When Walls Crumble

Chapter 21: A New Family

Adrian barely made it out of Lila's room before he transformed. He ducked into a nearby alley and collapsed, the black outfit vanishing in a green flash.

He curled up and wept.

What else was he to do? His father...Gabriel Agreste had betrayed him, cut himself off so far that Adrian could no longer claim any relation to the man.

What now? Where could he go? Certainly not back to Hawkmoth's home. He never wanted to see that man again, except, maybe on the occasion that he and his lady defeated the villain and took his miraculous back to Hawkmoth. Maybe he could have his bodyguard and Nathalie help him move out without his father's involvement. He was eighteen after all. He took out his phone to call her.

Wait.

If Gabriel was Hawkmoth, then that would...

Nathalie...

Mayura.

So, no such luck. He was on his own.

He lapsed back into tears as the reality settled in. He was completely alone. He had no family and nowhere to go.

"Oh, stop it!" a voice cut across his reverie. Plagg was hovering with his arms crossed in front of Adrian's face. "I kept my mouth shut and let you cry it out for a good several minutes until you stopped. And just when I was about to talk to you, you started crying again!"

Adrian forced a smile and wiped his tears with his sleeve. "Sorry, Plagg. It's just...I don't know what to do. At first, it was because my own father was my archnemesis. Then it was because I realized I have nowhere to go. I can't go to my house. Hawkmoth is there."

Plagg looked at Adrian, one of the bravest Cats he had ever empowered, and struggled with the impulse to brush it off sarcastically. This was a life-changing event. A whiney beg for cheese wouldn't help anything. Adrian needed a shoulder to cry on and Plagg was happy to offer his, although only metaphorically speaking. It probably wouldn't go too well literally.

"Well..." Plagg began. "As a Disney princess once said, (and no, I can't believe I'm quoting it either) 'home is where the heart is'. Just think outside the box a bit."

Adrian laughed bitterly. "I guess I'm homeless. My feelings for Marinette were fabricated. Kagami and I are just friends. I moved on from Ladybug a while ago. My mother is gone. Where should I find 'home'?"

Plagg face-palmed. "Again, with the wallowing in self-pity. You just listed plenty of family. Marinette, Kagami, and Ladybug all care for you in a familial sense, remember? You complained about it a lot, how you only seemed to get familial love these days. You were destined to be everyone's 'best friend' or 'brother' and no one's boyfriend. You sappy idiot!"

Adrian smiled. "Thanks, Plagg. I guess you're right."

Plagg nodded. "Of course I am. I have existed since before time itself. My wisdom is limitless. Now, where did you use to go for a mood boost?"

Adrian's eyes lit up. "Marinette's balcony!"

"Too bad! She doesn't live there anymore," Plagg prompted.

Adrian nodded. "But, they did extend an invitation to their new home."

"Now we're talking!" Plagg laughed. "Now suit up!"

Adrian cracked a real mischevious smile and Plagg knew he'd make it through.

"Claws out!"

A couple of blocks away, the Sea Serpent was moored near the Pont des Arts. Monsieur Coffaine sat on the foredeck, experimenting with arpeggios and chord combinations while waiting for Madame Couffaine to return.

He kept coming back to a progression that he knew was from another song, but couldn't place it. Argh, his creativity was blocked when Marinette went off on dangerous jobs without him.

Well, at least he could try to figure out the song. He kept playing, following his ear when suddenly, the vocals came.

"Saying everything without making a sound.

A river rolling in the background, underneath the harvest moon

Standing on your shoes in my bare feet,

Dancing to the rhythm of your heartbeat."  (Heartbeat By Carrie Underwood)

Luka smiled and turned to the source of the voice.

"Marinette, you sing like an angel."

"And you play like one. But I must ask: since when do you like American country?"

He shrugged. "The chords were stuck in my head. Now, how many times do I have to ask before you sing with me?"

She playfully strummed a fourth on his guitar. "I've got a job. I like music, but it's your passion. Not mine."

Luka turned his face into a big blue-eyed pout. "Just one song? Please?"

"Ah, not the baby eyes! Fine! One song. But I've got news. In nine months, there will be someone else manipulating me with baby eyes. We're gonna have a baby!" she squealed.

Luka dropped his guitar. It would have broken if not for the shoulder strap. "A baby?"

"Yes!" she shrieked.

He picked up his wife and spun around in his ecstasy. He set her down and struggled to put his joy into words. He failed. So he gave up and just kissed her.

Marinette noticed their dumb-struck visitor first.

"Cat Noir!" she exclaimed, his presence startling her.

Luka spun in surprise.

"Oh," the cat said, timidly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to barge in."

"Oh, no!" Marinette reassured him. "You didn't! You were invited!"

"Yeah," Luka agreed. "What's up?"

Cat Noir shrugged. "I guess I'm a real stray now. I don't really have a home anymore. But congratulations on your baby! That's awesome!"

Marinette gasped. "Don't you dare try to downplay homelessness! Thank you, but get down here!"

Luka stifled a laugh. "Oh, you've done it now, Cat Noir! She will make you live here whether you like it or not."

"That's not true!" Marinette protested. Both men looked at her. "Alright, fine," she admitted.

Luka turned back to the stray. "So what happened?"

Cat Noir debated for a moment about how much he could tell them. "Well," he began cautiously. "My father and I have been...fighting for quite some time. It just got to a really bad point where I can no longer acknowledge any relation to him."

Marinette melted. "Aw, you poor thing! That settles it! You're staying with us! And don't you dare try to get out of it. We have plenty of extra cabins. Stay as long as you need."

Cat Noir almost cried from gratitude. This was what family should be like. They were his family.