Cat Noir found an abandoned warehouse from the 1980s. No one has demolished it because think the warehouse is haunted. He sees an old bed that is now dirty and filthy. He doesn't want to get infected by disease but it was the only place to find shelter.

"This place will have to do" He placed his bag down.

"Claws in" He detransformed and wraps a blanket around himself since it's gonna be a cold night, "Tomorrow I'll go to her apartment and ask if she can disguise me. Something that my father would never let me try. Hmm.....perhaps a goth boy?" He fell asleep, looking forward to his new life.

The police would find him but he knows he can't run away forever. He's glad that Marinette is on his side. But Ladybug, she might get traumatized since she's afraid to lose another miraculous. And now he had to fight her as a criminal. It made him nervous but it was the only way not to show his weakness like he did with Marinette.

The next morning, Adrien sneaked into the bakery and explained to the bakers everything that has happened, minus the fact that his father is Monarch.

"Unbelievable. You're always welcome here, Adrien" Tom said.

"Merci. Is Marinette here?" Adrien asked shyly, knowing that the bakers know they are in love.

"Of course. She's in her room" Tom nodded.

"Thank you, Mr. Dupain" Adrien said and went upstairs and knocked to hear if she was there.

"Coming up" Marinette ran to meet him.

"Adrien!" Marinette hugs him, "Cat Noir told me everything last night"

"He did? Well, the reason I left is that I'm fed up with my life at the mansion and need a fresh new start. And I was thinking if you could design some new clothing for me" Adrien hugs her back.

"Oh, my prince. Why can't your father see that you're so happy? I just don't understand. And yes, I have ideas to fashion you but it's just too easy for you to be recognized" Marinette said.

"Perhaps I should dye my hair as well," Adrien said.

"Leave that to Luka and Juleka," Marinette said.

"Black. I should go goth or something. Depressing but it can hide me" Adrien said.

"Okay but let's start with measuring you for the design," Marinette said.

"My love" Adrien gave a hickey on her neck, marking her to make sure no man touches her.

"Ahhhhhh.... Adrien" Marinette sighs in love with her boyfriend.

"Adrien, don't go animal mode" She moves his face off her neck.

"Sorry, Marinette. Couldn't resist" Adrien said.

Marinette then starts to check the right length, width, and size for his clothing by measuring his torso. Once getting enough measurements she started to use her sewing machine after picking the right materials, black and grey. She used faux leather for a vest he would wear. Adrien sat there waiting while she did her part, even playing video games. After doing the vest Marinette did a pair of dark gray pants. Adrien felt Plagg hitting his left pec but Adrien quietly shushed him. Marinette added a green paw logo on a shirt he would wear.

"Meow, I think Cat Noir would love this" She showed him the shirt.

"Indeed he would since you're a fan of his" Adrien smirked.

"Well he and I did briefly date but we had to end for safety's sake," Marinette said.

"Yeah, he told me that too. How's the design?" Adrien asked.

"Doing great" Marinette said.

"Man, I can't believe I'm breaking the rules. I never felt so much freedom" Adrien can't believe he can be himself rather than listen to his father. But at the same time, this feeling could be exactly like his cousin and he never wants to be like him.

"You are who you choose to be," Marinette said.

"With the help of Cat Noir hiding me. I told him it's too risky to be a criminal but he wants to help me live" Adrien said, trying on the black clothes behind the screen.

"Let's just hope the secrets don't cause trouble again. The two have been through a lot since that jerk ruined it" Marinette said.

"He and I used to be like brothers when we were kids but ever since his father died, he's not himself. I was so angry at him for taking my place again. He didn't harm you at the Diamond Dance, did he?" Adrien asked as he puts on the pants.

"No, he transformed into Argos in front of everyone but he said that I was lucky to have you. He spared me and Kagami but putting me in the dumpster to keep me safe was very stupid of him. And then the next, I disappeared like I'm lost in space" Marinette explained what really happened, minus her secret as Ladybug.

"I'm never speaking to him again. To me he's dead" Adrien said coldly.

"But he's your cousin," Marinette said.

"Was my cousin. I tried giving him a chance but he broke it and this time, I'm not giving him a chance. He was trying to free me from my father but what he did by making everyone disappear was not freedom, it was loneliness. He was not in control of his power. I was so worried about you that I demanded him to bring you and everyone back and he did. No, Marinette. What he did was just crazy and stupid" Adrien growled in anger, hoping that his cousin will be forced to live with that scar on his face to never again impersonate him.

"Understood," Marinette said.

"And if he ever comes here again, I'll make sure he doesn't impersonate me again. Which reminds me, we need a secret codeword" Adrien comes out and wore black clothes but he's also missing makeup.

"Any ideas, Adrien?" Marinette asked.

"What if you say this, the real me says this?" Adrien said.

"Like if I say red, you say rose?" Marinette suggested.

"Hmm....too easy. How about Princess Sunshine?" Adrien said.

"Princess.....?" Marinette raised a brow.

"Sunshine" Adrien smirked.

"That works for me, Adrien" Marinette agreed.

"Next time if it's him, punch him for me" Adrien snickered.

"Yeah, I will my prince" Marinette smirked.

"You know I don't wanna lose you. I was so scared that you were gone and never gonna come back" He held her hands.

"I understand and I hope that jerk stays in London where he belongs," Marinette said.

"He and I are polar opposites. Well, how do I look?" Adrien asked.

"You look handsome, Adrien" Marinette said.

"Now about the hair," Adrien said.

"Indeed. Let's go, my prince" Marinette held his hand.

"Gladly my princess" Adrien follows her down.

"Wow, that looks good on you," Sabine notices Adrien's new clothing.

"Depressing? Yes. But to hide my identity" Adrien said.

"I see" Sabine replied.

"We're gonna change this too" Adrien pointed at his hair.

-

Much later, Adrien got his hair dyed black with green highlights. He can barely recognize himself in the mirror.

"It's perfect. Thanks, Juleka" Adrien said.

"You sure this is a good idea? Your father might get akumatized again" Luka said.

"As long as we got the heroes to deakumatize him. My father is not pulling any strings on me anymore" Adrien said.

"Whoa, who are you and what have you done with Adrien?" Luka teased him.

"It's still me," Adrien said.

"I know it's you, Adrien" Luka replied.

"But....you need a new name" Juleka mumbled.

"Aiden Bastet?" Adrien said.

"Works for me. But are you sure your guardian feline knows what he's doing? You know this will cost his reputation" Luka asked, knowing that Adrien is Cat Noir.

"Yeah but there's no other choice. He found out Monarch's identity but did not yet have the time to reveal according to him" Adrien said.

"What really?!" Luka got curious.

"Yeah. And right now, he's gonna give me a place to live so I can be free and have the girl I love so much. She makes my life so happy and I'm not gonna let my father break us apart" Adrien explained.

"Rebellion" Juleka mumbled.

"That's the spirit," Luka said.

"Where is he gonna take you?" Juleka asked.

"Maybe the Grand Hotel. Last night I slept in an abandoned building but it was too cold" Adrien explained.

"You do know who lives at the Grand Hotel and she doesn't accept non-rich people," Luka said.

"That's why Cat Noir will scare her into submission. She's the reason she gets irresponsible with victims getting akumatized and she still hasn't learned" Adrien said, letting Juleka paint his nails black.

"Yeah, she sometimes gets akumatized willingly," Juleka said.

"And that is why Cat Noir is gonna make sure she listens to his....claws?" Adrien said shyly.

"Well sometimes the heroes need to be tougher," Luka said.

"And sometimes a little aggressive" Adrien said, knowing that if Chloe gets obnoxious again, he will have no choice but to threaten her emotionally, not physically.

"Yeah, it's about time someone puts the mayor's girl in her place" Juleka chuckled.

Adrien looks at his painted nails, "Tell me, Juleka. Is black always a great color?"

"Yeah, suits well on a goth" Juleka replied.

"Do I need piercings too?" Adrien asked.

"Your decision," Juleka said.

"I'll wait and see what happens," Adrien said.

-

As Cat Noir, he was relieved that his transformation remained the same and that his hair was blond.

"Well here goes the Anti-hero life" He runs on the rooftops.

He jumps from roof to roof to head to the Grand Hotel. He hated Chloe but this time he will make her listen and not try to get anyone akumatized, especially herself. Willingly or not.

Cat Noir landed at the balcony next to Chloe's room, using his claw finger to scratch the glass.

"AAAAGH What's that irritating noise?!" Chloe held for her ears.

The glass circle was moved aside and Cat Noir smirked evilly, "Bonjour, Chloe"

"Cat Noir! You're not welcome here!" Chloe yelled.

He pounced on her and used his belt tail to cover her mouth to shut her up, "I don't care if you hate me and milady but I'm not here to fight. I'm here to help a friend of mine who needs a place to stay. If anything.....ANYTHING......happens to him, I will let you talk with my claws" He extends his claws to show how serious he is. Chloe muffled and nodded, listening carefully.

"Good. Now you better give me a hotel key so I can give it to him. If you ever get anyone or yourself akumatized, you know what my destructive power will do. And don't even think about telling anyone I threatened you" Cat Noir hissed angrily. Chloe nods again in a muffled voice.

"Oh, if you ever hurt my princess Marinette again, this will again" He put his claw finger near her face.

Chloe then muffled screamed at the sight of his claws.

"Merci. Now then, the hotel key for the guest, please" Cat Noir roughly removes the belt from her mouth.

Chloe ran to get the key. Cat Noir looks at the photos of her and Sabrina in the trash can and on her vanity desk, her pictures are now her and Lila.

"What a trashy duo" He muttered.

Chloe came back and hands the hotel key to him, "I can't believe I'm doing this! Utterly insane!"

"Thank you" Cat Noir checks the number of the room.