Chasing Ladybug 📸 (A Miraculous Ladybug Fanfic)

23 • Now | Ashes of The Wicked

"My father's been out of town on a business trip," Adrien explains to Marinette and Alya. "I guess he's back now, and they want me home. Obviously they know I sneak out. I'm in so much trouble. Nathalie was so mad; I've never heard her so angry before."

"She knows you've sneaked out before though, right?" Marinette asks. He nods. "Has she ever been that mad before?"

"No, never," The model answers. "That's why I'm confused. She's never gotten that angry with me. She's always kind and gentle."

Alya shrugs. "Maybe it has something to do with your father."

Adrien's eyes widen. He steps back, stumbling into the empty table. Wait, wait... Everything starts clicking into place.

His father left for his surprise 'business trip' the same day Theo got akumatized into Copycat. Usually his trips were planned out through the year and fashion season. Why was this trip different and so sudden?

"It has to be a coincidence..." He mumbles to himself as he shakes his head.

Marinette walks over. "What does?"

"Adrien, what are you talking about?" Alya asks.

Adrien spins around. "I think my father is Shadowmoth."

The girls' eyes widen fast.

"What?!" Marinette shouts.

A nervous laugh escapes Alya. "Okay, when I said something was up with your father, I didn't mean that!"

"My father left the same day Theo was akumatized. Now, Theo's... gone... and he's suddenly back?! What if... what if he never left?"

"You really think your father is—"

Adrien nods fast. "My father's been 'out of town' the entire time Theo was akumatized! He couldn't risk breaking control from Copycat because he wanted to find out our identities just as bad as Theo did."

"We already suspected your father before. Remember?" Marinette reminds him. "He was akumatized before—"

"Yeah, and that's genius!" He interrupts. "Akumatize yourself and no one will suspect you. That's the kind of thing my father would do."

"So, what do you want to do?" The pig-tailed girl asks.

Adrien crosses his arms, thinking. "Well, I'm not going to wait for my father to make any traps for us. We're going to confront him—tonight."

Marinette grabs his hand. "Then let's do it... together."

"I'd like to come on this little adventure with you," Alya says as she slowly raises her hands in defense, "But I left my twin sisters home alone, and my parents are out of town, and if they wake up and I'm not there—"

"No, it's okay. You've helped enough. Thank you." Marinette steps forward and hugs her best friend. "I'll call later and tell you how it went."

"Be careful, guys," Alya warns.

The three of them exit the studios and walk in two different directions.

"Come on." Adrien grabs Marinette's hand and they take off running.

***

Red and blue lights shine in the distance, casting flashy shadows off the Agreste mansion. There's three police cars parked out front.

"Did you call them?" Marinette questions.

Adrien shakes his head. "No. I wanted to confront my father first."