Unclean Hands 🫴🏻 (A Miraculous Ladybug Fanfiction)

2 | What Curiosity Does To The Cat

Three Weeks Before

Adrien dodged Kagami's attack and leapt to the side, spinning just in time to poke the tip of his fencing sword into her protective padding.

The coach called the match and the two teens took off their masks and faced each other.

"Congratulations, Adrien," Kagami said as she bowed her head to him. "You're getting better."

"Thanks to my incredible partner," He said with a smile. "I couldn't have gotten this far without you."

A blush crept on the shy girl's cheek, but she quickly hid it as she looked away.

The two went to change and met back together outside the school.

As Adrien waited for his ride, he looked around absentmindedly and found himself staring at the bakery. The thought of seeing Marinette made him smile, but he quickly frowned as his bodyguard, whom he nicknamed 'Gorilla' as a child, pulled up in the car. He wouldn't see Marinette today.

"See you next time, Adrien." Kagami parted with a tiny wave and began walking.

He watched her and noticed her ride wasn't here. She was, in fact, walking towards the bus station. "Kagami!" He called and chased after her. "Isn't your car coming for you?"

She shook her head. "No, my mother is out of town, and took the transportation."

Adrien opened the back door of his car. "Let me give you a ride home."

"Thank you, Adrien."

"It's no problem."

After dropping his fencing partner off, he checked his phone and winced. He was twenty minutes late. Father won't be happy about this.

Gorilla pulled into the front area of the mansion and parked the car. He hand froze on the door handle. He was afraid to go inside. Closing his eyes tight, Adrien pushed through his fear and climbed out and slowly made his way up the steps and through the front door.

Gabriel was already waiting in the foyer and as the door shut behind his son, he coldly said, "You're late, Adrien."

"I-I'm sorry, Father," He said as he cleared his throat, and began to explain, "Kagami needed a ride home. We were just dropping her off."

His father stepped forward and smacked him across the face. "I didn't ask for excuses! You're supposed to be home when I tell you to! You take advantage of this freedom I give you and for what? For you to disobey me?"

What freedom? Adrien didn't react. It would only make things worse. "It won't happen again."

"I hope not. Go up to your room. You're going to bed without dinner."

It wouldn't be the first time. As Adrien started walking upstairs, he made eye contact with Nathalie as she stood in the open door of his father's office. He glared at her. Of course she won't do anything. She hasn't before.

Adrien entered his room and was tempted to slam the door, but decided against it. It would cause more harm than good. He closed it softly instead. He laid out on his bed and grabbed a pillow and screamed into it.

"You're almost eighteen, Adrien," Plagg said out of nowhere as he floated by his holder's head, who sat the pillow aside. "Stand up to your father! Shout back at him! Hell, swing back at him!"

"H-He's my father, Plagg," Adrien whispered and wondered why he was trying to defend a heartless man.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I must be new to this world. When has it ever been okay for a parent to hit their child?!"