#i previously cut the baldrien subplot to save on time

[runawaycatwalker]

Part 21. Close Shaves and Slipups

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Description below the cut

After entering the main hallway of Rolland Dupain’s residence, Adrien’s legs give out from under him as Plagg is ejected from his ring.

Adrien: Claws in.

Plagg: Whew, am I glad that's all over!

Adrien: Yeah.

Plagg: I don't know about you, but I'm ready to find a comfy spot on that couch, eat some bedtime camembert, and snooze for a very long—

Plagg looks through the glass door to Rolland’s living room with a worried expression.

Plagg: —uh oh.

Adrien: Plagg?  Plagg, what's wrong?

Plagg: Looks like Rolland's got company.

Cut to Tom Dupain holding a cardboard box labelled “Tom child baking stuff.”

Tom: It's good to see you, Dad.

Rolland: Didn't you say over the phone that my granddaughter was coming over?

Tom: I was going to ask Marinette to bring this by, but she's barely been home since her classmate is Adrien Agreste.

Rolland: ...Am I supposed to know who that is?

Tom raises his hands and Rolland gestures behind him with his thumb.

Tom: You haven't heard about Adrien being kidnapped?  It's all over the news!

Rolland: I don't watch the news.  If it's important, I'll find out when I look out the window.

Tom: Well, Adrien's very important to Marinette. Hang on, I've got a flyer Marinette made from one of the photos she used to keep on her wall...

Tom places a flyer in Rolland’s hands, on the back of which is written “Call Marinette if you see Adrien Agreste +33 653257.”  A closeup of the front of the flyer depicts the advertisement of Adrien in white jumping through a bright sky, with the words “Lost” and “Please help!” scrawled in red.

Tom: Here, take a look at this.

Rolland: I see the problem: Marinette's boy became an angel and ascended to heaven.

Tom: No, Dad, he's just a normal boy, I promise.

Rolland: He's glowing and flying!  That is not what I would call 'normal boy'!

Tom: The photo was edited, he isn't actually like that.

Rolland: If he doesn't look like his photo, how is anyone supposed to recognize him?

Tom: Never mind.  Just call Marinette if you happen to find any missing blond boys.

Rolland, from behind the glass door, spots Adrien on the other side and gives a wave.

Rolland: Apprentice?  There you are!  Done stretching your legs?

Tom (offscreen): Your new apprentice?  I'd love to meet him!

Rolland: Come and say hello to my son!

Adrien bolts away, using a hand to cover his face, and tries to distort his voice to be less recognizable.

Adrien: SoRrY! i NeEd tO UsE tHe BaThRoOm!

Rolland: Okay, but—

Adrien: DoN't WaIt FoR mE!

In Rolland’s bathroom, Adrien grabs both sides of the sink and tries to catch his breath.  Plagg floats above him, looking down.

Adrien: I can't stay here.  As soon as the coast is clear, we're grabbing your cheese and running.

Plagg: What?  Why?

Adrien: Marinette's looking for me.  She's going to find me here sooner or later if I stay.

Plagg: Would Pigtails knowing where you are really be such a bad thing?

Plagg moves above the sink (on which a pair of scissors and a collapsed straight razor are visible) near Adrien’s hand, which holds the lucky charm bracelet Marinette gave him.

Plagg: She's worried about you.  And you might not be able to tell her you're Catwalker, but there's no harm in letting her know you're alive, right?

Adrien: Mayura knew too many personal details about Marinette and her connection to me.  I don't even know what the 'misattributed present' was about, but that sounds like something Marinette would do.  I think... Marinette and Mayura have to be the same person.

Plagg raises his arms in fierce denial.  There is also the image of Marinette dressed in Mayura’s outfit, holding a feather above her hand with an evil expression.

Plagg: No way! Pigtails is the least evil person you know!  Peacock Lady probably threw suspicion on her so we couldn't find out who she really is.

Adrien brushes his fingers against the bruise on his neck.

Adrien: I don't want to believe it either, but we can't rule her out.  And either way, it doesn't change the fact that Mayura is a close friend.

Adrien takes off his Chat Noir beanie and looks at it, spiraling with sadness and regret.

Adrien: Can I even trust anyone anymore?

Plagg: You can trust Ladybug.

Adrien: Who now hates me.  I only became Catwalker because I didn't want to lose her.  And now I'm losing her anyway.

Plagg hovers over Adrien’s shoulder.  Adrien just stares at his reflection in the mirror in tired dejection.

Plagg: Ladybug will come around.  She wanted you before, she'll want you again.

Adrien: That was before I messed everything up.  Before I thoughtlessly let myself get caught.  Before I abandoned my life and everyone in it.  Before I kept quiet for the mere possibility I could be Chat Noir again if I just didn't reveal myself to anyone else.

Adrien looks down at his hands in front of him, on top of which Plagg kicks out his feet angrily.

Adrien: Maybe I should just go home.  Mayura's looking for Adrien, so if I acted as bait, I might find out who she—

Plagg: Absolutely not!

Adrien: But if she was telling the truth about caring about me...

Plagg: I don't care what Mayura said!  I'm not letting her ambush you again!

Plagg touches his paws against Adrien’s nose and looks him straight in the eye.

Plagg: I know you want to rush in and attack your problems head-on, but that won't help.  You're a newly formed cheese that needs to wait for some mold to grow a strong rind and mature it.  Don't let yourself be eaten before you're ready.

Plagg looks up consolingly.

Adrien: When will I be ready?

Plagg: I don't know.  But we'll figure it out together.  And when the time is right, I'll be right here with you when you go back to being the recklessly brave Chat Noir you were always meant to be.

Adrien starts to smile as Plagg hugs his face, raising his hands to embrace the kwami.

Adrien: Thanks, Plagg.  Any ideas on what this 'newly formed cheese' should do next?

Plagg: Staying right where we are!  No one ever thinks to check under their own nose!  Rolland didn't even recognize you when your picture was right in front of him!

Adrien brushes his hand through the back of his hair and looks in the mirror with inspiration. Plagg floats above him.

Adrien: About that... Changing my hair won't affect how I look when transformed, right?

Plagg: Catwalker's hair is longer than yours and green. So no.  What kind of change are you thinking?

Cut to Rolland working in his kitchen, with Adrien poking his head out from behind the living room door in the background.

Rolland: There you are.  My son had to leave. It's a shame you couldn't meet him.

Adrien: Sorry, but I'd... rather not meet anyone else right now.

Rolland: You don't want to be introduced to my son?  That is completely understandable!

Adrien: Wait, really?

Rolland pats the head of one of the mice he works with.

Rolland: You're looking at a man who only spoke to mice and the delivery boys for two decades!  You don't need to talk to anyone you don't want to!  Who needs pleasantries when you've got bread?

Adrien gives a friendly wave and removes the beanie from his head, revealing that he is now completely bald.

Adrien: I know I didn't introduce myself properly earlier, but out of curiosity...  Based on how I look, who do you think I am?

Rolland beams as he pulls Adrien down to his height to give his head a friendly rub.  Adrien smiles in relief.

Rolland: I didn't realize you had even less hair than me!  You're definitely a 'Baldy'!

Adrien: 'Baldy'... I think I can live with that.

Below is the same image as above, only without text: