Do You Remember?

Chapter 2: Plagg, Claws Out!

Yellow light burst out of the box as Adrien opened it. It was a strong feeling of deja-vu. 

"Plagg!" 

Adrien squeezed the kwami into a hug as he reappeared. 

"Hey! Please let me breathe, kiddo! I just came out!" Plagg whined. He didn't change one bit.

Adrien let go of Plagg as he looked around the room.

"This place has changed. And you've grown!" Plagg looked at him. "Please tell me you still have Camembert! I swear I can smell it on you."

Adrien sighed. "I knew you'd ask that."

He handed the piece of cheese to Plagg who stared at it adoringly.

"My sweet lovely cheese, I missed you so much!" Plagg cooed as he munched onto it.

"Oh...and that's the only thing you've missed, huh?" Adrien looked at him offended.

"Yeah." Plagg took another bite of his cheese as Adrien pouted. 

"I'm taking your cheese ba-"

"Okay. Fine! I missed you too, kiddo." Plagg groaned with a slight smile. Adrien brightened up at that. "Not as much as my cheese though."

"Whatever. Fine with me!"

Adrien slipped the ring back onto his finger as it flashed a shade of silver.

"Why did I get my miraculous back, Plagg?" Adrien asked him. "Is something wrong?"

"Uh...we're not too sure yet but the guardian knew there was some threat coming for sure, and she decided that we have to be ready."

"What threat?" They had defeated Hawk Moth years ago...

"A bad one..." Plagg looks at Adrien cautiously. "The guardian didn't want me to tell you this but...the peacock and butterfly miraculous have been stolen...again."

"What? How?!" 

"We're not too sure. According to the guardian, something does not make sense. So, she decided to wake Ladybug and Cat Noir up again..."

"Wait..." Adrien gasped. "Does that mean Marinette is getting her miraculous back too?"

"Uh...kiddo...I'm not sure..." Plagg munched onto his cheese. "The guardian gave you your miraculous back because you remember, as for Marinette, she's debating whether it's best to give it back now..."

"What? But...no one else could make a better Ladybug than Marinette!" Adrien protested. "Wouldn't it be best to give her miraculous back too? Even if she doesn't remember, she can figure it out!"

"Yeah...it's not my choice...kid. Don't pester me!"

"Who is the guardian?" Adrien asked.

"Her identity is confidential until she wishes to reveal herself.

"Ugh." Adrien groaned. "There goes the secret identity rules again."

"Superhero life to you!"

Adrien sighed. "What am I supposed to do with the miraculous now?"

"Just keep a look out..."

"Wait..." Adrien acknowledged. "Does that mean I can transform again? I've been waiting for this..."

"I'm not too su-"

"Plagg, Claws Out!"

---

After 10 years, Cat Noir raced through the rooftops of Paris once again.

He missed it. He missed this leisure. 

Doing it again. Being Cat Noir. It made him feel free.

10 years ago, this mask was the only escape from his sheltered life. He thought of it as freedom. One of the ways he could be himself without his father's eyes on him.

Now, Cat Noir was so much more to him than a mask of freedom. It was a part of him.

He hadn't realized how much he had missed his mask until now...

Even when he had escaped his father, he still had to face consequences. With his father and mother gone, he was pretty much an orphan. 

Living with the Graham De Vanilys wasn't bad. Despite Felix's coldness, he was granted much more freedom than he was at his own house. Aunt Amelie was nice to him.

However, it wasn't everything he had hoped for....

Cat Noir sat on the terrace of Montparnasse. He tried to stay at high ground so no one would notice him...

Paris wasn't ready for the reintroduction of superheroes just yet. Good thing it was dark...

This place was so familar. He'd come sit here for ages during patrol and watch the sunset. With his lady.

They'd laugh, banter, talk and strategize for ages. He'd even given her multiple roses here, which she would kindly reject...saying that she was in love with someone else...the irony...they were so stupid back then.

What he wouldn't do to steal those moments back again...

What if he still could?

I'm not giving up, even if it means embarrassing myself over and over again.

He couldn't just give up. Not only did he come back to unite with his lady again, but he also came back for himself, to fix the damage his father put on their name.

Monsieur Etienne may have been polite to him and only thought of the company's well-being. However, if Monsieur Etienne really wanted to help him, he would have at least given him a chance to prove himself. Turns out he really didn't mean his words.

He was going to try again. He wasn't giving up. Even if it meant failing to hit his target and embarrassing himself over and over again. 

Adrien Agreste never gave up for the people he loved. And now that he was Cat Noir, it was only a matter of time until he got the perfect confidence boost.

He was going to find his lady. He was going to prove himself.

They'll just have to wait and watch.