You Change

Chapter VI

Shortly after

Papillon Noir entered through the window and became deformed. After putting some cheese and food for the kwamis on his desk, he dropped onto the chair and ruffled his hair anxiously.

"What am I doing," he asked nervously as his fingers tangled in one of his golden locks and tugged on him. "I let my fury take hold of me, and I almost hurt Luka. I almost let the akuma throw a child to the Seine. And I scared Marinette "she closed her eyes" this can't go on like this. This isn't me. I can't ... "

His eyes locked on the kwamis. Plagg was looking at him with a sad expression.

"I can't go on like this," thought Adrien. "I can't become my father."

Seeing the reproachful gaze of his kwami, Adrien sighed.

"Listen, Plagg, I'm not going to ..." he started to say, but was interrupted when he heard the door to his room open. Nathalie was coming toward him with a more annoyed expression than he had seen her in the past.

Stopping in front of him, the assistant showed him the tablet screen and ran a video. It was the video, taken on a mobile phone, of the fight that afternoon in Saint Michel, specifically the part where he had Luka against the wall and finally released him.

"What?" Said Adrien.

"Why did you let him go?" Nathalie said.

Adrien frowned.

"I don't understand your question, Nathalie," said Adrien, staring at the woman. Her attitude was beginning to bother her- you mean why did I let Luka go? Because he's my friend-

-You could have used it for Ladybug to give you his Miraculous- Nathalie said- showing her the part where Ladybug stopped him- he could make her feel guilty enough to give it to you-

The boy felt nauseous at that suggestion. Or was it because of what he himself had been about to do to Luka?

"No!" Said Adrien finally, "I can't ..."

Nathalie softened her gaze a little, but was still as serious as ever.

-Adrien, you have to understand that what I am saying is for your own good- she said seriously- I want you to succeed in your mission and meet as soon as possible with your father-

Adrien frowned and heard a sound of skepticism from Plagg. He himself was beginning to think that some things, like hijacking the Fu subway to get the other Miraculous, weren't exactly the best thing for him, and didn't contribute anything to his mission-

"No, Nathalie!" Adrien said suddenly, causing the woman to frown and Plagg to lift her ears, surprised, "this is not what I decided to fight for." I told you I didn't want to hurt anyone, and I won't. If you suggest that again, I'll go straight to Ladybug and tell her the whole truth, including your part in it-

Nathalie didn't seem too impressed by the boy's threat.

-It's childish to make those empty threats, Adrien- said the assistant in the same tone as before- if you do that, we will both go to prison... -

-I am aware of the consequences of my actions-

"Apparently not all of them," Nathalie continued, "what do you think will happen to the old man if we are both in prison?"

Adrien frowned as Plagg raised his ears, listening to the conversation. If they were both arrested and Nathalie didn't reveal to anyone where they had Master Fu, he would surely starve, alone and abandoned. The boy trembled helplessly. Nathalie softened her gaze again.