Thank you so much for 300 followers everyone! And on my birthday (May 5th), no less! *tears up* tHaNk yOu

Enjoy the first chapter of 'It's Complicated', and my new story that will be published soon, 'Masked Secrets'!

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Chapter One- Bad Luck

Clear, sorrowful orbs fell down Adrien's cheeks. He was shaking. He saw him- that horrible person that destroyed it all. The cold-hearted monster that has kept him locked away within these walls for too long. The one who showed him no love, only hurt. The one who doesn't deserve to be called his father.

Gabriel Agreste.

Plagg watched Adrien in pain, his tail drooping. "A-Adrien?"

I laughed, a sound that turned the air bitter.

"It's not like it matters. He's never been there for me. It only makes sense, now that I think about it. Who could be more cold-hearted than Gabriel Agreste? Oh, I know. HawkMoth. But, it turns out, they're the same person! "

Plagg winced as Adrien slammed his fist down on his knee, his fake smile turning into heart-wrenching sobs.

"Hey, hey! It's okay, alright? Your okay..." Plagg flew up and hugged Adrien's cheek, a tear hitting him on the head, though Plagg didn't mind. His focus was on Adrien.

All Chat Noir's had a connection to their villain,  but with Adrien, it was a little different.

He was fragile, delicate. If you say the wrong thing he can break down almost instantly.

That's why Plagg was always so stubborn.

He's dealt with all kinds of Chat Noir's. Broken, temperant, goofy... evil.

Plagg knew exactly what to do to help Adrien get through this.

But the pain will come back.

It always does.

And only Ladybug can save Adrien then.

"Adrien," Plagg took a deep breath. "you need to calm down, okay? Everything will be alright."

"But it won't, Plagg! He's HawkMoth... he's HawkMoth..."

"Listen to me, Adrien. No matter where you are, no matter who you're with, your father will always be HawkMoth. But that's not important right now. What's important is that you get through the day. Go to school. See your friends. After school, I'll take you to see Master Fu. Remember him?"

Adrien sniffled, nodding. He wiped his eyes, smiling weakly. "T-Thanks, Plagg."

"Anytime, kid. Beside, maybe Nino can cheer you up!" Plagg gave Adrien's cheek one last hug before sitting on the boys shoulder. "Now, let's get to school, ok?"

Adrien rose to his feet, shakily grabbing his bag. Plagg noticed this, worried for the boy.

As Adrien walked down to the front door and into the courtyard where his chauffeur was waiting, thoughts ran through his head.

I have to tell Ladybug... but how?

How can I tell her without the risk of revealing my identity?

She's considered Gabriel being HawkMoth in the past...

Heck, she even thought I was HawkMoth!

Well, my secret identity, at least.

Adrien slipped into the backseat of his car, the Gorilla glancing back at him before starting up the car.

How could my father keep this big of a secret from me?

I'm his son... but it's very clear that he doesn't care about me.

He told Nathalie. Why not tell me?

At least this explains why Gorizilla dropped Ladybug, and grabbed me on Heroes Day.

But that doesn't change the fact that my father is a super villain...

...and I'm a superhero.

The car slowed to a stop, Adrien reaching for the door handle.

I can't do this.

I can't continue on with my life knowing that my father is hurting people everyday.

Knowing that he's the one controling people from afar.

Knowing he's the one behind the butterfly mask.

I can't live like this.

Adrien hesitated. Plagg looked up at him from his duffel bag.

If I step out of this car... it's over.

I'm never going back.

I'm never going back to that lonely, isolated mansion.

I'm never going to listen to my father- or Nathalie- ever again.

No matter what my father says, he'll always be HawkMoth.

He'll always be a super villain.

And until he hands over his Miraculous...

I'm never going back.

Adrien took a deep breath, opening the door of the car and stepping out into the early morning air. Ahead of him, Collège Françoise Dupont stood tall and proud, his friends Nino, Alya, and Marinette talking on the steps. Nino waved at him, beckoning him over. He was holding hands with Alya, who was whispering something to Marinette. Marinette smiled shyly at Adrien, her cheeks red. Adrien waved back, his smile not exactly reaching his eyes.

"Goodbye, father." He whispered.

With one last spark of rebellion, Adrien slammed the door to the car and made his way up the steps towards his friends.

Like I said, it's complicated.

-0-0-0-

Adrien had been stuck in his head ever since he stepped into school.

His head would not stop pounding, the same four words flooding through his mind every couple of minutes.

My father is HawkMoth.

My father is HawkMoth.

My father is HawkMoth.

My father is HawkMoth.

My father is HawkMoth.

It was distracting, and Adrien couldn't focus.

He kept slamming his head against his desk, or nibbling on his pencil. His headache was getting worse, Adrien biting his lip, trying his best not to scream.

Even worse, his friends were starting to notice.

Nino kept glancing at him worriedly, eventually tapping him on the shoulder.

"Hey, Adrien... are you okay? You look terrible, dude."

"Didn't sleep," Was all Adrien had managed to say.

It was all he could say without spilling all his secrets out. He was like a bomb ready to explode. He could blow up at any moment, and the longer he kept it all in, the more he wanted to tell someone.

Anyone.

As Adrien continued on with the torturous school day, Alya started to take notice of his behavior, too.

She pulled him aside at lunch.

"Hey, Adrien," She had said. "Are you feeling alright? You seem a little... lost. Did something happen at home, or...?"

"I'm alright, Alya, I just... I have a lot on my mind."

"Okay," Alya sounded like she didn't believe me, but she let me off the hook. "Marinette and I are worried for you. If you need anyone to talk to... we're right here, okay?"

Adrien had simply smiled. "You know me, Alya. I always have a secret up my sleeve."

He had no idea why he had said that. It just slipped out.

He could feel Alya watching him the rest of the day. She seemed to be trying to get into his head, to figure out what was bothering him, what 'secret' he was keeping from them.

Two big secrets no one was meant to find out.

Once class started again, Adrien's headache was so bad that he almost colapsed. He could feel Marinette's eyes on the back of his head. She was clearly worried for him, with her soft gaze and furrowed eyebrows. Even Chloe was watching him, mouthing 'Are you okay? '. Adrien didn't want her- much less the rest of his friends- to worry.

School seemed to draw out longer and longer as the day went on, Adrien's head only making matters worse.

As soon as the bell rang, Adrien felt relieved.

Then he remembered the promise he made to himself.

His declaration.

His rebellion.

He can't go home.

Ever.

Adrien retrieved his items from his locker, happy that he didn't have fencing today.

The mintute he closed his locker, however, he came face-to-face with Lila Rossi.

"Adrien!" Lila gushed, smiling and waving at him. Adrien winced, not wanting to deal with her right now.

"I noticed you weren't feeling very well." Lila pouted, fluttering her eyelashes at him. "I know exactly what will make you feel better. So, what do you say? The park? This afternoon?"

Lila twirled her hair, smiling at Adrien innocently.

But Adrien wasn't easily fooled.

"Sorry, Lila, I'm not in the mood today," He shrugged, telling her some of the truth."Besides, I don't think a trip to the park would make me feel any better."

Lila blinked, but quickly recovered. "How 'bout a movie instead? I won't take no for an answer..."

Her hand touched his shoulder, Adrien tensing up.

"Lila-"

"The boy said no, Lila." A voice said.

Adrien turned to see Chloe, who was glaring at Lila.

Lila snickered. "Whatever. Bye, Adrien!"

Lila sashayed away, blowing Adrien a kiss.

Chloe turned to Adrien, but she didn't throw her arms around him. She didn't try to kiss him.

Instead, she looked worried.

"Adrien," Chloe sounded sincere, pouting in frustration. "you've been acting very strange today. Is there something in your mind? Something your not telling me and the others?"

Before Adrien could answer, Chloe continued speaking.

"We're all worried, Adrien. Especially me. You look terrible. Your barely speaking to us. Is something wrong? You don't have to tell us if your not ready. I'm just saying that we're all here for you. If you need anything, anything at all... we're here. I'm here. I can't believe I'm about to say this, but Marinette's a good listener. Talk to her."

Once again, Adrien opened his mouth to say something and Chloe interrupted.

"Just think about it, Adrien. Okay? See you later."

And with that, Chloe left.

Alright then. That was different.

That's when Adrien noticed that he was the only one left in the locker room. Other than Alya, Nino, and Marinette, who were standing close by, looking at him with worried expressions.

"Hey, dude," Nino walked over, frowning. "Are you sure your alright?"

Adrien shrugged. "I'm fine, Nino, just tired. No need to worry,"

"Okay..." Alya was staring at him, somehow knowing that he was lying. "But if you need someone to talk to, we're right here."

"Thanks, you guys, but I'm okay. Really," Adrien managed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I just need to go home and get some rest, that's all."

Alya and Nino exchanged looks, no making Adrien feel any better than he already did.

"If you say so," Nino finally admitted, waving to Adrien as he headed for the door. "give me a call once you get home."

"Bye, Nino," Adrien said, watching him and Alya go, the two whispering to each other.

Marinette followed, looking over her shoulder at Adrien. She had been surprisingly quiet the whole day, not saying much to him. Or anybody else, for that matter. The only time Adrien had seen her talk was at lunch, when she whispered something to Alya right before the redhead had confronted him.

Adrien smiled shyly. "No need to worry, Mari."

Marinette nodded, but didn't seem to believe him. She always seems to know when something is bothering him.

Marinette turned her head and walked out the door, Adrien finally relaxing. He finished collecting the last of his things, exiting the locker room and into the hall.

He threw open the big doors that led outside, slowly moving down the steps.

Halfway there, the truth came crashing down on him once more.

My father is HawkMoth.

My father is HawkMoth.

My father is HawkMoth.

Adrien sat down on the steps of the school, not being able to stop his tears. He didn't know he was speaking out loud, or that it had started to rain, soaking his hair and clothes.

"Dad... why. Why did it have to be me? First mom died, and then you shut me out. You locked me in the house. You never let me talk to you. And then I find out... then I find out that you're... that you're-" Adrien let out a heart-wretching sob, covering his face in his hands, letting his tears fall. He felt Plagg hug his arm, but the kwami stayed silent.

Adrien cried and cried, letting the dark blue orbs fall down his cheeks and mix with the heavy rain. He cried harder then when his mother died, harder than he had cried that morning, when he had discovered his father's secret. He cried so much that he never heard the splash of water come from behind him, or saw the umbrella that was now hovering over him, shielding him from the rain.

He cried until he had no tears left.

Adrien sniffed, just than realizing that the rain had stopped pouring on him. He slowly turned around, finally taking notice of the umbrella over his head- an umbrella he knew too well.

Tearful green eyes met worried bluebell ones, Adrien wiping his eyes.

"You h-heard?" He asked.

Marinette nodded, sitting down beside him on the rain-soaked stairs.

"Every word,"

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