Chapter Text
Chat noir took multiple minuets squinting in the darkness trying to decipher where the figure on the roof went.
He had his hands on his hips, staring down into a nearby alleyway when he heard a small *clack*
Though he couldn't see anyone in the direction of the noise he decided to get a closer look. He jumped down into the alley with a hard landing, wincing from the pressure on his side, then took a few steps forward.
He was about to give up and just go home until he heard a voice behind him. “Rough day?"
He quickly turned around startled that someone could've snuck up on him. When turning around no one was there.
"WHOS THERE!?" He shouted.
"Wow calm down kid, I'm only here to talk." A high-pitched feminine voice echoed through the alley.
Adrien frantically turned his head trying to find the owner of the voice.
"If your just here to 'talk', then show yourself!” He said confidently into the empty air. A few moments of silence passed before he added. "Well, where are you?!"
"Behind you." The voice said.
He quickly jumped forward, raising his fists before turning around, only this time to be met with a person.
A young woman looked around the age of 20. She had long strawberry blonde hair, pulled into a high pony with a coral-colored ribbon that matched her coral belt. She had light tan skin and a grey mask covering the skin around her hazel eyes. She was wearing black strapped goggles on-top of her head along with a black choker around her neck. Her whole outfit was colored grey, such as her dark grey cropped hoodie over top the grey undershirt and gloves and a dark grey mini skirt. She was wearing grey tights with fish nets overtop, along with tall black heeled boots.
She took a pink lollipop out of her mouth before speaking. “Chill, I'm not here to fight."
He lowered his arms slightly.
"Right..." he said. "Cause you're here to "talk.""
She raised an amused eyebrow at his fist's that were still in the air.
The girl poked at his left hand with her finger."You have a funny way of saying hello."
Chat sighed then rested his hands by his hips. “Fine. Who are you."
"You can call me Somber rose."
Adrien would have pressed about the fact there was no way that was her real name, the 'rose' part maybe but definitely not the somber part. Then again, he had an identity he wanted to keep hidden, maybe she did as well.
"Okay... Somber..." He said awkwardly while walking a circle around her.
"What did you want to talk about." He made air quotations as he spoke.
"What I want is an alliance?"
He stopped walking. “Excuse me?"
"I want to be a team, I mean." She clarified.
"Yes- I know what the word alliance means-" He put his hands on his hips. "I meant, why would you want to team up with me? I hardly just met you."
"True..." She took a step closer. "But I know enough about you to say we have a similar enemy."
Chat noir squinted. “You're after ladybug?"
"Yeah- something like that." She tapped her bottom lip as she spoke.
"Why?"
The question was out of genuine confusion, as far as he knew no one knew about the miraculous or how they got their powers in general so maybe she knew ladybug personally and had a grudge of some sort. Then again if she knew who ladybug was then why would she need him.
"It's hard to explain..." She paused then quickly added "But if you must know." After seeing his annoyed expression. "I want knowledge."
He squinted as she continued. "You know more about her powers and what the limits are..."
It had been so long since Adrien had found his miraculous, he honestly forgot about how confusing ladybug and lavander moth's powers were for outsider's point of view.
Adrien gave her a skeptical look.
"Hey, you have a reason you're after her, don't you? I'm not pressuring you to tell me." Somber folded her arms, pointing her face in the air with a pout on her lip.
There was a brief period of silent starring between them.
"Plus," She added. "You look like you could use the help, or a friend at least- and look!" She gestured to herself. "You've got a wonderful 'could be bestie' right here!"
He looked into her eyes. She didn't look mean... and sounded quite genuine when giving her reasoning behind why she was after ladybug, and even though he didn't have all that much information of why she wanted the "knowledge", he had enough trust to sigh, holding out his hand saying: "I'm Chat noir..."
She took his hand with a smile. "I already knew that."
"Yeah- well- I was just being nice!" He grumbled pulling away his hand, then crossing his arms.
She giggled. “Does that mean we're a team now?" She looked up at him.
"No!" Chat stood up taller, trying to show his dominance towards the young adult in front of him.
"It means, I'll consider it." He stated quickly.
Somber looked at the ground twisting her foot slightly. She looked upset but it quickly faded when she looked back at him.
"Okay! So, how do you want me to keep in touch?"
Chat got jumped by the sudden spring in her step. He was about to answer before she cut him off.
"You know what, never mind I'll find you if I need to!" She smiled widely.
He blinked slowly bring his hand up for a thumbs up.
She gave him a soft fist bump then ran towards the exit of the alley.
"See you later alligator! I gotta go! Try not to die before I see you again, byeee!!"
Somber's voice faded out as she left the alley, presumably to run down the sidewalk.
Chat ran to follow her but when he turned the corner she was gone.
He let out a soft "huh..." then turned towards the alley, pulling out his staff and launching himself into the air.
…
That morning was quite the struggle for Adrien, mainly the getting out of bed aspect. Who would've guessed that jumping around on buildings would make a bruise on one's stomach not feel the best.
But also, it could've been the lack of sleep he had gotten, being that the time was around 12:30 am when he actually made it back into his house, and another half hour before actually laying down into bed, with the occasional time checks throughout the night.
When waking up, Adrien tried his best not to complain about his injury, mainly to stop Plagg from criticizing his decisions but he didn't even have to say anything for Plagg to start.
"That was stupid, You're stupid." Plagg grumbled.
Adrien groaned. “Why are you talking about that? I didn't even say anything!"
"Your face said it all kid."
Adrien frowned and walked to his dresser pulling out a soft-purple form fitting t-shirt, there was a faint Gabriel Agreste logo in the center of the upper chest. He grabbed some black jeans, then walked to the bathroom. Quickly changing then grabbing a faded Jean jacket with black fabric lining the inside.
"Adrien... we need to talk about this." Play flew in front of Adriens face as he reached for the door nob.
"What is there to talk about?" Adrien sounded harsher than he would've liked, especially since the tone made Plagg's concerned expression turn into an angry frown.
Adrien took a step away from the scary cat.
"Yes, we do! You've been ignoring my warnings for too long! I've seen you get injured too many times-"
"It's just a bruise!" Adrien took a more dominant stance just for Plagg to fly and shout directly at his face.
"One day it's gonna be more than 'just a bruise'!" His voice made Adrien flinch slightly.
"One day you're gonna get hurt badly and i won't be able to help you!"
Adrien could've sworn he saw a tear on Plagg's face.
"Plagg-" His voice was cut off by a knock from the door, causing the small cat to disappear into Adrien's jacket.
"Adrien are you okay in there, I thought I heard shouting?” Nathalie's soft voice lingered in the air as Adrien looked down at Plagg.
Plagg looked away.
"No... sorry Nathalie I just got a little upset at..." he glanced around his room, his eyes landing on his 3-screened monitor.
"At a game...I was playing a game on my computer..."
He looked back down at Plagg giving him a sad smile.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have yelled..."
Plagg looked back at him, his expression softened slightly.
Nathalie gently opened the door.
"It’s fine... there is something I came up here for though."
"Don't worry I'm awake, I was just about to leave for school-"
"Not that." She sifted her clipboard. “Gabriel wants to speak to you."
…
"You've been slacking Adrien." Gabriel was facing the wall as he spoke.
Adrien shifted uncomfortably.
Even with his uneasy demeanor he wasn't nervous, making sure to hold a confident stance as he responded. "In which area?" Adrien raised an eyebrow.
Gabriel turned his head to glare at Adrien. He was unsettled but didn't divert his gaze.
"Your grades having been going down-"
"Oh no- " Adrien said sarcastically. "Let me guess, my A went to an A-"
Gabriel hardened his glare but didn't respond leaving Adrien with the impression that he was right.
"Don't get cocky Adrien. You've been lacking in your modeling skills as well."
"Yeah- well, that's because I don't want to model."
"You have a job to do, and you will do it right!" Gabriel rose his voice.
Adrien eyes widened but then arched as he took a step forward.
"If you care that much then get someone else to do it for you!"
"This is what's good for you Adrien."
"This is not what I want!"
"It's what your mother would've wanted."
Adrien placed a hand on his right cheek. The scar. Silence. A few seconds past before either of them thought to breath.
"It's not been that long...." Gabriel raised his head, eyes piercing down at Adrien as he spoke. "And yet it seems you have forgotten why she's gone..."
Adrien looked everywhere except his father. Anywhere but his father. The only thought ringing through his head: "It's my fault."
"But...wouldn't..." Adriens voice stuttering as he spoke. He didn't mean for it to come out shaking but he couldn't stop it. "Wouldn't she just want me to be happy...?"
The question was real because he didn't know the answer. His mom had been gone for 11 years. He remembered only a few things about her.
"She would want you to have a successful future." Gabriel stated plainly.
Adrien tried to think of a counter, but nothing came to mind, as a short shaky breath escaped his lips. He tilted his head to the ground; eyes closed in defeat.
"You have a modeling job at 2:00, don't be late."