Marinette wrung her hands together as she eyed the Agreste Mansion. Long, iron-wrought beams towered over her, casting long, dark shadows across her petite figure. She swallowed thickly, her fingers trembling.

She'd already tried phoning him – a suggestion of Tikki's when Marinette had lost the guts to step outside and face him. But all her calls had gone to voicemail and her heart had all but shattered. It took over an hour for Tikki to console her.

She felt a nudge on her thigh and looked down. Tikki frowned up at Marinette from inside her purse. "What are you waiting for?"

"I can't do this."

"That's just the fear talking, Marinette. We went over this already."

But she wasn't listening. "This was such a bad idea," Marinette brought her hands up to her head and massaged her temples. "How did I let you talk me into this?"

She could already feel a migraine coming on, her mind relentlessly flooding with endless scenarios of what would happen when Adrien finally saw her. None of them boded well for her. None. She could already picture him as he opened the front door. Right before he sent her away.

I should've never come here.

Tikki sighed heavily and Marinette was pulled from her nightmare. "Try not to overthink it," said Tikki, "I'm sure you're just overreacting."

She shook her head stubbornly. "No." She wracked her brain for an excuse – any excuse.

"What if he's not home? What if he's still at fencing or had to stop somewhere on the way over here? Then Nathalie will answer the door and she'll be the one to chase me away because no one will want to speak to me. Then Mr Agreste will be annoyed with me for bothering him and he'll complain to Adrien and Adrien will think I'm harassing him."

Tikki opened her mouth to speak, but Marinette cut her off.

"Wait! What if no one's home? What if Adrien injured himself at practice and everyone had to rush over to the hospital? What if everyone knows about it except me because no one wants to talk to me? Then I'll be stuck here ringing the doorbell while he suffers from a broken arm –,"

"Marinette!"

Her heart lurched in her chest and she looked back down. Tikki sat there with her arms crossed over her chest, narrowed eyes and a frown on her little face.

"You know I love you, but we both know how ridiculous that sounds. You know Adrien's schedule. You know he finished fencing an hour ago, and if everyone was at the hospital, why is his car parked inside the gate?"

Marinette snuck a glance between the bars at the sleek limo in the driveway.

"That could be anyone's limo." she muttered.

Tikki glared at her, but Marinette ignored it and turned back towards the street. "No, we should definitely come back tomorrow. I'll be more prepared then."

"You're never prepared when it comes to Adrien."

But Marinette was too relieved to care. She wanted to see Adrien, wanted him to hug her and tell her everything was all right. But the risk of him pushing her away, of him looking at her with nothing but mistrust and contempt was too high. It was better to play it safe.

Tikki didn't know what she was talking about, it was better not to know. At least this way a future with Adrien was still possible.

"You'll thank me for this later," said Tikki. She flew out of the purse and made her way towards the gate. Marinette watched her with wide eyes. The kwami reached for the doorbell and her stomach dropped.

"No! Stop!"

Marinette rushed over, her hand outstretched to snatch the kwami, but Tikki had already pushed the button. The intercom buzzed and Marinette's feet anchored themselves to the ground.

Tikki slipped away from the button and Marinette pitched forward, slamming into the wall. She let out a strangled whimper.

"Marinette," Tikki gasped, "Are you okay?"

She groaned as she peeled herself from the wall, her skin stinging from the impact. A hatch opened above her and a round camera slid out from inside. It extended towards her while Tikki flew back into her bag.

"Yes?" Nathalie's voice buzzed from the intercom, "Can I help you?"

Marinette grinned awkwardly. She could already feel the cold sweat trickling down her back. "Hi, uh –I'm Adrien's classmate and I was, uh, wondering if he was, um, home?"

"He is."

"Great," she mumbled, "Um, c –could you –would you mind if I speak with him? It's really important."

"I highly doubt that."

Marinette deflated. She glanced down at her purse, unsure of how to proceed, but all Tikki did was offer an encouraging smile. It wasn't exactly the kind of help she was looking for.

"If that's all then –,"

"No, please!" said Marinette, "There's been this huge, colossal misunderstanding at school and I really need to explain. Please, I won't be long. Just let me speak with him."

There was silence on the end of the line and some part of Marinette was hopeful. She thought Nathalie had maybe gone to fetch Adrien and that they'd resolve this now without her having to look him in the eyes.

But the camera retracted into the hatch, disappearing into the wall. The gate stayed closed.

"At least it wasn't Adrien who sent you away," said Tikki.

Marinette lowered her head, hands hanging limply by her sides. "I knew this was a bad idea." She turned back towards the street, "Maybe I should just go home and –,"

Metal screeched from behind her and Marinette spun around, her hand instinctively on her purse. She saw the menacing gates part for her and relaxed when she saw Nathalie standing expectantly beside the front door.

"Welcome Marinette," said Nathalie, "Won't you please come in?"

Marinette's eyes widened. "Y –Yes!"

She hurried through the gates along the paving and beamed up at the older woman when she reached the entrance. "Th –Thank you so much. I'm so sorry to have bothered you."

But Nathalie didn't respond. She wore a tiresome expression on her face and looked at Marinette as though she wasn't even there. Wordlessly, she opened the front door and stepped back to allow Marinette inside.

While the outside of the mansion was bright and welcoming, the foyer was less so. Freshly cleaned and well lit, it was just as empty as she remembered. It always made her feel a little bit nervous standing here, especially when Mr Agreste would stare down at her from the top of the stairs with that scathing look in his eyes.

But he wasn't there now. And neither was Adrien.

Nathalie shut the door behind them and Marinette tightened her hold on her purse. She laughed nervously, tension coiling within her like a python. "So, uh, where is Adrien? Am I supposed to wait for him here or...?"

"That won't be necessary."

Marinette snapped her head to the side and watched as Gabriel entered the foyer from the adjoining room. He walked regally, shoulders squared and head held high. His gaze bounced off of her, barely acknowledging her at all.

Her heart faltered when he stopped before her, a menacing scowl on his face. She fought the urge to take a step back.

"I –I don't understand," she murmured, "Where –Where's Adrien?"

Nathalie moved to stand beside Gabriel and together they formed a human barricade, blocking the stairs. Marinette's eyes instinctively moved to where she knew Adrien's room would be. But he didn't join them.

And it didn't look like he was going to.

"You see, Marinette," said Gabriel, "Adrien isn't the one who wanted to speak with you. I am."

Gabriel Agreste was a world-renowned fashion designer. But he hardly left his house after the disappearance of his wife, and that made his presence scarce. Under any other circumstances, Marinette would be over the moon to hear him say those words.

But he looked anything but happy and Marinette fought the urge to fidget in front of him.

"I can tell you're very confused. So allow me to elaborate." He readjusted his glasses. "You see, I don't take kindly to people who try to seek private visits with my family uninvited, especially when they lie to my staff."

"Lie?" she gaped, "But I didn't –,"

"You referred to Adrien as your classmate, but last I heard you were recently expelled." He turned towards his assistant, "Nathalie, would you be so kind as to tell her what you told me yesterday?"

His assistant pulled her tablet out from her jacket and began scrolling through it, "Of course, Sir."

Marinette felt like she was going to be sick.

"Marinette Dupain-Cheng, age seventeen, expelled on the grounds of bullying, cheating, unprovoked assault towards a fellow student and theft of said student's personal property."

"But that's not –,"

"Are you honestly going to try and tell me the information here is false?" he asked, "That you were not expelled because of these very reasons?"

Marinette's heart was racing. "No! I mean –I was, but it's all just a misunderstand –"

"Do not raise your voice to me!" he bellowed, "You are in my home, under my roof and I expect you to be grateful for this courtesy you've been given."

She inhaled a shaky breath, her entire body trembling. Blinking back the tears in her eyes, Marinette bowed her head respectfully. "I'm sorry, Mr Agreste. Please," her voice lowered to a whisper, "forgive me."

"It never ceases to amaze me," he said, "how terribly some people raise their children." Marinette bit her lip so hard she tasted blood.

"Now tell me. You must think very highly of my son if his opinion of you matters so much. Do you fancy yourself in love with Adrien?"

Marinette didn't respond. She didn't need to.

"Don't you think it's better for the both of you if you give up this little fantasy of yours? My son is one of Paris's elite, a gifted child beyond his years. He doesn't need to associate himself with someone like you. Especially after all you've done to Miss Rossi."

Marinette looked up at him, desperation breaking her voice. "But I didn't do it. If you just let me speak to him –,"

"My son doesn't want anything to do with you."

She winched.

Out of all the things he'd said so far, that single sentence hurt the most. She knew this was a long shot. After all, Adrien hadn't read any of her texts or answered her calls. But she'd still hoped. She'd still wanted to believe.

Maybe you both can, I don't know, figure something out with that headmaster of yours...?

She clenched her fists and her tears fell freely down her face.

Chat Noir was wrong. Tikki was wrong.

He doesn't want to help me. He never did.

"But...he's my friend –,"

"Not anymore." Gabriel's voice was curt and cold, "After you assaulted his friend, Adrien made it perfectly clear how disappointed he was in you, and I share that sentiment. Well you may be talented, I don't want someone so violent and uneducated associating with my son, even if it means pulling him out of public school."

Marinette's eyes widened. "But...he loves school."

Gabriel took a step towards her and rested his hand on her shoulder. "Then, Miss Dupain-Cheng, since you love him so very much, I trust you'll make the right decision, and do what's best for him."

"And what do you think you're doing?" asked Plagg.

Adrien scaled the brick wall. His body moved automatically, his fingers easily finding all the crevices and cracks that he'd made use of during the last few years. "What does it look like?" he asked.

"It looks like you're about to fall to your death."

"Would it hurt to say something positive for once?"

"Fine, I'm positive this is a very bad idea." Plagg flew up above Adrien and stared down at him with his arms crossed. "It's one thing to sneak out of your house as Chat Noir, but sneaking back in like this? You're insane."

Adrien huffed and looked up, "When I first met Master Fu I had to sneak out of here without you. Haven't you ever wondered how I did that? By myself?"

Plagg tilted his head to the side. "This may come as a shock to you, but I had more important things to think about."

"All you ever think about is your stomach."

"Like I said, more important things."

Adrien reached for the metal of his window frame and pulled himself up onto the ledge. It was a good thing he'd chosen to open the one closest to the wall when he'd gone out as Chat Noir. Otherwise, this would've been near impossible.

He slid into his bedroom and shut the window behind him. Plagg phased through the glass and flopped on the bed with a dramatic sigh.

"Finally," he moaned, "I'm starving."

Adrien rolled his eyes and walked towards his desk. He reached down for the cupboard – the cheese cupboard – and pulled out a slice of Camembert. He threw it in Plagg's direction and reached on the desk for his phone.

He unlocked the screen and nearly dropped it.

Marinette. Fourteen missed calls.

"Oh, no."

When Nathalie had seen him with swollen eyes and dark circles beneath them she'd phoned to cancel the photo-shoot. She hadn't asked him about it, only if he'd wanted to stay home today. He declined her offer. The idea of being stuck in his room, left with nothing to do but think of her, was enough to break him all over again.

His father had been less sympathetic to his ordeal. Gabriel was livid when he found out about the cancelled shoot, worsening Adrien's mood to the point where he'd lost his appetite and decided to skip breakfast altogether. It's not like he'd be eating with anyone anyway.

Marinette hadn't even crossed his mind. Not at school when she wasn't in her usual seat, not when the girls had lunch without her and not even afterwards when he'd snuck out to get away.

Pathetic...

Adrien rushed towards his bedroom door and Plagg cried out after him, "Hey! Hey! Hey! What's the rush?"

"I need to ask Nathalie something. I'll be quick." He yanked the door open, glad to see the Gorilla was nowhere to be found, and hurried down the hall towards the stairs. He stopped cold before he reached them.

"...I trust you'll make the right decision, and do what's best for him."

That tone. That voice.

"I understand."

No.

Adrien sprinted down the hall, his stomach sinking as he processed what was happening. He should've remembered the promise he made to her. He shouldn't have left her alone. He'd let her down. He'd told her it would be okay.

He was such an idiot.

Adrien took the steps two at a time, bracing himself on the railing to keep from falling. He stopped on the landing and all three of them turned to face him. But he wasn't looking at his father or Nathalie. His eyes were locked on a small figure with dark hair and wide blue eyes.

She looked up and caught his gaze.

Adrien's breathing was heavy. He was exhausted from running across the city and fatigued from the lack of sleep he'd gotten, his thoughts plagued with Ladybug. He knew he must've looked like a mess. But he knew it was nothing compared to the way she looked now.

Marinette bit her lower lip, tears slipping past her chin onto the tiles.

Staring at her, he was reminded of last night on her balcony. She'd seemed so frail beneath the gloomy sky. He was supposed to be helping her. But all he'd done was make things worse.

"Adrien," said Gabriel, "I thought you were practicing your piano."

Something in his expression must've startled her. She tore her eyes from him and turned away from them. "Thank you for your hospitality, Mr Agreste. I –I have to go now." Her voice was wavering.

She walked towards the door and pulled it open. Adrien's body moved before he registered what he was doing. "No! Marinette, wait!" He rushed forward, jumping down the stairs to stop her. But she'd already slipped through the doors.

They slammed shut behind her, the sound echoing off the walls of the foyer. Adrien didn't stop. He collided with the door and he reached blindly for the handle.

I have to find her. She doesn't have anyone. If Hawk Moth –

He pulled the door open, his hand gripping the door handle so tightly his knuckles turned white. Adrien caught sight of her disappearing down the subway and moved to follow her.

A hand fell on his shoulder. He froze.

"Close the door, Son."

"I can't just –,"

"Let her go," said Gabriel. "A girl like that has no place in your life."

His father gently pried his fingers from the handle and pulled him back. Adrien could only watch helplessly, his body refusing to do anything else as Gabriel shut the door in front of him.

He wanted to scream, to tear down the door and pursue her, but the grip on his shoulder was paralyzing. Ironclad. Adrien couldn't move. His body wouldn't listen to him.

Adrien clenched his eyes shut and his head fell against the wood of the door. He rested there, his breathing ragged. "What happened?" he whispered, "What did you do to her?"

"I didn't do anything."

Adrien gritted his teeth and spun around to face his father. Everything in him begged him to back down, to let his father win like always and continue pretending to be the perfect little family he so desperately wanted.

But he wouldn't back down this time. Not when it came to this. He was a hero. If he wasn't anyone else's he could at least be hers.

Adrien glared up at his fathers and straightened his back alongside the door to keep him steady. "What did you say to her?"

Gabriel took a step back and the warmth in his eyes was smothered. "What I had to."

Hey, everyone I know it's a little late but here's the next chapter of A Monster in Paris. I really hope you all enjoy it so please don't forget to vote or comment if you did.

I'm really sorry about not uploading last week and hope this chapter makes up for it. Uni life is hectic and when you've got the flu paired with what feels like hundreds of assignments everything can feel very daunting.

Next update will be next week. Hope to see you all then.

With love,