Adrien sat on his windowsill one evening gazing out at the sparkling cityscape of Paris. Ladybug and he were a team—partners who fought side by side for a year trying to protect this city. But something had changed. He had started noticing subtle shifts in her behavior that began to nag at the back of his mind. It all started when Ladybug first recruited someone new into their ranks: Rena Rouge. At first, Adrien brushed it off, chalking it up to the necessity of dealing with stronger and more complex Akumas. After all they needed occasional help.

     But as more temporary wielders joined the fray, Adrien couldn't ignore the growing unease gnawing at him. He began to feel as if he were becoming a secondary character in his own story—a sidekick to Ladybug. He'd catch glimpses of her treating the new recruits with a level of admiration and patience that left him feeling displaced. He thought back to each encounter, each mission where Ladybug subtly positioned herself as the leader, giving orders and instructions while he stood by.

     Late one night, Adrien voiced his thoughts aloud to Plagg. The small Kwami, usually so nonchalant, hovered closer with an uncharacteristic seriousness.

     "Plagg... have you noticed how Ladybug's been treating me lately? She's different. I mean, she's always been the leader, but now... it's like she's treating me as less than everyone else," Adrien murmured, his voice wavering with uncertainty.

     Plagg sighed. "Kid, I've noticed it too. I think it all started when Master Fu lost his memories and handed Ladybug the Miracle Box. She's been taking on a lot more responsibility and it's like... you've been pushed to the sidelines."

     Adrien frowned, staring at Plagg. "You think it's because of that? I mean, maybe it makes sense... Maybe she just feels like she has to take control now that Fu isn't here."

     Plagg floated closer and placed a tiny paw on Adrien's shoulder. "I'm not sure, Adrien, but it's not right for her to push you aside like this. You were supposed to be equals."

     Adrien swallowed the lump forming in his throat, the words 'supposed to be equals' echoing painfully in his mind. Yet, he let it go, convincing himself that it was just the new dynamic they were settling into, but as the weeks went on, more and more temporary heroes were summoned, and Ladybug continued to lean on them for help while Cat Noir was increasingly relegated to the background.

     The breaking point came one day after a particularly tough battle. As Ladybug and the temporary heroes gathered to celebrate their victory, a civilian approached Ladybug and asked, "How does it feel to be such a great leader, Ladybug? Cat Noir makes a good sidekick, doesn't he?"

     Adrien's heart clenched painfully at the word sidekick, and he looked at Ladybug, desperately hoping she'd correct the person. But Ladybug simply smiled and nodded, brushing off the comment as if it were of no importance.

     Adrien felt something shatter inside him. He turned away before anyone could see the tears pricking at his eyes. From that moment on the hurt grew, festering as the people of Paris began to regard him as merely a secondary hero—Ladybug's shadow. The citizens praised Ladybug and her group of temporary wielders, completely forgetting that Cat Noir was supposed to be her equal, her partner, her second-in-command.

     Adrien's heart twisted every time he heard the whispers, every time he noticed Ladybug's subtle yet distancing demeanor. His mental state began to deteriorate. He started questioning his place in her life, in their team. Did she even want him there anymore?

     It wasn't just Ladybug who confused him, either. Marinette, a friend he always saw as sweet yet shy, began to behave strangely around him too. At first he thought her odd behavior was just anxiety, but then he began recalling little details he'd missed before. She was always there whenever he was around and not just by coincidence. The incident at the pool, the wax museum, even his fencing classes—Marinette always seemed to be present. Possessive glances would flit across her face whenever other girls approached him. He remembered people being akumatized during times when he had thought it was his fault, only to now realize that Marinette had been nearby, seemingly triggering the incidents.

     Adrien started casually asking around, wondering if anyone else had noticed. His classmates shrugged it off as Marinette simply being Marinette. He pressed further, trying to get answers, but everyone seemed oblivious or dismissive—until one day, Luka let something slip while Adrien visited him on his family's boat.

     "I thought you already knew, Adrien... Marinette's had a crush on you for a long time."

     Adrien's world shifted. He stumbled back, staring at Luka as if he'd grown a second head. Marinette... had a crush on him? How had he been so blind? The memories came rushing back in vivid detail. The way she stammered around him, the possessive looks, the strange way people reacted whenever he brought her up.

     Back in his room, Adrien paced restlessly, hands trembling.

     "Plagg... did you know?" Adrien whispered, voice tight with a mix of confusion and fear.

     Plagg nodded solemnly. "Yeah, I knew. Kid, it's been obvious to everyone. I was starting to wonder when you'd catch on."

     Adrien's breath hitched. "Why didn't you say anything?"

     Plagg sighed deeply. "It's not my place, Adrien, but now that you know... I think you should hear the full story. It's not just a crush, kid. Marinette's been... keeping tabs on you."

     "What do you mean?" Adrien demanded, his voice rising in pitch.

     "She's been following you for months now. It's not just her either—your whole class knows about it. Kagami knows. Everyone around you except for your stuck up dad, his assistant, Lila, and Chloe has been covering for her," Plagg revealed, his tone heavy with regret.

     Adrien felt his legs give out and he crumpled onto the floor, staring blankly ahead. Everyone knew? His own friends? And Kagami—Kagami, who he thought understood him—had known all this time?

     He felt a sickening pit of dread in his stomach. Grabbing his phone with trembling hands, Adrien dialed Chloe's number. Maybe, just maybe, Chloe would tell him he was overreacting. That Plagg was exaggerating.

     "Adrien?" Chloe's voice came through the line.

     "Chloe, I need to know... has Marinette been following me? Is everyone in our class covering for her?" His voice broke on the last word.

     There was a pause on the other end before Chloe sighed. "Yeah, Adrien. They have. I'm sorry... I didn't think it was my place to tell you, but... it's true."

     Adrien hung up without saying another word, his entire body numb. Panic gripped him, squeezing the air from his lungs. He thought of his last option—the one person he knew he should never be in contact with again.

     With trembling fingers, Adrien dialed Lila's number. The phone rang twice before Lila's voice came through, sweet and saccharine.

     "Adrien? It's been so long. What's wrong?" she cooed, her voice laced with faux concern.

     "Lila... I need to know everything about Marinette. What she's been doing," Adrien whispered.

     There was a pause, then a chuckle from the other end. "Oh, Adrien. I'm glad you finally asked. You see, Marinette isn't as innocent as everyone thinks."

     And so, Lila told him everything. In excruciating, graphic detail, she recounted months of obsessive behavior. She even sent pictures she'd taken—photos of Marinette lurking in the shadows following Adrien from a distance, watching him with an unsettling intensity. Adrien's vision blurred as he stared at the photos, his mind unable to process the betrayal.

     As Lila's words continued to pour through the phone, Adrien felt his mental state unraveling. Everything he thought he knew, everything he believed—crumbled. He had no idea who to trust anymore. Everyone had known. Everyone had been complicit.

     By the time he hung up, Adrien was a trembling mess on the floor, eyes wide and unseeing. Plagg tried to comfort him, but his words were drowned out by the roaring in Adrien's ears.

     How could they? How could she?

     Adrien was no longer sure of anything. The world around him felt distorted, twisted into something unrecognizable. Ladybug... Marinette... his friends... everything was a lie.

     And Adrien? He was utterly, terrifyingly alone.

...

     The days blurred together, each one melding into the next as Adrien's life unraveled at the seams. School had become a chore he barely had the energy to complete. His teachers droned on about subjects that no longer seemed relevant. His classmates chattered around him, oblivious to the storm brewing in his mind. Every forced smile, every empty laugh, only made the pit in his stomach deepen.

     Even his superhero duties, once a source of pride, excitement, and freedom felt like an empty obligation. The partnership and friendship he once cherished with Ladybug had deteriorated into a mere formality. More and more he found himself relegated to the sidelines, watching as Ladybug and the other temporary wielders executed flawlessly coordinated attacks while he hovered on the outskirts, almost as if he were an afterthought.

     Nobody noticed the change in him—not his classmates, not his so-called friends. Nino and Alya were so wrapped up in their own lives that Adrien's absence from their hangouts passed without comment. The only one who seemed to glance his way from time to time was Chloe. Her gaze would linger on him briefly, a frown creasing her face before she turned away. Adrien began to wonder if she was really the villain everyone made her out to be. Maybe, like him, she'd been misunderstood. But that thought drifted away as quickly as it came. Chloe wasn't his friend anymore. No one was.

     Lila, surprisingly, backed off completely. Where she would usually hover at the edge of his peripheral vision, ready to interject with fake sympathy or forced friendliness, she now kept her distance. Her absence was almost more unnerving than her presence. Adrien didn't know why, until one afternoon he overheard her talking to Gabriel's assistant, Nathalie.

     "I'm just worried, Nathalie. He seems so... off lately. Maybe Mr. Agreste should check on him," Lila had said softly, her voice filled with concern so perfectly simulated it made Adrien sick.

     Later that evening, Nathalie knocked on Adrien's door, a small frown on her face.

     "Adrien, is everything alright?" Nathalie asked, her tone hovering between professional and genuinely worried.

     Adrien looked up from where he was sitting at his desk, staring blankly at a textbook he hadn't read a word of.

     "Yeah, Nathalie. I'm fine," Adrien replied with a weak smile.

     Nathalie's eyes searched his face for a long moment, but she didn't press further. She nodded once and left him alone. As soon as the door closed, Adrien's smile crumbled. He buried his face in his hands, taking deep, shuddering breaths.

     Fine. He wasn't fine. Nothing in his life was fine. Everything felt like it was spiraling out of control, every thread of stability unraveling. The facade of perfection his father had forced him to maintain was cracking under the pressure.

     And then, that final day came. A battle with a powerful akuma threatened to devastate the city. Ladybug called on her usual group of temporary heroes. The fight was grueling, but they managed to corner the akuma. Adrien tried to offer suggestions, to strategize, but every time he spoke up, he was brushed aside. Ladybug took the lead, guiding the temporary heroes through a complex maneuver that finally defeated the akuma. She purified the dark butterfly, the miraculous cure restoring everything to normal.

     The temporary wielders dispersed, their faces filled with pride and satisfaction. Adrien stood apart from them, Cat Noir's mask hiding the bitterness that twisted his expression. Once the others had left, he approached Ladybug hesitantly.

     "Ladybug, can we talk for a moment?" Adrien asked quietly.

     Ladybug glanced at him, her expression wary. "What's up, Cat Noir?"

     "I've been... feeling like I'm not part of the team anymore," Adrien began, choosing his words carefully. "I don't know what's changed, but... I just don't feel like your partner."

     Ladybug's eyes widened, then narrowed as if she were weighing her response. "Cat Noir, now isn't really the time—"

     "Please," Adrien interrupted, his voice desperate. "I just need to know... why have you been treating me like this? Why do I feel like I'm not your equal anymore?"

     Ladybug's mouth opened and closed as if searching for the right words. "Cat Noir, you are my partner, but things have changed. I have responsibilities now, more heroes to look after. It's not just about us anymore."

     "Not just about us?" Adrien repeated incredulously. "We're supposed to be a team! But lately, it's like I don't even exist to you. Like I'm just... a sidekick!"

     Ladybug's expression twisted with frustration. "You're overreacting, Cat Noir. You're acting like a child who isn't getting his way."

     Adrien's heart pounded in his chest, a mix of anger and heartbreak building up inside him. "I just want to understand why—"

     "You know what, Cat Noir?" Ladybug snapped, cutting him off. "You're not acting like a partner. You're acting like a hindrance! You're always questioning my decisions, always wanting things to go your way. It's exhausting!"

     The words cut through him like a knife. Adrien's breath hitched.

     "I... I'm just trying to help," Adrien whispered, his voice barely audible.

     Ladybug's eyes blazed with anger. "If you really wanted to help you'd stop making things about yourself for once! Maybe you're just not capable of being a real team player!"

     Adrien froze, the world seeming to tilt on its axis. His ears rang, his vision blurred. Ladybug stared at him for a moment longer, her chest heaving as if she'd just run a marathon. Then, with a huff, she turned on her heel and stormed away, leaving Adrien standing there numb and speechless.

     A single thought echoed through his mind: Useless. Not a team player. Not capable. The words looped over and over, tearing at his already fragile psyche.

     Something inside Adrien snapped.

     He barely registered the journey back home, barely felt himself transform back into his civilian form. Plagg flitted around him, worry etched onto his tiny face.

     "Adrien, what she said... it was wrong. Ladybug's probably just stressed—"

     Adrien nodded mechanically, his movements stiff and robotic.

     "Yeah. She's just stressed. Everything's going to be okay," Adrien murmured, his voice devoid of any emotion.

     "Kid, listen to me—" Plagg began, but Adrien was already walking toward his bathroom.

     "I'm going to take a shower, Plagg. Don't worry," Adrien said quietly.

     Plagg hovered in the doorway, his green eyes wide and fearful. He nodded reluctantly and watched as Adrien closed the door behind him.

     Adrien stood under the shower's spray for what felt like an eternity, the hot water pouring over him, scalding his skin. He stared blankly at the wall, his thoughts a chaotic jumble of despair and numbness. His entire life—his friendships, his family, his partnership with Ladybug—had all been a lie. Every relationship he thought was genuine had crumbled to dust. He was utterly, terrifyingly alone.

     Dark thoughts slithered into his mind, whispers of hopelessness and pain that echoed around the corners of his consciousness.

     'What's the point?' the voices murmured. 'You're not wanted. Not needed. Everyone's better off without you.'

     His gaze drifted to the razor on the shelf.

     The world narrowed to a single point. Adrien's hand moved of its own accord, fingers wrapping around the cool metal handle. Slowly, almost mechanically, he lifted it, staring at the blade glinting in the harsh bathroom light.

...

     The sound of running water echoed faintly through Adrien's room as Plagg hovered anxiously outside the bathroom door. His small feline body buzzed with unease, his green eyes fixed on the handle. The water had been running for far longer than usual. He shifted from one paw to the other, resisting the urge to phase through the door to check on Adrien.

     Finally the door creaked open. Adrien stepped out, steam wafting around him like a shroud. He wore a white shirt with the Gabriel logo on it and a pair of loose jogging pants. His hair clung damply to his forehead and his expression was eerily calm, almost vacant.

     "Adrien are you okay?" Plagg asked, his voice soft but edged with worry.

     Adrien glanced down at the tiny kwami, offering a ghost of a smile. "I'm fine, Plagg. Just needed some time to think."

     Plagg frowned, floating closer as he took in the boy's appearance. There was something off, something that prickled at the back of his mind. Adrien's skin looked paler than usual and—there it was again. That strange, metallic scent tickling at his nose.

     "Are you sure?" Plagg pressed, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I smell... blood."

     Adrien's smile faltered for a fraction of a second before he laughed lightly, waving his hand dismissively. "Oh, that? I must've slipped in the shower or something. It's nothing serious, don't worry about it."

     Plagg's gaze lingered on Adrien's legs, where the faintest smear of red peeked through the fabric of his jogging pants. The scent was stronger now, unmistakable. But Adrien's posture was relaxed, his expression carefully composed, as if he were utterly unaware of any injury.

     Plagg hesitated, doubt gnawing at him. He wanted to ask more, to press Adrien for answers, but the boy's placid demeanor made him pause. Maybe it really was just a minor slip, an accident. After all, Adrien wasn't the type to hide things—was he?

     "I guess you're right," Plagg muttered, floating back slightly. "Just... be careful, okay?"

     Adrien nodded, his smile broadening ever so slightly. "I will, Plagg. Thanks."

     But as the weeks passed, Plagg's concern only deepened. Cuts began to appear more frequently on Adrien's thighs, thin lines crisscrossing over old scars. The boy would always brush off Plagg's worried questions with a practiced nonchalance, insisting they were nothing more than clumsy mishaps. Yet the marks multiplied, and with each new wound, Plagg felt a knot of dread tightening in his chest.

     Adrien continued to go through the motions of daily life, his face a mask of cheerful indifference. He attended school, exchanged pleasantries with his classmates, and even flashed Marinette—who was always nearby—a smile when she awkwardly waved at him, but beneath that facade something dark and insidious was festering. Plagg could see it in the way Adrien's eyes no longer lit up when he transformed into Cat Noir. He could hear it in the strained laugh that never quite reached his eyes.

     The scent of blood lingered in the air far too often. Plagg's anxiety mounted with each passing day, his attempts to coax Adrien into talking met with gentle refusals and placating smiles.

     One night, as they sat together in Adrien's bedroom, Plagg could no longer hold back. "Kid, I'm worried about you."

     Adrien turned his gaze away from the window, the moonlight casting a faint glow on his tired face. He looked at Plagg for a long moment, his eyes softening. "You're my best friend, you know that?"

     Plagg blinked, taken aback. "Adrien... what's going on?"

     Adrien's smile was bittersweet, his shoulders sagging as if weighed down by an invisible burden. "I'm just... tired, Plagg. Tired of everything."

     Alarm bells rang in Plagg's head. "We can talk about it, Adrien. Whatever it is, you don't have to go through it alone."

     A soft chuckle escaped Adrien's lips.

     "You're always so kind. I really appreciate that, Plagg." He sighed, his gaze growing distant. "But I've already made up my mind."

     "Made up your mind about what?" Plagg asked, his voice rising slightly with panic.

     Adrien's smile turned hollow, and he shook his head slowly. "I'm going to take a shower, okay? Don't worry, I won't be long."

     Before Plagg could respond, Adrien stood up and made his way to the bathroom. The door clicked shut behind him, leaving the kwami floating in the dimly lit room, his mind racing.

     Something was terribly wrong. The way Adrien spoke... the way he looked at him... it felt too much like a goodbye.

     Heart pounding, Plagg phased through the bathroom door, his breath hitching at the sight before him. Adrien stood in front of the mirror, his hand gripping a razor blade stained with fresh blood. His expression was eerily calm, almost serene, as he stared at the red droplets trailing down his fingers and wrists.

     "Adrien, what are you doing?" Plagg's voice was barely more than a whisper.

     Adrien glanced up, meeting Plagg's horrified gaze. He smiled—a small, broken smile. "It'll all be over soon, Plagg. I promise."

     Plagg's eyes widened and he shot forward, trying to knock the blade out of Adrien's hand, but the boy simply stepped back, his movements slow and deliberate.

     "Please, Adrien, stop!" Plagg pleaded, his tiny body trembling. "Just... just put it down. We can talk. Please!"

     Adrien's smile faded, and he looked down at the blade, his shoulders slumping. "I'm sorry, Plagg."

     And then, as if in a trance, Adrien turned on the shower, the sound of water hitting tile filling the small space. He climbed into the tub, clothes and all, the blade still clutched in his hand.

     Plagg watched helplessly as the water mixed with blood, swirling around Adrien's wrists and legs in a sickening crimson spiral. Panic surged through him and he darted toward Adrien's phone, sending an urgent message to Nathalie.

     Seconds felt like hours as Plagg hovered anxiously, eyes never leaving Adrien's still form. Finally the door burst open and Nathalie and the Gorilla rushed in, their faces pale with shock.

     "Adrien!" Nathalie's voice was sharp with terror as she rushed to his side. The Gorilla immediately called for an ambulance, his usually stoic expression contorted in horror.

     Nathalie's hands shook as she carefully lifted Adrien's limp body, her breath hitching at the sight of the blood soaking through his clothes. "Stay with us, Adrien. Please, stay with us."

     The sound of sirens blared in the distance, growing louder with each passing second. Nathalie's gaze flickered to Plagg, who hovered near Adrien's head, his tiny form trembling uncontrollably.

     The paramedics arrived moments later, their faces grim as they assessed the situation. Adrien was carefully loaded onto a stretcher, his pale face nearly blending in with the white sheets. As they wheeled him out of the apartment, Nathalie's phone buzzed with frantic messages from Gabriel.

     "What happened? Is Adrien—"

     "Sir, Adrien is being taken to the hospital. I'll update you as soon as I can," Nathalie responded, her voice tight with emotion.

     She climbed into the ambulance beside Adrien, her hand gently resting on his arm as the paramedics worked to stabilize him. Plagg floated by her shoulder, silent tears streaming down his face.

     The ambulance roared to life, speeding toward the hospital as Nathalie whispered fervent prayers under her breath. The world outside blurred into a sea of lights and colors, but all Nathalie could see was Adrien's still form, his chest rising and falling with shallow, uneven breaths.

     "Please, Adrien," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Please be okay."