I don't own the art.

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(Adrien's POV)

The next morning I've been thinking if I should visit Luka to know I'm alive. But on one condition, he and his sister can't reveal it to my friends yet or their parents. I have a feeling that Luka probably knows I'm Cat Noir during the Wishmaker incident since he's Viperion with the power of second chance to go back in time to redeem a mistake. Just as I remember having to do second chances each time Ladybug died while I tried to impress her as Aspik. I have to be sure to earn his trust to not reveal that either.

"Agh! This is too much. He probably knows I'm Cat Noir but I hope he understands that I ran away from my father to live a new life as a criminal" I paced back and forth in my warehouse.

"So why not try to explain to him without him calling the cops on you since you're the most wanted criminal?" Plagg asked.

"I gotta try but I hope he trusts me entirely as well as with his sister too. Juleka doesn't know I'm Cat Noir" I said.

"And she despises cats," Plagg said.

"Yeah, I know. But she won't hate cats forever in her life" I chuckled.

From what I've learned she used to be Purple Tigress. How did I figure it out? Because I saw Ladybug taking Juleka to a safe place before and I figured she gave her the tiger miraculous in a private place. It's kind of ironic since tigers are big cats. But still, this is my only chance. I may look like a minor goth punk kid but I gotta see my old friends again with my new identity. I gotta be a fake cousin to Luka and Juleka.

"I gotta try, Plagg. I'm forgetting what school is like. The staff has gotta believe I'm an orphan. I don't have parents anymore" I said, school requires parent's signature for kids.

"Let's do it," Plagg said, I fist-bumped him while he just poked with his tiny hands.

-

I went looking for Luka anywhere in the city. He's a delivery guy riding his bike and it's not hard to recognize him with black hair with teal-blue highlights. I kept looking at every street after him both as Cat Noir and as Aiden.

"Okay, this is not easy." I kept looking as Aiden this time. Even as a civilian I have a little bit of feline instincts and I remember what cologne he puts on. I can tell he's near. Time to put on the Aiden act. I saw him come out after delivery.

"Hello there," I called to him.

"Do I know you?" He saw me.

"Yes, you do. Can we talk in private?" I said with a little less emotion.

"Okay. Just don't rob me." Luka comes with me to an alley.

I looked around to make sure we are alone and so far, it's just us two, "How long have you remember Adrien before he disappeared?" I asked him.

"For just a few months and well after I briefly dated Marinette," Luka said.

That I remember but they broke up for whatever reason. The same exact moment when Kagami broke up with me.

"What if.....What if I told you I'm him?" I removed my black beanie hat and waved my head to get my blond hair messy to look like the old me.

Luka gasped at my old identity and just as he was about to scream, I put my hand on his mouth shut him up, "Shh....I know it's a shock but it's true. It's really me and I know that you know I'm Cat Noir. Remember the Wishmaker incident?" I asked him and he nodded, "You probably saw my true identity. I know you're Viperion the whole time." I removed my hand from his mouth.

"Adrien, I thought you disappeared. Where have you been? Everyone is devastated to think you either disappeared or presumed dead" Luka was a bit shocked to see me in flesh and blood.

"It's a long story, Luka, I found out Shadow Moth's secret identity," I told him.

"What?!" Luka gasped.

"Yeah and I'm not telling you who it is. It's complicated. That's why I ran away, leaving my old life behind. Let's say Adrien suffered a lot from being neglected and isolated by his father. No freedom to be what he wants to be because he's been like a puppet by his father. Cat Noir tried so hard to get loved by Ladybug but she never saw what he's going through. He never gets the credit from the public and he felt that Paris doesn't want him." I explained the whole story as he listened, "So now I'm Aiden Bastet, a goth punk boy living on the streets to be free from pain and no longer the Adrien he once was" I said as I put back my beanie hat on.

"That's very drastic to run away, Adri...I mean Aiden. Our friends have been depressed because of you. Do you have any idea what Marinette has been going through when you disappeared? Ladybug was never herself without Cat Noir." Luka was very disappointed.

"I know and I'm sorry, Luka. I didn't mean to but I've been suffering a lot than them. Paris may miss Adrien but they don't miss Cat Noir. That's another reason Cat Noir became a criminal because he's like a street cat struggling to survive on his own at a young age" I said with a little bit of emotion left in me.

"You do have a lot to explain to your friends. And they might never forgive you." Luka said with a stern face.

I sighed in disappointment that I knew this was not such a good idea, "Luka, you have every right to be angry. But I can't explain everything to my friends to know I'm alive. I'm no longer Adrien Agreste anymore. I'm Aiden Bastet. I was planning on being a fake cousin to you and Juleka so I can go back to school but obviously, you don't want me. I'll take my leave" I was about to leave when Luka grabbed my shoulder.

"Wait. You want to pretend to be my fake cousin? Pretending is like lying, Aiden. But if it's the only way to get you to see your friends, I accept. But please don't steal anything from them like a thief" Luka said.

"Very well then." I nodded in agreement.

"Juleka did tell me you saved Marinette's life the other day as Cat Noir. But why? Criminals don't save innocents" Luka said.

"I'm not like any other criminal, Luka. I'm a lone wolf and I'm not that heartless. Let's say that Marinette is like a sweet little mouse that has ways of cheering both sides of me" I smirked a little.

"Yeah, it's a pity she and I broke up," Luka said.

"But I heard you guys made up and became friends. Anyways, Juleka will have to know I'm Adrien but she can't tell anyone about it. Can she keep it a secret as best as she can?" I asked, though a little desperate that I seriously want to see my friends again at school.

"I trust my sister well enough to keep secrets. Let's go." Luka said.

-

He brought me to his boathouse while I still had my Aiden disguise. I see everything in this boathouse hasn't changed much except the posters of his father Jagged Stone. I see Juleka brushing her hair and noticed my reflection in the mirror.

"Luka who's that?" She turns around to see me.

"Hello, Juleka. You may not recognize me but please don't freak out" I removed my beanie hat and shook my head to make my hair a little messy to reveal my partial Adrien look.

"Adrien? You're alive!" Juleka gasped.

"Yes but it's a long story," I said but then she walks up to me.

"Where have you been this year? Everyone was worried about you!" Juleka got upset.

"I know, I know. Let me explain everything." I said.

I explained the beginning but minus the others. I told her that I ran away because I was suffering a lot from living with my father and I live on the streets, stealing things I need to survive, and living with cats and I saw the look on her face that she doesn't like cats. I didn't tell her anything about my alter-ego nor my father's.

"Yeah, so that's basically my story. I'm sorry I made you and our friends suffer. I had to make Paris and my father believe I disappeared. And...I truly miss you guys which is why I wanna make a deal with you two" I said.

"What kind of deal?" She asked.

"That I will be your fake cousin so I can get back to school. Everyone can't know I'm Adrien." I said, clasping my hands together like I'm praying.

"Okay, but we'll have to make it less obvious it's you, like dying your hair," Juleka said, pointing out I'm still blonde.

"Uh, I like my real hair, thanks," I said because if my hair gets dyed, I don't know if Cat Noir's hair will too. The transformation can't possibly be because I've seen a few allies have their hair changed differently while mine is just shaggier.

"Any other option?" Juleka asked.

"The beanie will just do," I said.

"It's a good point because I didn't recognize you," Juleka said.

"I agree too. But you know secrets don't last forever....Aiden. Marinette is gonna be so mad at you for...you know" Luka referring to my Cat Noir identity.

"That I was gone." I covered it up.

"So be careful not to slip that it is you," Luka said.

"I'll be careful. Just pretend I'm Aiden Bastet, not Adrien Agreste. The street cats taught me to be sneaky" I smirked.

"Got it. Be lucky Fang isn't here." Luka chuckled.

I chuckled and shook my head, "I've seen a few videos of cats scaring crocodiles. I'm not scared of Fang. Anyways, Juleka. Promise not to tell our friends? I know this is a lot but someday when the time is right, they'll understand"

"Promise, cousin Aiden," Juleka said.

-

The next day, I was signed into the school as Aiden Bastet. Juleka told her friends that I'm her cousin and they were all shocked to see what I look like. I'm also happy that I was to be taking Adrien's seat next to Nino. I pretend to not know anyone in Miss Bustier's class except for Marinette.

"We have a new student today, class. Welcome Aiden Bastet" Our teacher introduced me.

"Wow, I know him." I heard Marinette whisper.

"Hello," I said as I stayed in character without showing any of my Adrien Agreste personality.

They all said hi to me but Chloe being Chloe is always obnoxious to everyone without thinking straight. She doesn't even know much about me as Aiden Bastet.

"Where did you come from? A vampire coffin? Such ridiculous depressing black clothes" Chloe laughed at what I'm wearing.

I didn't reply and sat at my seat where I used to sit as Adrien.

"That was rude, Chloe. He's new here so treat him nicely" Our teacher glared at Chloe.

"Whatever." Chloe scoffs in annoyance.

"I'm Nino, dude." Nino held his hand for a shake.

"Aiden Bastet." I shook his hand.

"You're Juleka's cousin? How come I never seen you anywhere in Paris?" Nino asked.

"Yup and let's say I'm a lone wolf" I replied.

"I can guess it's the goth style you're into." He noticed the attire.

"Yup." I nodded.

"Marinette told me about you the other day," Nino said.

"Did she? Oh well, guess no need to introduce me to her." I said.

-

After class, I was in the cafeteria alone at the table since I'm too emotionless to go and talk to Marinette and her friends. She seems in a better mood knowing I've come to this school. I saw she's coming this way along with Alya and Nino since they probably didn't want me to feel alone. Very nice of them but I gotta stay in character as Aiden.

"Hey there," I spoke in an emotionless voice.

"Hey, Aiden. I'm glad to see you again. These are my friends Alya and Nino." Marinette introduced them to me, well again.

"Nice to meet you all," I said and took a bite of my apple.

"So you are Juleka and Luka's cousin? How come we never see you in Paris?" Alya asked.

"Heh, I'm a lone wolf. But it's best to meet people and make new friends." I said with a little smirk.

"I guess lone wolves love privacy." Nino guessed.

"Not always. I'm like a wolf howling at night" I chuckled and still ate my apple.

"Literally or metaphorically?" Marinette giggled.

"Well metaphorically," I replied.

"So what do you for a living, lone wolf?" Alya asked.

"Hmm....where do I begin? I'm into Chinese and hard rock music." I replied.

"Cool. Much like your cousins." Alya said.

"Yeah but I don't play instruments like them. But I do enjoy it" I said, drinking a carton of milk.

"Care if I show you around here later?" Marinette asked.

"That would be lovely, Miss Dupain-Cheng" I flirted and kissed the back palm of her hand.

-

"So what made you wanna go here?" Marinette asked me while showing me around, though I know already but I have to keep the act up.

"My aunt wanted me to get some education," I said.

"You remind me of Adrien. Ever since he was homeschooled, he wanted to go to a real school to make friends" Marinette said.

"Really?" I asked, still pretending not to know.

"Yes, he was happy to go here and got the friends he never got," Marinette said.

"He must be lucky to make friends. But I'm sorry he disappeared. It's best to move on, even if he's living a new life" I said, a little funny that I'm right here the whole time but she doesn't know.

"Maybe I should. But anyway, we're soon approaching the algebra classroom." Marinette changed the subject.

"And over there is the science class, which is not exactly my favorite subject." Marinette showed the science class.

"We also got a library to study in peace and quiet of course." She brought me to the library and showed me around.

"Interesting," I whispered.

"Yeah, after this we'll pass the gym hall where we all exercise." Marinette showed me the gym hall, it was all empty and quiet but just us in it.

"Cool." My voice echoed in the gym hall.

"Yup. And now lastly our lockers." Marinette showed us the lockers, my locker was standing there, now with Aiden Bastet tagged on it.

"Awesome locker to have, Marinette," I said as I opened my locker.