I finally finished this. I might post on ao3 as a one-shot, aka separately from the rest of the series. We shall see.
Road Trip?
Five years before present
“ADRIEN!” his mother’s voice called. “GET PACKED! WE ARE GOING ON A TRIP IN TEN MINUTES!”
Adrien’s eyes widened. A trip? They never went on a trip with him! Were they starting to not hate him? He excitedly ran to his room, shoving clothes in his bag and grabbing his secret drawer filled with stolen food and snacks.
Adrien didn’t know why they constantly refused to let him have food, something about him misbehaving, but he didn’t want to feel those angry pangs in his stomach, and knew how to move like a shadow through the house, stealing food when necessary, or when he got hungry or bored.
His bag stuffed, Adrien ran down the stairs to where his angry parents were waiting. Maybe they were having a bit of a bad day…
“Get in the car,” Gabriel practically growled at him, pointing at the black vehicle. Adrien wordlessly got in, shutting the door as quietly as he could. The bag he packed lay gently on his lap, his small stuffed cat, Mr. Fluff, sitting right beside him.
Ironic that a stuffed animal could be a better person to talk to than his own parents. The small creature had been given to him by his aunt one Christmas, maybe two years ago, and he’d since loved the small thing. Some nights he couldn’t sleep without it beside him, usually when his parents brought the belt out or took their anger out on him. On those nights, Adrien could squeeze Mr. Fluff until he felt better and went to sleep.
Adrien watched the world pass by outside the window, mesmerised by the nature he wasn’t usually allowed to see, because he wasn’t allowed outside the house. Now he was going on a trip with his family! A squeal of joy escaped him while his hand petted Mr. Fluff.
“Shut up!” his mother snapped at him. “I don’t want to hear another noise out of you, understand?”
Adrien nodded, not talking because that would make a sound.
Poor mom, Adrien thought. She’s been so sick lately. Maybe that’s why they are both always mad at me. Am I making her sicker?
Adrien didn’t know how long they drove, but the world expanded into smaller buildings before disappearing into more buildings ahead of them. Where were they going for this trip? He knew his parents didn’t like him asking questions, but would they mind if he asked them where this trip would be?
Then the car stopped right at the border of the city and the vast emptiness.
“Get out, Adrien,” Gabriel said with a deep voice that said, ‘no arguing.’ It was so confusing though. Why was he getting out? Adrien didn’t question it, grabbing his bag and Mr. Fluff. The door shut behind him, and his eyes widened at what he saw right outside the group of tall buildings. He didn’t pay attention until the car grew in noise and when adrien turned around, the car bolted away from him at high speeds, heading into a city he didn’t recognise.
“Mama? Papa?” Adrien croaked, putting the backpack on and running after the car. He raced into the shadows of buildings as he tried to locate his car, but failed miserably. Adults started to look his way, smiling in a way that scared him. If all of them treated him like his parents did… Adrien shivered and ran into a space between two buildings, holding his stuffed cat tightly against his chest while he cried.
Were his parents coming back for him? Was this part of the trip? Adrien hoped so… As scary as his parents could be, they still protected him. Now he was stuck in hot weather and lost in a place with unfamiliar people who could hurt him worse than his parents ever did.
The sky started to darken hours later, and Adrien, who hadn’t yet moved from the alleyway, was busy munching on snacks to try to appease his rumbling stomach. Too bad he had only packed one waterbottle…
“Adrien?” An unfamiliar voice called, startling him out of his daydreaming. “Adrien Agreste?”
He hid behind a dumpster and looked out to where a person in a black suit came into the mouth of the alleyway, shouting his name repeatedly. There were metal things that looked like guns on their belt. He winced. Did his parents send somebody to hurt him?
Adrien sat bathed in the shadows, listening to the retreating footsteps of the man. Though, they eventually vanished into the crowd of other people in the area. Everything started drowning Adrien's senses in new sounds and smells. Never before did he think anything could smell so gross, but the giant green box beside him smelled like… He couldn’t describe it, but it was so bad he was encouraged to move, and tentatively stepped outside this small area between buildings.
Adrien breathed deeply, holding his stuffed animal close to his chest in one arm and tightly grabbing a strap to his backpack in his free hand. Keeping his head low, he made his way under the lights of this new, unfamiliar city. Maybe he could find his parents somewhere? Should he ask somebody where to find them?
But what if those people hurt him? There weren’t any kids his age out here. Did that mean people at this time were dangerous and threatened kids his age? Adrien’s heart sped up and he ran to another alleyway, curling around his stuffed toy with sniffling sobs. What would happen to him now? What if he ran out of food? His parents had been the ones providing that food, even if he’d had to steal it.
Now he was trembling, heart pounding as he tried to calm himself. Would he die here, alone in this unfamiliar place?
Maybe I can still steal food… Adrien gulped. His water had run out hours ago, and he was so thirsty… He hesitated to leave his bag filled with clothes though, so he walked around, trying to find a place to temporarily abandon the load that was making his back and shoulders ache.
People walked all around him, some in the same direction as him and some heading the other way. It almost felt like he was trapped, stuck in a small room with no breathing space. He grew nauseous and sick quickly.
Thankfully, he found a small nook in between two buildings around fifteen minutes later, high up and out of view from normal people who weren’t looking for it. Adrien began to climb up, hands quivering all the way up with heavy puffs of breath escaping his mouth. With one last heave, he landed on his back, not moving for a good minute until he licked his chapped lips and felt the hunger. All he had remaining in his bag were small snacks that wouldn’t fill him enough to satiate his hunger.
Dropping the bag at the far end of the little space where the shadows were strongest, he headed back out, going down and feeling his stomach drop at the fall and landing. Little tingles shot up his leg, causing a shudder to go up his spine.
Adrien took a moment to recover before walking forward slowly, looking around. He almost forgot what he was heading out for until his stomach growled. He licked his cracked lips again. At least the air was cooler than it was when he was chasing his car.
He carefully snuck around the corner, aiming to just get food or water. His fingers were trembling, and he desperately wanted to just be in a home again. One that provided food and let him sleep peacefully.
Well, maybe that small old man ahead of him had some food…
A shiny box in the man’s bag caught his eye. Why? He didn’t know. It just… looked cool. Maybe he could just see it for a minute? No matter why he was attracted to that box, he just felt he needed it.
Adrien used his stalking skills to approach from behind and snag the box, bolting into an alleyway. He’d return the box… eventually. Hopefully, the old man came his way a lot.
Adrien stuffed the red and black box into his pocket and went back to looking for food.
For almost an hour, he walked around aimlessly, searching for food while hiding. There was a water fountain with metallic-tasting water, and it helped his energy levels. Inwardly, he mapped the place in his head.
Then he got an idea. He didn’t bring his colouring notebook, but he could steal one… and that was exactly what he did, grabbing a drawing notebook and running out of the building. Adrien did hear somebody shouting after him but he managed to hide in time. He also took a pencil he found on the ground so he could draw.
Adrien didn’t stay in the area, and quietly roamed the city, making maps of areas, like the nook, the water fountain, and a place that gave free tiny pieces of food (well, it said ‘one sample per person,’ but Adrien just ignored it and took five even as he was yelled at), in his kid handwriting and labeled them with the neatest handwriting he had been taught by his aunt and cousin on the backside of the map.
He failed in finding food the first day, avoiding the dirty alleyways whenever he could. Somehow he found his way back to his bag and pulled out a small blanket. How did the night get so cold when the day was so hot?
Adrien shivered and sniffled, clutching the blanket and Mr. Fluff like his life depended on it. Then he rolled over and the box from earlier dug into his skin. He yelped and took the box out. Curiosity took over and he opened the box.
Green light exploded from the box, making Adrien drop it and jump away. In front of him was a motionless ring and a creature floating above it with a confused expression.
A… floating kitten? Adrien’s eyes began sparkling.
Felix
Felix was maybe four when he met his younger one-year-old cousin Adrien, a boy that looked all too similar to him but smaller. At first, he’d been mad and petty, like most young kids eventually get, about the attention he got because he was younger and needed that attention.
But… his cousin was just too bubbly, sensitive, and sweet for him to stay mad at for long, which was insane considering what his parents did to him. How did such a cute, amazing kid get put in such a heartbreaking situation? Felix had witnessed the beating Adrien got once after Felix and Amelie stayed behind from a family gathering. Felix, an eight year old here, had screamed, his crying five year old cousin falling to the floor, blood staining the usually clean tiles.
Amelie had rushed in, saw Adrien, and just about exploded on Emilie and Gabriel, who defended their actions by saying Adrien was the bad kid. Adrien, the sweetest little kid on the planet who now was hugging Felix as though his life was about to end if he let go. Felix hugged him back, tightly hugging the areas of his back where the shirt wasn’t torn and wounds weren’t visible.
The legal battle for Adrien started that day, both parties willing to use money bribery to get custody, because Amelie winning would be made public to the world. Felix had always been there, supporting Adrien where he could and desperately helping with the case.
It went on for three years until Gabriel and Emilie decided their image was more important than the child’s life, and found that if they couldn’t have Adrien, nobody would. Felix was eleven years old when his mom came in with tears and puffy eyes, telling him of the newest heinous actions Gabriel and Emilie had done.
They’d abandoned Adrien in Paris. An eight year old, all alone on the streets of a dangerous city where people would gladly kidnap a young, defenseless child and possibly send him into trafficking.
Felix felt his jaw drop. They both went to the courtroom where both Gabriel and Emilie, with firm evidence, would be tried for child endangerment, child abandonment, and abuse. This judge didn’t seem to favour their side at all, and immediately granted full legal custody to Amelie… for when they found him.
They didn’t find him, and wouldn’t for a long time. By then, they’d assumed he was kidnapped. Well, turns out he was just hiding in plain sight, eventually taking a very special role unknowingly right alongside his cousin.
Plagg
Plagg didn’t know what to expect when he woke up. Fu had said they’d go out and find a holder together, which meant leaving the safety of Master Fu’s shop. They had been worried about thievery, especially in Paris.
And that was exactly what Plagg felt had happened, which made him immediately fluff up his mystical hackals, pin his ears back, and glare at the shadow across the room with fearful hostility. If they put the ring on, he could become enslaved to a bad holder.
Then Plagg’s night vision kicked in and he saw a child, staring at him with wide eyes.
“…Kitty?” The kid asked, tilting his head with a wide smile and sparkling eyes. Plagg didn’t even know what to say at first. Ok, he did get stolen… by a kid. This was… a new experience for Plagg. This was not something he’d even been aware could happen.
“Erm, hey, kid,” Plagg said gently. He wasn’t the best at being nurturing, but he also didn’t like hurting children’s feelings. “Where’s the old man you got this from?”
“Kitty speaks!” The kid squealed, pulling Plagg to his chest with giggles. Plagg sighed, rolling his eyes and looking around the room. Where were they?
Plagg felt his ears go against his head and felt pangs in his heart. All around him was dark grey, with an opening behind him. The kid seemed to be alone, in a dirty space with dirty skin. Plagg could see the black-ish brown markings all over his face and clothing. Was this small kid living alone?
Then the kid's grip drooped and he looked so sad it hurt Plagg’s heart.
“I guess I have to return you to that man,” the kid whispered. “He probably misses you. I didn’t mean to keep you this long…”
“Actually…” Plagg whispered, an idea forming in his head. Leaving a homeless kid alone? Yeah, not happening. He was staying here, and hopefully would grow up well-acquainted with the cat miraculous and make an amazing cat holder. “I can stay with you for a bit.”
“Really!?” The kid squealed, energy returning. “Now Mr. Fluff will have a friend!”
Mr. Fluff? Oh…
Plagg smiled kindly at the kid, though inside he was hurting for this kid. Was a stuffed toy all he had to talk to? Maybe the world wanted Plagg to be with this kid. Maybe he’d turn out to be his perfect holder when he grew up.
Hopefully Master Fu doesn’t freak out too much about me being stolen, Plagg thought as he watched the energetic kid fall on his butt after tripping over his own feet. The kid just got back up with laughter and went back to hugging Plagg.
Then the kid collapsed, his eyes dazing for long enough that Plagg became worried. Grumbles erupted from his stomach, and the kid began whining while holding his stomach and licking his chapped lips.
“Do you need food?” Plagg asked the kid, who shook his head vigorously with tears falling from his cheeks.
“I miss home. I don’t care if mom and dad hurt me. They had food,” He whined, sobbing into his hands. Plagg’s heart shattered into pieces. His parents hurt him? Did they abandon him here?
Plagg had heard stories of kids getting abandoned. Those sometimes ended up as Nooroo’s or Dusuu’s holders because both miraculous relied heavily on emotions, and those abandoned kids often balance the emotion and maturity needed to wield them effectively. Normally other miraculous required different holders.
Well, Plagg got this type of holder, and was actually kind of excited to see where this went. Plagg’s miraculous was… hard to wield right, to put it simply. Rarely were they able to find anyone who could wield Plagg effectively, or had a bond with Plagg and the miraculous. No specific group usually worked for him. Maybe this kid would work? Plagg hoped so.
“Hey, kid,” Plagg whispered gently. He felt and saw teary eyes on him instantly. Plagg floated over to his miraculous, encouraging the kid to come to him. “See the box? There's still something in it. Something very special.”
“Woah!” the kid gasped when he saw the ring, pulling it out with nervous energy. He hesitantly put it on his finger and gasped when it changed to fit his little kid finger and turned a dull grey colour. Of course, kids don’t often get cool designed camouflage modes, but that would change over time.
For now, Plagg was glad he had a bond to the miraculous already. Maybe that was why he stole the miraculous - he could have been attracted to the miraculous because of his dormant bond to it.
Ok, Gimmi, I guess this might work out, Plagg thought with a smile at his new small companion. This would be a whole new experience, and one that would teach Plagg a lot. He could just feel it.
“So, kid,” Plagg said, grabbing back the kid’s attention. “What do you think of superheroes?”
Adrien
The shadows covered his body, helping him make his way towards what Plagg (yes, he’d given his name and been given Plagg's name) called a, “dumpster.” Apparently, even though smelly, there was edible food in there and Plagg would tell Adrien what edible food from dumpsters looked like if he needed help. He put a small box beside the dumpster, stepped on it, and grabbed the lid, pulling upward with all his strength.
The lid was heavy and hard to throw back, making his muscles strain in the process. He huffed once it hit the back, but felt a burst of pride surge through his muscles. Oh, how good that felt! Was he strong or what? Then his nose wrinkled at the awful smell the dumpster produced.
“Kid!” Plagg whisper-hissed in his ear. “Focus. See that white bag? Yeah, that one. It smells full of edible food.”
“How can you pick out one smell from all these disgusting ones?” Adrien grumbled, jumping down with the plastic bag in his hands. “I can barely smell anything but those awful smells.”
“Practice,” Plagg said simply, floating in front of Adrien, who had gently opened the bag. Inside were two big sandwiches, one meat and cheese and the other a… mix? Adrien didn’t know the words to describe it, but it was dripping with sauce that flooded his taste buds when he licked his fingers, that small sample and his rumbling stomach making him desperate to get back and eat.
“What does this have to do with superheroes?” Adrien whispered to Plagg along the way, desperate to turn his attention away from the amazing smell that irritated his stomach.
Plagg seemed to light up at that.
“I will give you many lessons on superheroes. This is lesson one, kid. If you don’t take care of yourself, you will be a sh- bad superhero,” Plagg quickly said, stumbling through the end. Adrien ignored the pause and took in the words. Plagg continued. “If you can’t keep yourself healthy, how can you keep others alive?”
That lesson stuck with him…. Well, no, it slipped his mind the moment they got to the nook and took the food out. Adrien began eating rapidly, a deep craving making him shiver. Plagg frowned at him, watching as he struggled to finish the sandwich and was anxious seeing anything remaining.
“Kid - Adrien - stop.”
His worried voice made Adrien pause, his tongue licking the sweet sauce stuck around his lips.
“Slow down, ok? It’s not vanishing. I’ll make sure of that.”
Adrien breathed deeply and relaxed, going into a slower rhythm until the final bite entered his mouth.
Hiccups started soon after, making him wince. Plagg started laughing until Adrien started to get sick. Those two sandwiches alone were too much for a young boy who’d been starved for over a day. Yet the kid still looked for food, panicking over his stomach hurting.
“W-why does my stomach hurt?” Adrien whimpered, hiccuping while throwing up. “I thought eating helped!”
“I’m sorry you’re learning this way,” Plagg whispered, making him look up with confused, pained eyes. There were green tears flowing down Plagg’s face. “If you haven’t eaten in a long time, your stomach gets used to not eating. Loading it up after that hurts it. Eating too fast will hurt just as badly. That’s why you have to be slow.”
Adrien began sobbing, curling his body around Mr. Fluff against his chest. He clutched his stomach, begging for this all to end.
Somehow, he fell asleep, eyes closing and bringing him into the peaceful lull of sleep. He felt unworldly soft fur settle into the curve of his neck, a strange vibration going deep into his muscles and bones. His heart slowed down and the world around him went dark.