybug: —I’m sorry, Carapace, but if there isn’t an attack, I don’t want any of the temporary heroes holding onto their miraculouses.  We can’t risk another ambush like what happened to Chat.

Carapace looks down, his fists clenched.

Carapace: I… fine. But if anyone sees something that might lead to Adrien, can you let me know?  Just keep it on the down low so Adrien’s dad doesn’t find out about anything. I know it’s his fault that Adrien’s gone.

Catwalker holds his staff as he tries to persuade the group.

Catwalker: Adrien’s father was just akumatized over his son going missing.  I don’t think we should blame him for Adrien’s disappearance.

Carapace puts his hand on Catwalker’s shoulder, a serious expression on his face.  Catwalker stares back and does his best to hold things in.

Carapace: Catwalker, I know you’re new, so you haven’t had to deal with Gabriel Agreste before… but that man is the most emotionally abusive person I’ve ever met.

Ryuko wears a fierce expression as she gestures with her sword.

Ryuko: I’d consider Shadowmoth to be a stronger contender for that title, but otherwise, I concur. Adrien has needed to escape the stranglehold his father keeps on his life for a long time.  There is no one else in Adrien’s life who he would need to make such a drastic retreat from.

Viperion folds his arms and tries to be the voice of reason.

Viperion: I don’t think Gabriel was good for Adrien’s inner melody either, but we shouldn’t assume he’s the reason Adrien isn’t around anymore.  Focusing only on the most probable cause could mean we get stuck clapping on the wrong beat.

Catwalker almost pointedly looks towards Carapace, who looks away guiltily.

Catwalker: We are making a lot of assumptions.  Does Adrien even want to be found?

Ladybug begins swinging her yo-yo cue everyone that it’s time to head out, but addresses the group first.

Ladybug: We can’t know that unless we find Adrien.  Once we know where he is, we’ll offer him our protection from… whatever it is he needs protecting from.

Catwalker and Carapace put a hand on their chest and give each other the side-eye.

Ladybug: So if anyone finds any leads, please talk to me.

Catwalker and Carapace: Or me.

Below is the same image as above, only without text:

Chapter Text

Officer Roger Raincomprix points at an Official document while talking to Anarka Couffaine.

Roger: Look, I’ve got this letter from the mayor himself saying I can look for Adrien Agreste anywhere I think he might have gone.  And I think he might have gone on your boat, so—

Anarka throws up her hands in vexation.

Anarka: And I told you that no one steps a foot on my boat without my permission!

Roger: This is Adrien Agreste we’re talking about here!  We have to find him and send him home!

Catwalker jumps down to join the two squabblers.  Anarka stands on the walkway to her boat with her hands on her hips.  Roger stands in front of his police car and shirks back from the superhero dropping out of nowhere right next to him.

Catwalker: It looks like you two might need some superheroic assistance?

Catwalker points his hands towards his chest and gives a nonthreatening smile.

Catwalker: If it’s okay with you both, I could act as a neutral party for you?  I’ll search for Adrien on this boat and let the good officer know if I find him here?

Anarka: Not a chance on yer life!

Roger: Absolutely not!

Anarka points an accusatory finger at Catwalker, her braid flailing in the air from the force of her personality.  Catwalker leans away from her and plasters a fake smile on his face.

Anarka: Maybe I’d let you aboard if you were Chat Noir—he understood the need for a little anarchy in your life.  But you? You strike me as someone who’s only ever followed the orders of someone in a position of authority over you!

Roger looms over Catwalker and waves his Official document.  Catwalker shrinks down into himself as his smile begins to falter.

Roger: And I’d never turn such a high-profile investigation over to a brand new superhero!  For all I know, you’re a blind idiot who’d overlook important clues staring you in the face!  I’m not gambling Adrien Agreste on you!

Cut to an overhead shot of the three individuals as an akuma descends towards them.  Catwalker is the only one who looks up to notice the incoming danger.

Anarka: Even if I was harboring Adrien, my right to privacy—

Roger: A minor is in danger! Privacy doesn’t matter—

Catwalker leaps to catch the butterfly as his ring pulses with destructive energy.

Catwalker: Cataclysm!

Catwalker lands in a kneeling pose with the remnants of the destroyed akuma crumbling in his fist.  His eyes are closed and his expression is resigned.

Catwalker: I see that my presence is not wanted here.  Best of luck in finding Adrien.  Please excuse me.

Cut to Catwalker transforming back into Adrien behind a chimney on a random rooftop.

Adrien holds out his cheese container.  Plagg takes a piece of a piece of cheese and looks up worriedly at Adrien.

Plagg: Kid, you can’t spend all day living as Catwalker.  You need a break.  A real break.

Adrien: I know, I know! And I know it’s not fair to you to make you sustain the transformation for so long.

Adrien points up at a billboard.  The billboard features the painting of Gabriel and Adrien in mourning (Gabriel’s face mostly obscured) with the phrase “Find Adrien” on one side and findadrien @ agreste .mode on the other.

Adrien: I just wish I didn’t have such a stupid, recognizable face!  I can’t even walk past complete strangers while untransformed because they’ll instantly know I’m “that missing model Adrien Agreste”!

Plagg looks upwards with his arms spread wide.  Adrien places a finger on his chin thoughtfully.

Plagg: Come on, Paris has millions of people living in it.  There’s got to be at least one person who doesn’t know you exist!

Cut to Adrien knocking repeatedly on the door of a small, old house belonging to Rolland Dupain.

Rolland Dupain opens the door and points an angry finger.

Rolland: There is a bell! You’re supposed to ring it!  Knocking on the door is clearly not how it’s done!

Adrien touches the back of his neck and gives an uneasy smile.

Adrien: I don’t suppose you recognize me, do you?

Rolland squints and adjusts his glasses.

Rolland: Never seen you before in my life.  What do you want?

Adrien poses theatrically, hands raised in a flourish and a sparkling smile on his face.  Even the ears on his Chat Noir beanie look perky.

Adrien: I have crumb to you, Rolland Dupain, since I have oven heard that you are the grain-est maker of breads in Paris. [Non-pun translation: I have come to you, Rolland Dupain, since I have often heard that you are the greatest maker of breads in Paris.]

Rolland puts his hands on his hips, unimpressed.

Adrien: And as someone who believes in the roll bread plays in helping lives to flour-ish, I would loaf to become your apprentice. [Non-pun translation: And as someone who believes in the role bread plays in helping lives to flourish, I would love to become your apprentice.]

Rolland: I already had an apprentice.  My son runs a boulangerie patisserie with his wife in the 21st arrondissement.  Go bother them.

Adrien clasps his hands together and looks up dreamily as he is surrounded by imaginary breadstuffs.

Adrien: I doughnut want the mold ways to die out!  I oat to in-grain-iate myself with a baker who is at yeast as crusty as you are.  So you, Mr. Dupain, are the only one who can truly help my baking skills to rise! [Non-pun translation: I do not want the old ways to die out!  I ought to ingratiate myself with a baker who is at least as crusty as you are.  So you, Mr. Dupain, are the only one who can truly help my baking skills to rise!]

Rolland folds his arms in annoyance.

Rolland: How many years have you been making bread?

A sweat drop hovers by Adrien’s head as he sheepishly touches the tips of his pointer fingers together.

Adrien: I guess I knead to say… naan? [Non-pun translation: I guess I need to say… none?]

Rolland throws up his hands in exasperation.

Rolland: Pfah!  You probably aren’t even qualified to purchase a loaf of rye at the market!  Leave!

Adrien scrambles on hand and foot up the stairs, reaching up with a desperate hand before Rolland closes the door on him.

Adrien: W-wait!  I really don’t have anywhere else to go!  Can I at least stay here for the night?

A close-up of Rolland’s angry eyes.

A close up of Rolland’s gritting mouth.

Rolland: Care to tell me…

Rolland points at a straight purple bruise cutting across Adrien’s neck.  Adrien’s expression freezes.

Rolland: …where you got that bruise?

Adrien: …

Cut to a flashback of Mayura gleefully holding Chat Noir’s staff above a distressed Adrien.

Rolland (voiceover): Maybe your old man got drunk?  Or an evil stepmother decided to take her wrath out on you?  Something like that?

Adrien looks haunted as he covers his neck and looks away.

Adrien: S-something like that.

Rolland turns around and reenters his home, his hand waving at Adrien to follow him inside.  Adrien places a hand on the open door and looks after Rolland with deep relief.

Rolland: Hmph.  Come on, you can sleep on the loveseat.

Adrien: I can stay?

Rolland: Your lessons about flour start in the morning.

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Alya and Trixx look through the glass door in Alya’s bedroom.  Outside, Catwalker is propelling himself through the city via baton.

Alya: Looks like Catwalker is early for his patrol with Ladybug.

Trixx: Wanna go say hi?

Alya: That’s the plan. Trixx, let’s pounce!

Cut to Rena Furtive waving in friendly greeting.

Rena Furtive: Psst! Catwalker! Over here!

Rena Furtive dodges as Catwalker’s baton nearly collides with her face.

Catwalker: Did you get akumatized over Adrien Agreste too?

Rena Furtive: Ack!

Rena Furtive sprints away, regretting her life choices.  Catwalker is close behind in dogged pursuit.

Rena Furtive: I’m not an akuma!

Catwalker: Could’ve fooled me, Rena Bleue.

Rena Furtive ducks behind a wall before Catwalker catches up with her, holding her flute out where he can still see it.

Rena Furtive: It’s Rena Furtive.  And watch.

Rena Furtive is obscured behind the wall except for her hand, which gingerly holds her flute to show she isn’t fiddling with it.

Rena Furtive: Trixx, let’s rest.

The transformation lights run over Rena Furtive’s hand as the flute dematerializes and Trixx emerges.

Alya: Trixx, let’s pounce.

The transformation lights run over Alya’s hand, this time covering it with the black glove of Rena Rouge.

Rena Rouge emerges from behind the wall, hands raised and flute now in her other hand.

Rena Rouge: Same old Rena Rouge as before.  Not an akuma.

Catwalker averts his gaze and grabs his staff with both hands.

Catwalker: Ladybug never mentioned that we could change our costumes at will…

Rena Rouge sits on a nearby A/C unit.  Catwalker looks at her in befuddlement.

Rena Rouge: I think it’s just me since I’ve got illusion powers and being blue helps me blend in.

Catwalker: Blue blends in?

Rena Rouge: It blends in with the sky.  And since I do most of my work from the rooftops…

Catwalker tilts his head to the side and gestures with one palm upward.

Catwalker: And that’s where you lose me.  I thought you weren’t supposed to be active anymore.

Rena Rouge: That’s what we want Shadowmoth to think.  If he doesn’t suspect I’m there, I can do far more than I ever could as Rena Rouge.

Rena Rouge twirls her flute in her hand and looks upwards.

Rena Rouge: Part of it is keeping an eye out for any new tricks from Shadowmoth.  Part of it is creating disinformation to lead him astray. I’m basically Ladybug’s spymaster that no one knows about.

Catwalker raises an incredulous eyebrow, arms folded.

Rena Rouge: We didn’t even tell Chat Noir about me.

Catwalker: So why are you telling me about you now?

Rena Rouge: Because I failed Chat Noir.

Rena looks down at the flute in her hands with remorse.

Rena Rouge: If I hadn’t been so caught up with keeping everyone other than Ladybug in the dark, he would have been able to call on me for help.  Instead, I just ignored him the second it looked like I might see him detransform.  And he paid the price for my mistake.

Catwalker sits down next to Rena Rouge with a consoling smile.

Catwalker: That isn’t your fault, Rena.  Ladybug takes identities very seriously—and for good reason.  I’m sure Chat Noir wouldn’t blame you for making that call.

Rena Rouge looks ahead in determination.  Catwalker looks at her in gratitude.

Rena Rouge: But I want to do better with you.  Yes, we’ll still have secrets between us.  But I can at least make sure that every time you transform back… you’ll do it in a place that I’ve confirmed with you is actually safe.

Catwalker: I… I’d appreciate that.

Catwalker grabs the end of Rena’s flute and pulls up the phone screen.

Rena Rouge: And if there’s anything else you need, I’ve got you.

Catwalker: Hmm.  Let me see your flute.

Rena Rouge: Uh, okay…?

Catwalker: I don’t have cellphone or TV access at work due to reasons, so if you could call this number and hang up before anyone answers when I’m running late for an akuma…

Rena Rouge puts her hands together and gives Catwalker a mischievous look.

Rena Rouge: Ooh!  You work in one of those top secret facilities where they confiscate everyone’s devices so they can’t record any data about the place, don’t you?

Catwalker looks at Rena Rouge flatly.

Catwalker: Do you really want me to answer that?

Rena Rouge: No.  It’s fun to speculate, but no.  I know better to not break any of Ladybug’s identity rules with you.

Catwalker looks down at his clasped hands.  Rena looks on with a frown.

Catwalker: I’m guessing Ladybug tells you a lot about her identity rules.  Could you explain something to me?  When someone’s identity is compromised to Shadowmoth, are they allowed to tell others who they are?

Rena Rouge: Ladybug and I haven’t really talked about it.  Identity reveals usually only happen by accident or out of necessity.

Rena gestures towards herself.  Catwalker looks aside with a contemplative finger on his mouth.

Rena Rouge: But if it were up to me, I’d let compromised heroes tell their family and friends about their double lives.  Secrets can really take a toll on your relationships, and if Shadowmoth already knows enough to target your loved ones, I think that it’s better to just tell them.  Still, Ladybug has always prioritized identities over all else—Chat Noir’s especially.  Though if he’s really not going to come back as a hero… I think it would be better if Ladybug finally knew his real name.

Catwalker wrings his hands and looks upwards as if he’s hoping to find some innocence up there.

Catwalker: Let us say, hypothetically, that Chat Noir was able to use your camouflage trick to transform into a completely different hero…  Would Ladybug allow him to come back?  If she still had no idea who he really was?

Rena waves her hands dismissively.

Rena Rouge: Changing his costume won’t stop anyone from recognizing him.  And even if it did… I don’t think Chat could return without it being too conspicuous that you got replaced out of nowhere.

Catwalker places a hand on the back of his neck and gives a sheepish grin.

Catwalker: I suppose the idea is rather absurd…

Rena Rouge: It’s interesting on paper… but you should probably leave the convoluted plans to Ladybug.

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Mayura dashes into her room in the Agreste mansion.

Mayura: Duusu, fall my feathers.

Nathalie sits on the edge of her bed as Catwalker dashes into the room, ready to swing his baton at the nearest supervillain.

Catwalker: Sorry to barge in!  Did Mayura just pass through here?

Nathalie: I’ve seen no one. But I can check the security feed.

Nathalie taps at her tablet while Catwalker waits in front of her.

Nathalie: The only intruders on-camera are yourself and Ladybug.

Catwalker: I could have sworn Mayura entered the building…

Nathalie: The city’s villains can be rather elusive.

Catwalker: I’ll go let Ladybug know.  Thank you for your assistance.

Nathalie stretches out her hand.

Nathalie: Wait!  Do you or Ladybug have any leads on Adrien? Anything at all?

Catwalker: It’s not a lead on Adrien, per se, but… Adrien found out that Mr. Agreste wasn’t entirely truthful about the current state of his mother.

Nathalie stares ahead, flabbergasted.

Catwalker: I’m not really sure what happened, but if you have any insights…?

Nathalie (internally): How on earth…?  Did Adrien find the entrance to Gabriel’s hideout that night?  How much did he see?  Was his disappearance driven by a desire to search the world for a cure for Emilie?  Or did he realize what Shadowmoth is trying to accomplish and flee to avoid feeling like he has to take sides between Ladybug and his family?

Nathalie looks up at Catwalker with a stern expression.  Catwalker returns the gaze with sympathy and concealed regret.

Nathalie: Adrien deserves to know the truth about Emilie, but it’s a family matter—I can’t discuss it with you.

Catwalker: I understand. Did Adrien leave anything behind? A letter, perhaps?

Nathalie: I searched his room.  There’s nothing like that there.

Catwalker: That’s… unfortunate.

Catwalker opens the door to exit the room, looking back at Nathalie meaningfully.

Catwalker: If Adrien were here, I’m sure he’d want to express his love and gratitude for you.  Please take care of yourself for him.

Nathalie: I will.  If you find out where he’s gone… keep him safe.

Catwalker: I will.  Farewell, Ms. Sancouer.

Nathalie becomes serious as Duusu and Veritruce float behind her.  She holds a folded piece of paper in one hand and raises her fingers to snap with the other.

Nathalie: Veritruce, did he lie?

Veritruce: NO LIES DETECTED

Nathalie: Then you’ve served your purpose and I release you from existence.

Veritruce sadly dissolves out of existence.

A feather flies out of the piece of paper Nathalie holds, which is shown to be the letter that Adrien left behind where he tried to warn his father that Shadowmoth would be after him and that he wanted to send his love to Nathalie and the Gorilla.

Nathalie: Duusu, return your miraculous to Gabriel before that sedative I slipped him wears off.  I order you to reveal nothing of what we have done this night.

Duusu: Yes, Ms. Nathalie.

Cut to Catwalker catching up with Ladybug.  Ladybug stands with arms crossed, not looking at him.

Catwalker: Mayura’s not on the property.  I doubt we’ll… Ladybug?

Catwalker looks away, guilty.

Ladybug: You’ve been lying to me this entire time.

Catwalker: Yes.

Ladybug flings up her arms in anger.

Ladybug: That’s all you can say to defend yourself?  Adrien’s life could be in danger and you didn’t think I’d want to know you were the last person to see him?

Catwalker bows his head, shoulders slumping in resignation.

Ladybug: What is wrong with you?

Catwalker: I’m sorry. Whatever punishment you deem appropriate for me, I’ll accept it without question.

Ladybug pulls on her pigtails, exasperated.

Ladybug: I don’t want to punish you! I just want to know what’s really going on!

Catwalker: I can’t tell you that.

Ladybug: Why not?!

Catwalker: Because… Because Adrien knows my identity.

Catwalker grabs his arm and looks away.

Ladybug: He figured you out?

Catwalker: It was unavoidable.  And any details about what really happened between us that night may lead you to figure out who I am.

Ladybug places an exasperated hand on her face and holds up her other hand as if she’s trying to explain something simple to a small child that simply isn’t getting it.

Ladybug: All you had to tell me was that Adrien wasn’t kidnapped or murdered or…

Catwalker: The fact that I had any information about Adrien would have been suspicious.

Catwalker touches the back of his neck and looks down sadly.

Catwalker: Adrien didn’t even tell his closest friends why he left or where he was going, but I, a hero who’s only been seen once before, have insider knowledge?  I thought it better if everyone assumed that I’m ignorant than give reason to pry deeper.

Ladybug: Better for who? Certainly not Adrien!  You left him to fend for himself alone!

Ladybug folds her arms and looks down judgmentally.

Catwalker: You don’t need to worry about Adrien.  He’s safe where he is, I promise.

Ladybug: Then why didn’t you say that when I asked you whether Adrien was okay?  There was a sentimonster forcing you to tell the truth and you said you didn’t know.  You said Adrien could be dead for all you knew!  And now you try to reassure me about him after you regained the ability to lie about it?

Catwalker steps forward, his hands palm upward in front of him, trying to explain himself.

Catwalker: Mayura was there—almost everything I said around her wasn’t fully truthful. I had to mislead her on anything I could.

Ladybug: You misled me before she even showed up!  And for what?  Your identity wasn’t even endangered by what you did say around Mayura!

Catwalker: Your last partner is gone because he was imperfect with safeguarding his identity. I cannot afford to be as lax with protecting myself as Chat Noir was.

Ladybug points her finger at Catwalker in righteous anger.

Ladybug: Chat Noir did nothing wrong, so don’t you dare blame him for your own callousness! He would have told me about Adrien!  He would have ensured Adrien had someone he can actually rely on!

Catwalker: It’s what Adrien wanted.

Ladybug: I don’t believe that!  You aren’t someone whose word I’ll just take for granted anymore!

Catwalker touches the back of his neck again, eyes looking away in exhausted regret.

Catwalker: Because I’m not the person you need me to be.  A partnership must be built on mutual trust… Do you want your old partner back?

Ladybug flings a hand outstretched behind her.

Ladybug: Of course I do! But you heard Mayura!  The only reason she’s holding back revealing Chat’s identity to Shadowmoth is because she thinks Chat is never coming back!  If he does…  It’s just too dangerous!  I won’t do that to him.

Catwalker tries to give a reassuring smile, extending an open hand towards her.

Catwalker: What if Chat Noir could return without facing any danger from it?

Ladybug: Mayura wasn’t bluffing—

Catwalker: I promise that Mayura will not be a problem.  I have a foolproof plan and Chat Noir is guaranteed to be on board. I just need your permission. He’ll be back before you know it.

Ladybug turns away, gritting her teeth and clenching her fists together as tears start to well up. Catwalker reaches out a hand towards her pleadingly.

Ladybug: You can’t account for everything that Mayura knows about Chat that we don’t!  You don’t know him!  Your one lie to Mayura proved you don’t!  So stop trying to get my hopes up with unfounded lies and whatever else you think I want to hear!

Catwalker: I’m not offering you false hope.  I would never promise you something if I doubted that I could fulfill that promise. I may have tried to deceive everyone before, but I’m telling you the truth now, Ladybug.  You need Chat Noir.  I can give him to you.

A close up of Catwalker’s face as he begs with all of his heart to reveal himself.

Catwalker: Let me.  Please.

Ladybug doesn’t turn around, her burning fury now waned into a quiet, desperate imploring.  Behind her, Catwalker has turned around, shoulders once again slumped in resignation.

Ladybug: I want to believe you, but… I just can’t trust your reassurances anymore.  Please don’t ask me again.

Catwalker: As you wish, Guardian.  But if you ever choose to be rid of me, just say the word.

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After entering the main hallway of Rolland Dupain’s residence, Adrien’s legs give out from under him as Plagg is ejected from his ring.

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Bonus Alternate "NinoVision" Version:

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In black and white, Nino pulls on the brim of his cap as he watches Catwalker uses his baton to leap around the buildings of Paris.

Nino (voiceover): The name’s Lahiffe.  Detective Lahiffe.  The foxiest gal in the world, Alya Césaire, called me for a favor: Sniff around the new hero who’d sauntered into Paris.

The image of Catwalker holding his hands up in confusion by a picture of Adrien being sad and a question mark.

Nino (voiceover): I’d met this smooth cat once before.  I assumed he was naïve and oblivious.  He wasn’t.

Cut back to Nino hiding behind a wall as Catwalker continues to leap above the rooftops.

Nino (voiceover): According to Alya, the charming kittyboy was secretly involved in the departure of my closest bro, Adrien.  She wasn’t sure how the guy had managed to act under all our noses or why, but I am determined to find out.  I’ll need to draw upon all my knowledge of the greatest detectives as I stake him out and gather enough clues to—

The panel abruptly switches to color as Catwalker drops in behind Nino, making the latter leap back and hold his hands in front of his face, thoroughly startled.

Catwalker: Are you following me?

Nino: Aaah!  No!  Why would I be following you?

Catwalker holds up a courteous hand.

Catwalker: Perhaps you wanted an autograph?

Nino: No!  That’s not…

The panel swiftly switches back to grayscale as Nino pushes up his glasses in a serious manner.

Nino (internally): Get it together, Detective!  Interrogate him!

Nino (aloud): I was just curious if you’d managed to get any info about Adrien Agreste.

Catwalker places a hand on his chest with a look of sympathy.

Catwalker: You’re a friend of his, I presume?  My condolences for your loss.  It must be hard not knowing what happened to someone you care about.  Unfortunately, my efforts in searching for Adrien have been fruitless thus far, but I assure you that I will be keeping my eyes open if he turns up.

The grayscale bleeds away back into color as we see a close-up of Nino’s eye, rage bubbling inside him.

Nino (internally): I can’t believe this guy!  Acting like he’s all innocent!  Screw the subtle approach, this slimeball needs to have the truth forced out of him.

Nino flares his hands out to either side indignantly.

Nino: You can’t lie to me, Catwalker!  I know you were behind Adrien’s disappearance!

Catwalker’s pupils narrow in shock.

Catwalker: Who told you that?

Nino rebuffs with folded arms.

Nino: A little birdie.  It doesn’t matter.

Catwalker holds up a hand, expression now severe.

Catwalker: Your ‘little birdie’ could be the real reason Adrien had to go into hiding in the first place, so: Yes.  It.  Does.

Nino fumes, waving his arms above his head.

Nino: She would never do that!

Catwalker: 'She’ wouldn’t happen to be affiliated with a girl named Marinette Dupain-Cheng, would she?

Nino: Even if she is, that’s none of your business!

Nino points an accusatory finger, his other hand starting to clench up as if ready to start tearing someone apart.

Nino: You’re the one who needs to explain yourself!  What did you do to Adrien?  Where is he now?  What did his father do to him that made him so terrified of anyone knowing where he is?

Catwalker looks down stiffly at his own fists.

Catwalker: Your 'birdie’ should already know that I can’t provide answers to those questions.

Nino: You have to know something!  Spill!

Catwalker is exasperated as he rubs half of his face.

Catwalker: Please understand.  The nature of Adrien’s situation is extremely precarious, so much so that I cannot share what I know with anyone.

Nino: I’m not just 'anyone’!

Nino places both hands on his chest with a look of defiance as tears start to stream down his face.

Nino: I’m Adrien’s best friend!  I know everything about him!  I’m the only person he contacted the night he ran away!  So if anybody deserves the truth, it’s me!

Catwalker folds his arms and looks away with regret.

Catwalker: If the fallout of his disappearance had gone how Adrien expected it to, you’d know that he’s kept an entire part of his life a secret from everyone.  Even you.  Some things are too important to share, even with your best friend.

Nino puts his head in his hands in exasperation.

Nino: But why would Adrien tell you of all people?  He can’t possibly trust you more than his friends!  Did you get inside his head?  Gaslight him?  Blackmail him?  Torture him until he did what you wanted?

Nino has now sunk to the ground, hands still grasping at his head, as he weeps.  Catwalker squats about a meter in front of him with a look of restrained beseeching.

Catwalker: Adrien told you as much as he thought he could get away with.  He does care about you.  But he didn’t expect that you’d be able to keep whatever he told you quiet for very long.  I’m no friend to Adrien, but he trusted me with his escape.  He knows that I can keep his secrets safe indefinitely.  And I can only consider entrusting you with some of the answers I have if I am certain that you won’t tell anyone—especially not the person who asked you to investigate me.  It is vital that you tell me who that person is so I can deal with her.

Nino yells at Catwalker as an akuma starts to fly in behind him.

Nino: Screw you!

Nino’s teeth clench as he is absorbed by his crying rage, right as Catwalker reaches out a Cataclysm-powered hand to touch the akuma, mere inches past Nino’s head.

Nino: You can go—

Catwalker: Cataclysm.

Seen from below, Catwalker looks imposing as he holds the akuma in his hand as it crumbles away, bitter tears starting to fall down his conflicted face.

Catwalker: I’m sorry.  I never wanted this.  Please, for Adrien’s sake, let your investigation go.

Catwalker turns away as the remnants of crushed butterfly fall from his fist.

Catwalker: And Nino? You should be more careful about who you confide in.  You never know who might be your enemy.

[“Alternate "NinoVision” version is recolored to be all in greenish sepia, with Catwalker’s expressions recolored to be opaque and distorted: no green in his eyes, just the black mask and a misplaced line of gold]

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Gabriel bangs his fists against the wall.

Gabriel: Nothing.  No sign of Adrien.  No leads.  And my arsenal of tools is completely ineffective.  My thumb on the mayor to control the police’s search?  Marketing initiatives backed by a global brand?  The powers of the most feared supervillain in the world?  All useless!  And just to twist the knife, my akumas have started dying before they can evilize anyone!

Nathalie interlaces her fingers and looks away, in thought.

Nathalie (internally): It sounds like Catwalker has been using his Cataclysm preemptively.  Best not to point that out to Gabriel right now, though.  We shouldn’t target Catwalker so soon after my truce with him and Ladybug.  Even if the heroes don’t know how to contact Adrien, remaining cordial with them may open doors later on.

Nathalie points outward.

Nathalie (aloud): It’s possible that the police who have been investigating Adrien’s disappearance have been nearby often enough that they’re shooting akumas on sight.  Perhaps you should consider going back to akumatizing those without any connection to Adrien?

Closeup of Gabriel gnashing his teeth.

Gabriel: Unacceptable!  I must find my son!

As Gabriel continues to bash against the wall, Nathalie comes up behind him.

Nathalie: If Adrien has any sort of agency right now, he might see all the akumas targeting him as a reason to stay in hiding.  Let up on that and he might consider Paris safe enough to come home.

Gabriel flings out his arm dramatically as a vein pulses in his forehead.

Gabriel: And if it wasn’t his choice?  Stopping my pursuit for even a moment could result in him slipping through my fingers permanently!  I will only stop using my akumas to search for my son when he is back under my roof where he belongs!

Nathalie puts her cellphone up to her ear.

Nathalie: Very well.  I’ll make some calls.  If you need an akuma who is upset about Adrien, we can make one…

Nathalie (internally): One who will keep you busy until I figure out what to do next.

Cut to Kagami seated on the pink cushions in the ditch that comprises the seating area of Gabriel’s atelier.  She folds her hands over her lap on top of her notebook.

Nathalie: Thank you for meeting with me on such short notice, Kagami.

Kagami: You asked my mother to send me here.  How could I refuse?  I assume this is about Adrien?

Nathalie: It is.

Kagami: I suppose you want to involve me in a publicity stunt for your ‘Find Adrien’ campaign?  Is the 'kidnapping’ story you fed the press no longer working?

Nathalie: This has nothing to do with marketing, I assure you.

Nathalie sits on the other side of the seating area and reads off something from her tablet.

Nathalie: Our 'Find Adrien’ inbox received a peculiar anonymous tip: 'You have security cameras, go check the footage!'  We did.  Our security cameras caught nothing.  Just Adrien entering his room after he returned from his fencing lesson.  Nothing else.

Closeup of Nathalie’s face, her eyebrows accusatory.

Nathalie: It’s strange that we acquired those security cameras from Tsurugi Industries, isn’t it?

Nathalie puts down her tablet on the seat beside her.  Kagami folds her arms.  On the center block between Nathalie and Kagami, an assortment of Find Adrien posters have been placed, including a large billboard design near where Kagami is sitting.

Kagami: You think my mother had something to do with this?

Nathalie: No, Tsurugi-san would have no motive for hacking her product or absconding with Adrien. But you might. You would have been one of the last people to see him.  You had the opportunity to coordinate a plan with him.  Not to mention that you have a history of encouraging Adrien to go behind his father’s back.

Kagami: So do a lot of his friends.  Blame them for hacking your cameras, I wasn’t involved.  But if I had been asked, I would have helped Adrien flee this place.  He shouldn’t have to put up with living by his father’s rules anymore.

Kagami folds her arms and grins evilly.

Kagami: Frankly, I’m happy that he finally grew enough of a backbone to actually act.  There’s nothing you can do to stop him now.

Cut to the back of the atelier by Emilie’s painting.  The hole for Gabriel’s secret elevator is open, from inside of which the head of Shadowmoth is poking out.  Shadowmoth taps out a message on his cane.

Nathalie (internally): This isn’t working.  Kagami’s not overwhelmed by emotion, she’s just smug.  I’m out of my element here.  I’ve gotten used to defusing situations before they become a problem, not inflaming them.  Gabriel’s far better suited to being a provocateur.  He knows what buttons to push and won’t let anyone get in his way for long.  But since he insisted on hiding nearby to sic his akuma on her before anyone can interfere, I get to be the one to ruin someone’s day…

Cut to a closeup of Nathalie’s tablet as it beeps with a new text message.

Nathalie (internally): Hmm?  A new message?

Shadomoth (text message): I left some stronger motivation for you in the Find Adrien inbox.  Use it. –🦋

Nathalie (internally): Gabriel, what are you up to now? *sigh* I guess I’ll just have to go along with this…

Nathalie holds up her tablet and reads from it.

Nathalie (aloud): Oh my.

Kagami: What now?

Nathalie’s tablet: Banner: FIND ADRIEN.  From: [email protected]. We have Adrien Agreste in our clutches and are going to unalive him and you can’t do anything about it!  Muhahahaha!

Nathalie: A ransom message just came through.  They’re threatening to kill Adrien.

Kagami: To kill…?

Nathalie passes through the door out of the atelier.

Nathalie: Excuse me, I need to… speak with Mr. Agreste about handling this development.

Nathalie (internally): That should be enough motivation, right?

Cut to a closeup of Kagami opening her notebook, where she has taped a picture of her and Adrien and preserved a dried rose.

Kagami: Adrien didn’t choose this?  This whole time I assumed that he ran away, but he really was kidnapped?

Kagami holds the rose in her hand, teary eyes clenched shut and teeth gritted.

Kagami: Whoever took him needs to pay for what they’ve done!

From the elevator hole, Shadowmoth raises out his hand and unleashes an akuma.

Shadowmoth (internally): Yes!  I can feel her anger now!

Shadowmoth (under his breath): Go, my akuma!

The akuma makes contact with the rose in Kagami’s hand.

Shadowmoth: Hello, Oni-Chan.

Cut to Nathalie eavesdropping from just outside the atelier, looking startled.

Nathalie (internally): Wait, Oni-Chan?  He was supposed to make her Riposte again, not—

Cut back to Kagami as the light mask illuminates her angered face.

Shadowmoth: The boy you so deeply care for is in grave danger.  I’m giving you the power to track down the last person who saw Adrien Agreste.  You will make them powerless to do anything ever again.

Kagami: With pleasure, Shadowmoth.

Below is the same image as above, only without text:

Chapter Text

Bonus: The bread lesson Rolland teaches Adrien immediately before this page takes place that I had to cut to save space.

Image description:

Alya sits on Marinette’s chaise lounge looking at her phone.  Marinette looks upwards, clenching her fists in vindication.

Alya: Preliminary results about Catwalker are in.  Verdict: Pretty skeevy.

Marinette: I knew it!  Tell me everything!

Alya scrolls through the messages on her phone.

Alya: My informant doesn’t have any concrete evidence yet and most of this is just vibes, but…

Alya: Catwalker did specifically mention you by name.

Marinette: What??

Alya: When confronting my informant, Catwalker got defensive and asked if ‘someone Marinette knows’ sent them.

Marinette places her hand on Alya’s shoulder, looking shaken.  Alya looks up at her with a look of uneasiness.

Marinette: Does that mean he knows you’re Rena?

Alya: Or he might be on the verge of discovering your identity.  Either way, I’m certainly not comfortable working alongside him anymore.

From behind, we see Marinette hold a hand up to the sky and clench her other hand in a fist in resolution.

Marinette: Because of Mayura we can’t just fire him, but we can contain him.  We’ll rely on the rest of the team for all battles and restrict his interactions with everyone.  If he steps out of line, all bets are off and we treat him like he’s another akuma.  And we keep investigating.  I just know that he’s up to something terrible right now and we’ve got to put a stop to it!

Rolland shuts a book between his hands entitled Pain.  Adrien holds up a hand and offers a wishful grin.  Behind them is the cabinet of things in Rolland’s living room, including the Lost flyer of Adrien, which is draped over a box.

Rolland: So: Shall we bake?

Adrien: I sure wouldn’t mind if you showed me how to make baguettes…

Rolland: Bahaha!  Baguettes!  You are in no way ready to bake baguettes!  No, we start with something far more traditional: the boule!

Rolland holds up a finger.

Rolland: But first: you must wash your hands.

Adrien: Of course!

Rolland: And take off that ring.

Adrien: Wh—what’s wrong with my ring?

Rolland grab’s Adrien’s hand and points at the indentations in his ring.

Rolland: Just look at it!  Flour is going to collect in all of those crevices!  It is much simpler to just take off your ring while baking.

Adrien looks at his miraculous in thought.  Behind him is the sink with the handle of a knife poking out of it.

Adrien (internally): I shouldn’t take any chances of being caught without wearing my miraculous.  But maybe if I don’t stop wearing it…?

Adrien kneels on the ground and uses a knife to cut through the front rubber part of his shoe.

Rolland: What are you doing?

Adrien: Making a hole in my shoe! If I can’t wear my ring on my finger… I can still have easy access by slipping it on my toe instead!

Adrien turns his knife aside and uses his other hand to slip his miraculous through the new hole in his shoe.  Rolland’s hand reaches down from above dangerously close to the knife.

Rolland: You are using one of my knives to cut through rubber?!

Adrien: I’ll clean it after I’m done, don’t worry.

Rolland: That is not the point!

The knife’s edge cuts the back of Rolland’s hand.

Rolland: Give that b—Aaack!

Adrien touches his hands to the bottom of his face.  One hand is still holding the knife, which now has a small spot of blood near the tip.

Adrien: I’m so sorry!  I didn’t mean to—!  Please don’t fire me!

Rolland: Oh, hush.  It’s barely a scratch!

Adrien: I’ll get the first aid kit!  Where’s the first aid kit?  Do you have a first aid kit?

Rolland: I’ll handle that without you.

Rolland waves his hand grumpily.

Rolland: You just worry about washing up my knife!  Without cutting anything that is not food this time!

Adrien: Y-yes, sir!

Rolland slams the doors between the kitchen and living room shut, so that Adrien is alone in the kitchen and Rolland is alone with his collectibles.

Rolland (internally): Don’t lose your temper, Rolland.  Baldy’s still a child.  He’s probably never been in a kitchen before.  Whoever raised him had no idea how it’s done.  Teaching him that is your job now.

Rolland digs through the box on his cabinet, one hand picking up the Lost flyer to move it out of the way.  As he does so, Oni-Chan teleports behind him with her sword pointed over his shoulder.

Rolland (internally): Now where did I put those banda—?

Oni-Chan: Where are you keeping Adrien Agreste?

Oni-Chan grabs Rolland’s shirt and holds her sword above his head threateningly.  Rolland is still holding onto the flyer and looks panicked.

Rolland: Aahhh!

Oni-Chan: Tell me where Adrien is before I strike you right where you stand!

Rolland: You mean the missing angel boy?  I don’t know!  What does a Chinese monster want with him?

Oni-Chan swings her sword.

Oni-Chan: I’m not a monster!

Rolland has now become frozen in place, covered in splotches of white, red, and black.  Oni-Chan stands behind him, looking back over her shoulder.

Oni-Chan: If anyone else stands in my way, they’re getting petrified too.  And for the record, I’m Japanese.

Oni-Chan kicks down the doors into the kitchen.  No one is there, only a slight movement of the window drapes in the background.

Oni-Chan: Hi-yaaah!  Shadowmoth!  He’s not here!

Shadowmoth (over akuma connection): The old man must have seen Adrien somewhere.

Oni-Chan: The only sign of Adrien anywhere is on the flyer that man was looking at!  Wait…

Oni-Chan, a butterfly light mask in front of her face showing her communication with Shadowmoth, grabs the Lost flyer and slices through Adrien’s face with her sword.

Oni-Chan: I was promised the ability to track the last person who saw Adrien, but these powers sent me to someone who was just looking at an Adrien picture!

Oni-Chan throws up her hand in frustration.  There is also a closeup of Shadowmoth (also with the butterfly light mask) from his lair, holding out a hand negotiatingly.

Oni-Chan: Do you have any idea how many people are looking at pictures of Adrien?

Shadowmoth: Millions every day.  …I presume.

Oni-Chan: I will not sift through millions of people merely because you gave me unusable powers!

Shadowmoth: Would you rather I take your powers away and leave you without any leads at all?

Oni-Chan: No!  No, I’ll keep my akuma.  But I’m not going to try to get Ladybug and Catwalker’s miraculouses for you until after I find Adrien.  You want me to help you?  You help me first.

Shadowmoth: I could create a sentimonster to destroy all instances of Adrien’s image until you find the real one.

Oni-Chan: Then do that!

Shadowmoth: I’ll need time to prepare the amok.

Oni-Chan starts to teleport away, her expression resolute.

Oni-Chan: Well, I’m not wasting my time waiting.  Have your sentimonster summon me when it’s ready.

Cut to Adrien and Plagg outside Rolland’s residence, watching as the light of Oni-Chan’s teleport flashes through the window curtains.  Adrien still has the knife and replaces his miraculous back on his ring finger.

Adrien: Do you think Oni-Chan really came here because Rolland saw me on Marinette’s flyer?

Plagg: Probably not.  Akuma powers usually work however the akuma expects them to and Rolland was the last person to see you.

Adrien: But her expectations just changed.  So maybe people seeing pictures of Adrien will be tracked by her powers now?

Plagg: Even if you do turn out to be that lucky, you’re still better off being Catwalker instead of Adrien.

Adrien: Right.  Plagg, claws out!

–

Bonus Scene:

Rolland holds up a hand invitingly.

Rolland: Baldy, you have returned from your morning walk!  Now we can begin your lessons in flour!

Adrien: Yeah, okay.

Rolland: What do you mean 'okay’?  I thought you wanted to be my apprentice?

Adrien pulls off his beanie, looking discouraged.

Adrien: Sorry, I just saw a friend and he… Never mind.  It’s nothing.

Rolland: Nothing?

Adrien: Bread is the most important thing, right?  Teach me everything I need to know.  I’m… ready.

Rolland: You are not quite ready yet.  First…

Cut to Adrien taking a bite of bread, happily going ‘nom! nom! nom!’.

Rolland: …You must eat!

Adrien: Ooh!

Rolland: It’s from yesterday, but it is better than nothing!  We French know the value of bread, for we remember the days when we did not have it!

Rolland holds up the book Pain : pour les enfants! and reads to Adrien as he finishes his bread.

Rolland: This is today’s lesson: how wheat shortage caused the Revolution!  Wheat gives us flour, flour gives us bread, and bread is life!  And when the wheat harvests failed, we survived by eating whatever awful bread from bran we could afford—if we could even afford that!

Rolland points to a picture of Marie Antoinette holding a purple rose in the book, which has the caption “Qu'ils mangent de la brioche”.

Rolland: But who wasn’t starving?  The nobility!  They still ate fancy Viennese breads made with refined white flour!  And while France suffered, Marie Antoinette had the gall to tell us ‘Let them eat cake!’

Adrien holds up a correcting finger.

Adrien: Isn’t that quote apocryphal?

Rolland: What?

Adrien: No one ever verified that it was Marie Antoinette who said that.  And even if she did, she would have been just a kid at the time.

Rolland: Bah!  That’s not important!

Rolland holds up the book in front of his face.  On one page, a pie chart with 75% blé (wheat) and 25% seigle (rye).  On the other page is a guillotine surrounded by bread and centering the French flag, below which is the caption “Pain d'égalité”.

Rolland: The point is that the people of France revolted because of this, because of bread!  And once we got rid of those pesky nobles, France could have one bread: the bread of equality!  It would be made from all our grains, from wheat to rye, and everyone would eat it!

Adrien: Sounds much simpler.

Rolland: Very simple!  But it wasn’t to be.  People still want their fancy flour.

Rolland holds up his wooden peel in one hand and his metal peel in the other in a pose reminiscent of the painting Liberty Leading the People.

Rolland: But once there was no more shortage of wheat, the government decreed that bakers must follow strict rules.  You want to make a baguette?  It must be the right size and made with the right ingredients!  You run a boulangerie?  You must make your bread on-site!  And you must never close shop without warning!  We do this so no one will suffer the pains of being forced to eat terrible bread—or no bread—ever again!  Because here in France, that is how it is done!  So: shall we bake?

Below are the same images as above, only without text:

Chapter Text

Catwalker approaches Ladybug as she stands on a roof.  She points off in a far away direction.

Catwalker: Ladybug!  Oni-Chan is back, and this time her powers are—

Ladybug: I need you to go to one of the rooftops way over there and stay right there.

Catwalker: Are you sure?  I could do more here if I—

Ladybug: Just.  Go.

Catwalker: …Yes, Ladybug.

Ladybug swings towards a rooftop where the other heroes have congregated near a Find Adrien billboard.  Viperion looks up at Ladybug.

Viperion: Ladybug!  Why isn’t Catwalker with you?  Did you talk to him about… that thing I told you?

Ladybug: We talked.  He wasn’t hiding what you thought he was.

Viperion: Oh.

Ladybug stands in a ‘take charge’ pose right in front of the billboard with Adrien’s face.  Most of the heroes gather in to look towards her, but Carapace looks off towards the direction Catwalker took instead.

Ladybug: And everybody, gather around! You should all know this.  Catwalker is on probation until further notice.

Viperion: Probation?  Isn’t that kind of extreme?

Ladybug: I have my reasons.  He’s keeping his miraculous, but you’re the people I’m going to rely on to beat the akumas.  For now, consider him an observer and just ignore him.

Carapace starts using his shield as a phone to text his girlfriend.

Carapace (texting): Rena, why is Catwalker allowed to keep his miraculous?  We *have* to stop him from causing more damage.

Rena Furtive (texting): I’m watching him, don’t worry.

Cut to Rena hiding on a rooftop as she uses her flute simultaneously as a telescope to spy on Catwalker and a phone to tap out a reply to her boyfriend.

Rena Furtive (texting): But if you want to try to get more info out of him as Carapace…?  I’m sure Ladybug wouldn’t mind…

Carapace leaps towards Catwalker, who looks at him suspiciously.

Catwalker: Carapace?  What are you doing here?

Carapace: Ladybug said you were alone, and I thought you shouldn’t be.

Catwalker: You should go back.  Ladybug needs every hero she can get.

Catwalker perches himself on the ledge of the building he’s atop of.

Carapace: Then why did Ladybug send you all the way out here?

Catwalker: She needs me.  I just… need to wait here.  Until she comes up with a plan for how she can use me.

Carapace: If you want to help, we can always work to protect Adrien Agreste.

Carapace opens his arms wide and tries to give a disarming smile, but he can’t help but show his underlying malice.

Carapace: If you know anything at all, I’m all ears!  Even if it’s something you need to keep on the down low, I can be your confidant.  I’m a hero, after all!  You can trust me to keep secrets.

Catwalker, completely uninterested in going through another round of ‘my best friend pretends to like me when I know he’s secretly mad at me’ points his finger in accusation.

Catwalker: I see what you’re trying to do and I’m not going to fall for it.

Carapace: Whaaat?  I’m not trying anything!

Catwalker: Nino.

Carapace: How did—I mean, who’s Nino?

Catwalker: You forgot to tell Adrien that he shouldn’t reveal secret identities to anyone.

Carapace, completely off put, tries to make this new bit of information add up.

Carapace: He told you about me?  Why would that even come up?  Unless…  Did he tell you he had a superhero for a best friend to try and convince you he didn’t need you?

Carapace points an accusatory finger at Catwalker. Catwalker tries to placate, but he’s distracted by a burst of red light in the distance in the direction of the other heroes.

Carapace: And then you forced him to leave when he didn’t want to and—

Catwalker: You have it all wr—Oh no.

Oni-Chan rapidly teleports between temporary heroes (all of whom had just been staring towards the giant face of Adrien) and hits them with her sword in quick succession: Vesperia, Viperion, King Monkey, Purple Tigress, Polymouse, Pegasus, and Pigella are all frozen before they can do anything to fight back.

Oni-Chan: You!  Won’t!  Get!  In!  My!  Way!  Anymore!

Oni-Chan lunges for Ladybug, but she manages to swing out of the way with her yo-yo and escape, unable to be tracked because she was the only member of the group who hadn’t been staring at Adrien’s face.

Catwalker: Come on!  Ladybug needs our hel—

Catwalker leaps into the sky to follow Ladybug, but as he is in midair, a green sphere forms around him.

Carapace: Shell-ter!

After the sphere hits the ground, Catwalker looks up at Carapace, who stands at the edge on top of the nearest building tauntingly.

Catwalker: I don’t want to fight you.

Carapace: Good!  Because you won’t be able to fight anyone!

Catwalker: Look, we’re both heroes right now.  We need to be able to work together to help Ladybug.

Inside the sphere, Catwalker kneels and looks down dejectedly.

Carapace: Ladybug doesn’t want your help!

Catwalker: Maybe not right now, but—

Carapace: Why did you think she sent you so far out of her way?  She can’t even stand to look at you!  No one needs you.  No one wants you.  You should just give up your miraculous and save us the troub—

Carapace’s attention is caught by something happening across the skyline of Paris: with the Agreste mansion at the epicenter, a flurry of black ribbons launches into the sky, each one racing toward a Find Adrien billboard.  Where each ribbon touches, the place where Adrien’s picture should be has been replaced by an empty white void.

Carapace (to himself): What the…?  …the Adrien billboards…  All the pictures of Adrien…  He’s gone.

Carapace points down at Catwalker accusingly and brings his shield in close.

Carapace: Why couldn’t you have just done nothing and let his real friends help him?  Some magic ribbons just wiped Adrien from existence!

Catwalker: That’s impossible.  A sentimonster probably just got rid of the Adrien ads.

Carapace: You don’t get it!  He exists nowhere!  And I’ll prove it!

Carapace uses his shield to navigate to the pictures on his phone.  His hand touches at the shield when it displays a picture of Nino and Adrien smiling together, nothing erased.

Carapace: I’ll show you how this picture of the two of us is—

Catwalker: Wait.  Carapace, you need to drop it.  Now.

Carapace (to himself): Huh…?

Catwalker: Adrien is alive, I promise—

Carapace (to himself): He’s still here with me…?

Catwalker: —but she’s going to find you if you keep looking—

Oni-Chan pops in and out of existence just long enough to stab Carapace in the back, sending his body off the edge of the building.  Below them, Catwalker looks up and destroys the sphere around him.

Oni-Chan: Begone!

Carapace: Ack!

Catwalker: No!  Cataclysm!

Catwalker leaps into the air, arms reaching towards Carapace’s petrified body, all while the shield Carapace dropped in the commotion falls next to them.

Catwalker: I’ve got you!

Catwalker tearfully embraces the frozen Carapace from behind.

Catwalker: I am so sorry.  For everything.

Catwalker continues to hug Carapace tight as a flood of emotions spews forth.

Catwalker: I never wanted to hide behind a mask, especially not with you, Nino.  You’ve always encouraged me to be myself.  Even though I’ve never been able to fully show you everything I am, you accepted the ‘me’ I could give.  It meant so much to know that you cared, not just about the idea of me, but the real me.  And now I’m less 'me’ than I’ve ever been.  Maybe it would have been better if I did nothing. But when she tried to kill me, I just… ran.  Ran and insisted I was fine like I always do.  And now you’re the one paying for my rash decisions and I feel so powerless to stop it.  I hope one day you’ll forgive me.

Catwalker places Carapace’s body upright and touches his back in a gesture of farewell.

Catwalker: I wish I could talk to you for real.  But I can’t.  I can’t leave when I might be needed.  Even if everyone hates that I’m here, I’ve got to help however I can.

Catwalker gives Carapace a fist bump in one final promise of their friendship.

Catwalker: I’ll come home as soon as it’s safe again.  I don’t know how long it’ll take, but I promise I will come back.

Below is the same image as above, only without text:

Chapter Text

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Image description:

Nathalie scrolls through photos on her tablet.  The pictures of Adrien have all been replaced by a white void.

Nathalie (internally): Aside from a few unprofessional photos, it seems Adrien has been wiped from the record.

Nathalie looks off to the side, frowning in anticipation.

Nathalie (internally): Gabriel won’t be pleased.  Any moment, he’s going to burst through that door and—

Gabriel bursts open the doors to Nathalie’s room.

Nathalie (internally): Nathalie!

Nathalie (aloud): *sigh* Yes, sir?

Gabriel: I need you to arrange an immediate flight!

Gabriel prances about in dancing delight.

Nathalie: A… flight?

Gabriel: My akuma found Adrien!  And then she immediately lost him, but I have my son’s last known location now!  And!  We went near that area when we were all travelling the world!  It’ll just be one quick trip to grab him, and he’ll be back where he belongs!

Nathalie revolves what she knows around her head before coming to a decision.

Nathalie (internally): So, Adrien is retracing our footsteps?  He knows something about Emile, so is he just looking for answers?  Or is he seeking something we missed that could help her?  Regardless…

Nathalie (aloud): I’m coming with you.

Gabriel waves his hand indignantly.

Gabriel: Absolutely not!  You aren’t fit for the expeditions we used to go on anymore!  You can’t jeopardize your health traipsing up mountains!

Nathalie looks at him with steely resolve.

Nathalie: It’s Adrien.  I’m coming, Gabriel.  You’re going to have me there at your back whether you like it or not.

Gabriel adjusts his jacket in defeat.

Gabriel: Fine.  I won’t waste any more time arguing with you.  You may come.

Nathalie: Very good, sir.  I’ll make the call.

Gabriel looks down at Nathalie appreciatively.

Gabriel: Your loyalty is truly admirable, Nathalie.

Nathalie: …  I do what I must.

Cut to the rooftop where Chat Noir once prepared a candlelit surprise for Ladybug.  A “Find Adrien” billboard is on display there (the spot where Adrien was once depicted replaced with white void), with all the lights that would illuminate it broken except for the one on the end.  At the dark end of the billboard, Chat Noir sits on the ground, waiting.

A close-up of Ladybug’s feet ‘plop’-ing to the ground.  Chat Noir turns his head to look behind him in excitement.

Chat Noir: M'lady!

Ladybug holds up a warding hand and holds tight to her yo-yo, making Chat stop his attempt to greet her in its tracks.

Ladybug: Stay back.

Chat Noir: M'lady?

Ladybug grips her yo-yo in her hands.

Ladybug: I need to know that you’re not some sort of trick.  I need to know you’re you.

Chat Noir looks at Ladybug with a need to fulfill her every request.  Ladybug’s head is shown from behind as the free parts of her hair blow in the wind.

Chat Noir: What do you need me to do?

Ladybug: I need you to remember.

Ladybug, eyes still obscured by blowing hair, holds up yo-yo defensively.

Ladybug: What conditions did you give the Celestial Guardian for relinquishing your miraculous?

Chat Noir: Hmm.  I don’t remember giving him my conditions.

Ladybug: That’s your answer?

Chat Noir holds out his hand invitingly.

Chat Noir: Well, I don’t count telling Su-Han to ‘come and get it’.  You’re the one I gave my conditions to: That if I have to give up my miraculous, I will.  But only if you ask me to.

Ladybug rushes Chat Noir with a hug, throwing his arms around his neck, as he embraces her with a smile.  Images of them together are shown in the background: Ladybug smiling as she hugs Chat and he nestles his face in her hair; Chat holding Ladybug up in the air in front of him as she holds his face in her hands; Chat Noir swinging Ladybug in a circle as she grabs onto him and lets her legs fly outwards around them, Chat smiling as he holds Ladybug close.

Ladybug: That’s right, Chat.  And I never asked you to.

Chat Noir: You would have.  I know you’ve given other heroes exceptions before, but me?  You’d never.  I knew it the moment Mayura recognized me: I’d have to go.

Ladybug and Chat cry in each other’s arms.

Ladybug: But I never even got the chance to say goodbye.  You were just gone and I had no idea if I’d ever see you again. I’ve missed you so much, Chat.

Chat Noir: I’ve missed me too.

Ladybug boops Chat’s nose with a teasing glint in her eye.  Chat gives her a playful grin.

Ladybug: Hold on… did you just say you missed you too?

Chat Noir: Hey, I’m very missable!

Ladybug: Ha!  You dork…

Chat Noir: Always your dork, m'lady.

Ladybug take’s Chat Noir’s hand and pulls him towards the railing, pointing behind herself at Marinette’s balcony.

Chat Noir: But shouldn’t we be getting out of the open?

Ladybug: I’m already ahead of you: Marinette Dupain-Cheng is spending the night with a friend, so she’s letting us use her room.

Chat Noir pulls his hand out of Ladybug’s.

Chat Noir: Wait.  What are the odds that Marinette is actually Mayura?

Chat Noir looks away in panic, grabbing at his bell with one hand and touching the back of his neck with the other.

Ladybug: What?  None.  She can’t be.

Chat Noir: 'Can’t’ in that you wouldn’t have expected it of her?  Or 'can’t’ as in you’ve seen Marinette and Mayura in the same room together?  And there wasn’t a chance of it all being an illusion or a fake or—?

Ladybug: Kitty!

Ladybug holds Chat Noir’s hand in front of her (interlocking her fingers in his) and looks directly at the viewer with complete reassurance.

Ladybug: I am 100% paws-itive that Marinette is trustworthy.  Yes, she’s not allowed to be a temporary hero anymore.  But she’s safe.  I never would have entrusted her with saving our kwamis if I wasn’t absolutely sure she was on our side.

Chat Noir collapses into Ladybug’s arms as she looks at him with concern.

Chat Noir: Thanks for reassuring me.  I never wanted to doubt her.  It’s just… hard to go back to trusting people when I know I’m wrong about somebody.

Ladybug touches Chat’s face and shoulder comfortingly.  He holds onto her arm with both hands and looks into her eyes, comforted by her support.

Ladybug: I’m glad you still know that you can always trust me.  You ready now?

Chat Noir holds up the trapdoor to Marinette’s room, following Ladybug down as she holds his hand with both of hers, smiling up at him.

Chat Noir: After you, m'lady…

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