aftershock

Part 11

Adrien practically ran home. Ladybug didn't hate him. How was this possible? Like he was literally the son of a mass terrorist who was her nemesis for years. Her last confession caught him off guard. She knew him as a civilian. Maybe she was a fan of his work, but the way she said it convinced him other wise. He ran into the house and slammed the door shut, the smell of pasta wafted into his face. Apparently Marinette beat him home.

"Hey Mari!" he called out, "I went on a walk with Emma, I got to do something real quick though, can you take her?"

Marinette walked out of the kitchen with a huge smile plastered across her face. "Of course Adrien! Food should be done in a half an hour."

"Ok thank you." He said gratefully. He ran up the stairs and into his room, He closed and locked the door. He walked over to the safe and opened it. Facing him was the dreaded box that he had been trying to open for the last 3 months. He grabbed the box and it felt like a normal box instead of a cursed object, he reached for the lid and felt no restraints he flipped open the lid of the box, and a bright green light engulfed the room. Once it dissipated a tiny black cat god replaced it. "Plagg?" Adrien said hoarsely.

"Kid?" Plagg said. He zoomed over to Adrien and hugged his face tightly. "Kid!" he exclaimed excitedly. "I didn't think I would get to see you again!" Adrien couldn't tell if Plagg was crying or if it was a trick of the light, either way, he wouldn't ruin the moment.

"I'm so so so sorry Plagg." Adrien cried, "I've just haven't had the strength to open the box."

"It's okay kid," Plagg petted his head, "I get it, you needed time to heal, and probably a lot more too, anyways how long has it been."

Adrien flung a piece of Camembert at Plagg as he answered, "A year to the day," Plagg held the camembert in his hands for a moment the placed it on the counter and flew to Adrien. He was agape. Plagg just refused a piece of camembert for him after he hasn't had a piece for a year. Adrien shed some happy tears as he hugged Plagg, "I love you too bud," He continued to tell him all about his depression, Nino saving him, then Marinette and Emma. Plagg smiled at Adrien, he somehow found his lady out of the mask and was being the best dad in the world.

"That's great kid, and you are making amazing progress." Plagg said, "That's why Mr. Fu picked you, you have determination to be the best you." Adrien smiled.

"Thanks Plagg."

Plagg POV

When they defeated hawkmoth and learn of his identity his heart dropped and was replaced with a burning fury that could combate the sun's firely core. It was his kid's "father". You could barely call him that. It seemed as if Gabriel was only there to make his life hell, and lord he was doing a damn good job of it. He was tempted of forcing Adrien out of his transformation and catlyclysming that son of a bitch. But that would only hurt Adrien more and he wasn't willing to do that. As little as he showed it, He loved Adrien with all his being. He would even go to say he was his favorite holder ever. His kid was so strong, loving, and happy. He has dealt with more heartbreak than anyone should ever have to. No amount of Camembert could ever overshadow his love for his kid. No matter how much he got hurt his kid could bounce back with a smile on his face. But this, Oh this was so different. He had just found out his father was a mass terrorist, who has been trying to steal his and his girlfriends magical jewelry that had their best friends in. His father tried to kill him multiple time outside of the suit with akumas. Hell, he even knowingly DROPPED his own son off a tower while restraining Ladybug. The audacity that Gabriel had, making his life a cage to "keep him safe", while he was actively trying to kill him. He is lucky that Adrien was transformed. He felt that Adrien was about to cry, that he was breaking inside. His heart shattering, He couldn't let them the others see him fall apart. At least not as Chat Noir, even though he catlyclysm during the fight and was tired. This was more important, He did something he had only done a handful of times ever for his holders, he focused his power to Adrien's emotions and put them into a bubble. All kwamis could do it in dire situations, of course their holder didn't know unless they told them, but the holder would feel a very muted version of their emotions until they detransformed. Once Adrien detransformed, Plagg couldn't do anything other than be a shoulder to cry on.

"So," Ladybug said, "Guys since we defeated... hawkmoth..." Plagg could feel the uncertainty in her voice, she didn't know what to called the bastard of a man. Then it hit Plagg, She knew Gabriel or at the very least Adrien somewhat personally. "I think it's safe to reveal ourselves now," Plagg knew she was doing this for Chat, he has basically been begging for this since the beginning but he felt the shame Adrien felt. Chat wasn't going to meet them tonight at 9. Chat Noir flew home and detransformed, and sobbed and yelled in agony. His friends came to comfort him but he turned them away. Plagg felt bad, He wanted to help so badly but didn't know how to.

This is the day the Gabriel finally broke Adrien.

Plagg suddenly heard Adrien talking, "I'm sorry Plagg, but I can't anymore. I love you bud. Maybe I'll have to courage to face you again someday," Adrien slid the ring off his finger and threw it. Plagg whispered, "It's okay, kid. I'll wait for you," As he was sucked back into the ring mid-air and entered a deep slumber when he was put back into the miraculous box.

Suddenly he felt the miraculous box open and he was pulled out of his slumber. In the back of his mind he felt all of the messages Ladybug had left for Chat Noir, or at least the past one. All he could hope was that this new holder would be nice to him. He heard his name called and he turned around to see an older and tired Adrien with tears streaming down his face. Plagg was overjoyed. His best friend, His favorite kitten, came back to him. "kid?" He called hoping it. wasn't a dream. The look in Adrien's eyes said it was real. "Kid!" Plagg yelled excitedly. He flew as fast as he could to Adrien and gave him the biggest hug he could. He felt tears running down. his tiny face but he could care less, He had his kid back. "I didn't think I would be able to see you again."

"I'm so so so sorry Plagg." Adrien cried, "I've just haven't had the strength to open the box."

"It's okay kid," Plagg petted his head, "I get it, you needed time to heal, and probably a lot more too, anyways how long has it been."

Adrien flung a piece of Camembert at Plagg as he answered, "A year to the day," Plagg caught the cheese and looked at it. He remembered, but Plagg wanted to show Adrien how much he meant to him. He slowly placed the cheese on the counter. It was painful to do so since he hadn't eaten in a year but he wanted Adrien. He flew over to Adrien and hugged him again. Plagg knew how shocked Adrien was but he didn't care. He finally had his kitten back. More tears ran down Adrien's face but there was joy in them. "I love you too, bud." Adrien told him all that had in the last year. Plagg was sad that he almost killed himself, he made a mental note to thank Nino, Marinette, and Emma. He couldn't believe it though his lady had his kid and he was parenting her without knowing that he was the father. Tikki must have muddled some and decided that he wasn't ready mentally to actually to a father. He was going to have a talk with that kwami.

"That's great kid, and you are making amazing progress." Plagg said, "That's why Mr. Fu picked you, you have determination to be the best you." Adrien smiled.

"Thanks Plagg."