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acairune · 2 years ago

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On Borrowed Time

The life of Paris’ Golden Boy is all shine and glamour; blindingly bright smiles, neverending parties, bargaining for just a shard of time for being happy. But that’s alright; Adrien has long given up the false hope that someone will get it. That is precisely why it’s a spectacle when she does, when she barges in like a hurricane in crimson and turns his life upside down. Heaven knows, it’s time for the wind of change. *** aka Adrien and Ladybug run into each other at a gala. then at another. and another. some would say, it’s a bonding opportunity alike moonlighting on a civilian’s balcony

gala friends Ladrien for this year's @mlbigbang, letsgoo!!

don't forget to check out the stunning illustrations @curlymakingswirlies made for this chapter! <3

On Borrowed Time (words, Teen, 1/3 chapters)

Time is of the essence, my dear, his mother always used to say, but Adrien was so young back then — just a kid trying to sneak away from his mother’s skirt in the crammed and stifling ballroom — he never really got what she meant. He had a vague understanding of it, something about time and timing being important, but he could never put a finger on the reason behind the benevolent smile on his mother’s face, and then it was too late to ask.

Now, Nathalie has her own motto.

It’s something something being punctual like clockwork and skilled in social situations like a particularly agreeable Swiss Army knife. And though Adrien can’t recite that by heart, it still holds true enough to his motherly heritage of time-themed wisdom for him to do his best to follow — even if his stomach violently contracts at the thought of the strained vivacissimo his life has to adhere to if he wants to keep up. But he understands, of course, that as the ambassador of the Gabriel brand, it's essential that everybody, all day long, like him so much.

According to his father.

In all honesty, his father would probably be ecstatic — as ecstatic as it gets for a man who has never once smiled in the last ten years — if Adrien wasn’t just an attempt at emulating the perfection expected from him at the price of sweat and tears. (Not that it's much of a concern for Gabriel on a personal level, but, quite frankly, a crying teenager in the charity gala's bathroom is the definition of a PR disaster.) But Adrien — despite his father's valiant attempts at concealing this shortcoming — isn't perfect.

He’s French.

French, with all the ups and downs, all the over-the-top romanticism and rebellious streaks, all the moony-eyed, longing stares that follow her carefully — always observing, but never close enough to reach. He can’t help it, though. The way she pulls him is like a rule of nature, a crimson inevitability. Unbidden, unconscious, unparalleled, and Adrien knows no other option than to succumb to it, to her celestial power of baring his soul and making him feel Frencher than he ever thought possible. When he’s with her, he can’t help his slowly crumbling essence surging for the surface with a new force; can’t help his heart leaping to his throat as he's being reminded — in the sweetest, most torturous ways possible — that Paris is the city of love.

And Adrien, Adrien's Parisian to the core; even if his core — doesn’t matter that he wishes to wear it on his sleeve — only shines through when he’s with Ladybug.

*** 21:00 ***

It’s ‘by pure accident.’

The charity gala’s ballroom is gargantuan, filled to the brim by the crowd of celebrities, politicians and businessmen. They bustle around — chat under the pompous chandeliers, shake on agreements by the chocolate fondue fountain, and hover on the dance floor to the string-quartet’s beat, in what appears to be a poor substitute to rehearsed ballroom dances none of them are well-versed with. The maroon tapestry could sing odes about the Parisian elite’s secrets and illicit escapades, but it keeps them all; its discretion only rivalled by that of the catering staff and security.

Adrien doesn’t care much about rumours either. He’s on a mission of ‘pure accident’. The sole objective is talking to her; a worthy endeavour, even if it only lasts for a minute.

He drifts next to her at the bar, in the most casual manner he can manage. His fingers fiddle with the cufflinks of his dress shirt; his arms by his side, prim and proper, instead of reaching out and pressing a kiss against her knuckles. But he still flashes his Frenchest smile at her, because that’s not something within his control to amend.

"Good evening, Ladybug!”

"Good evening, Adrien!" It's hard to believe, but she beams right back, as if he just made her night by this chance encounter. "It is a lovely night. You should really try the champagne," she says, her voice airy as she swirls the drink around in her own glass.

She's making smalltalk. It's only natural. After all, right now he’s no more than an acquaintance; and she definitely doesn’t have any idea that this almost stranger finds the way fizzy drink drizzles out of her nostrils, when he makes her laugh too hard, quite charming.

"I've heard it's pretty good," Adrien nods, never one to be remiss about the rules of conversation.

That is—

He nibbles on his lower lip before continuing. "What I've also heard is that you have had to come alone tonight. Again."

"Ah. Yes," she hums, her smile faltering. Then she leans closer and her voice drops low as she adds in a conspiratorial tone. "Maybe you wouldn't believe it, but Chat Noir isn't the ballroom dancing kind," she tells him — the very same excuse Adrien had to feed her — and he's compelled to laugh along; if nothing more, at the dramatic irony.

"Or so I've heard. Can't blame him too much, though. Granted, with four paws he must have two left feet."

Ladybug laughs at the stupid joke, and oh, if that isn’t the most beautiful sound. “That’s exactly the kind of thing he’d say. I don’t believe him, though,” she muses, a fond look in her eyes as she shakes her head gently, the flyaways dancing around her face like a holy halo. “I’m sure I have enough experience for the two of us, I could teach him the basics pretty fast.”

Adrien’s breath hitches because oh, the way she says she misses him beats her laugh anytime, even if only by a hairbreadth.

“I’m sure he’d like that,” he says, clearing his throat. Her words make his heart swell, and the bigger it gets, the easier it is for it to spur him on, to make him a little more daring than his father likes. "But since Chat Noir isn’t here tonight… Maybe I could keep you company instead of him?"

Ladybug just stares at him for a long second, eyes wide and mouth forming a little ‘o’, before life returns to her face and she looks away, her cheeks tinted pink under the scarlet of her mask. "It wouldn’t be the same, but I'd like that. I'd like that very much.”

"It's a da— deal, then," Adrien grins, toothy and giddy, trying as he might to swallow back the word ‘date’ from the tip of his tongue mid-sentence, because no. It is most definitely not a date.

He extends his arm to lead her to the dance floor, or out of the city hall — truthfully, he doesn’t even care as long as she stays this close — but just when he does, a cold voice calls from behind his back.

"Adrien, you have to meet Mr. Giorgio in five minutes. I hope you didn't forget about your duties!"

His shoulders sag but he hides his clenched jaw behind a million-watt smile as he turns. "Of course not, Nathalie. I'll be right there!"

An apologetic glance at his Lady is enough for her to let go of the ball gown she has just pinched up to float to the dance floor. She wraps the gloved hand so far extended for him to take around her torso.

"I'm sorry, Ladybug, it looks like you'll have to take me up on my offer another time," Adrien sighs.

"It's alright, I understand!" she says, but her sour smile makes Adrien wonder if she’s choosing her words carefully, deliberately avoiding saying ‘it’s no problem’. “Have a good time!" she offers, and he can only nod, heart aching.

He never has time. And he certainly never has a good one without her.

[read the rest of the chapter on AO3]

#congrats mia!!!#this fic was so fun to read aaaa #so many good moments ✨️#miraculous ladybug #ladrien #adrien agreste #ladybug #marinette dupain cheng #ml big bang #ml big bang 2022

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acairune · 2 years ago

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Fanfiction: Chasing a Dream Chapter 1(of 14)

Alt Season 5, Adrienette, Original Akumas, Road Trips, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Chlodemption, and so much more! Chapter 1 below the cut. part of the @mlbigbang @apopcornkernel @nireu-art, inixyyl, and @mantabanter As Beta, and Artists respectively.

Chapter 1:Strike Out

Flairmidable held the ball of the Dog miraculous up triumphantly and smirked at his uncle. "Fetch."

Nothing happened.

Flairmidable frowned at the ball. "Fetch!" he commanded again. "Fetch!"

Still the ball did not move. Gabriel clenched his fists at his sides. "Another deception, nephew?"

Flairmidable shook his head quickly. "No, I swear to you, Uncle. There is no way she would have detransformed without getting the dog back from me. There is no logical reason this shouldn't work. Fetch!"

----------------

Marinette hummed to herself as she strolled up the street toward the manor. It was odd that Adrien had missed their rendezvous, but she was in no mood to worry. Adrien and Cat Noir, both by her side. It had been a dream come true. She used the walk to bask in the memory. Life would pile on problems soon enough.

She was shocked from her reverie by the wall of the Agreste compound shattering in front of her. A figure in orange flew out of the dust before impacting the storefront across the street. A purple figure—Hawkmoth!—pursued and lunged after the other—Flairmidable! Adrien!

Marinette dove into the swirling dust and debris. Under cover, she transformed and Ladybug leapt out, yo-yo already spinning. "Hawkmoth! Get away from him!"

Hawkmoth turned from where he crouched over Flairmidable. "Ladybug? Always where you aren't wanted. You've recruited a little liar this time, and it nearly cost you everything. But I'll let you go, for now. I've got what's mine."

"Who says I'm letting you go?"

Ladybug lashed out with her yo-yo; Hawkmoth dodged. He jumped over a second strike and landed on the roof of the store. The third he avoided by sliding down the backside of the roof. Ladybug tensed to pursue but then remembered: Adrien! He was down, maybe hurt. She ran to Flairmidable's side instead.

Flairmidable was pushing himself slowly to his hands and knees. Only his second time out and one on one against Hawkmoth. Ladybug reached down to help him up. "Take it easy Adrien, it's okay. I'm here.”

Someone landed lightly beside her and Ladybug turned to fight only to end up blinking into the green gaze of her partner.

"M'lady?” Cat Noir tilted his head. “What happened?"

Ladybug sagged in relief. This had been too stressful of a day. "Hawkmoth showed up, and attacked Flairmidable. I just got here myself." She crouched down again and lightly touched Flairmidable’s shoulder. "Are you alri-"

The look of panic and terror on Flarmidable's face stunned Ladybug. Oh, Adrien. But in a flash the look was gone, a quick calculating expression replacing it, then followed by contrition. Flairmidable hung his head. "Ladybug, I- I'm not who you think I am."

A trickle of panic ran down Ladybug's back. She glanced at Cat Noir then looked back at Flairmidable with a nervous laugh. "What, haha, what do you mean? Are you worried about Hawkmoth getting the better of you? You shouldn't be! He's extremely dangerous. He gives even us experienced heroes a run for our money, isn't that right, Cat Noir?"

An answer wasn't forthcoming so Ladybug applied a light elbow and got a begrudging, "Yeah. He's no kitten, that's for sure."

Flairmidable got to his feet, shaking his head. "No Ladybug, I mean I'm not Adrien Agreste."

Cat Noir’s confused, "Adrien Agreste?"

Was drowned out by Ladybug's, "Who—? Felix!"

Shock and fear mingled but anger outclassed them. Ladybug's mind raced. She had given the miraculous to Felix. She had to get it back. Ladybug held out her hand.

Her tone brooked no argument. "Give me the miraculous. Now."

Flairmidable's expression remained contrite as he transformed back and handed over the collar. Ladybug didn't let herself believe it for a moment. Felix had nearly fooled her before, and had fooled many of her friends. Yet as he stood before her in Adrien’s clothes, and his hair styled into Adrien’s signature ruffle, she still couldn’t tell them apart. The boy I love—why can’t I recognize him?

As he handed off the miraculous he explained, "My cousin and I switched places, so he could avoid going away. I wanted to keep his secret so I played along, but after the battle I got nervous. This seemed like something Adrien should know about himself. I was heading back to the manor to try and find him when Hawkmoth attacked me."

Ladybug had too many questions. How did Hawkmoth track him? Why was he Hawkmoth and not Shadowmoth? Where is Adrien now? One made her stomach churn above all others though. How did I mistake Felix for Adrien… again?

She glanced at Cat Noir. Her partner seemed wound up even more tightly than she was. His blond hair was practically bristling and his glowing green eyes had a darkness to them that she had never seen before. Instinctively, she laid a hand on his shoulder to soothe him before turning back to Felix.

"I can understand why you did what you did Felix,” Ladybug said, “but you lied to me and you put yourself and the miraculous in danger by behaving recklessly. Do you have your own way home, or will you need assistance?"

Felix looked between the two of them. Ladybug felt Cat Noir tense under her touch, and for a moment, thought he might actually pounce. But before that crucial tipping point was reached, Felix said, "I have my own way home. Once again, I am sorry Ladybug. I did not mean to deceive you."

Ladybug said nothing. She waited until Felix was already far away before taking her eyes off of him, surveying the damage. She swept her gaze back to the blown out wall of the compound. Adrien! Ladybug ran for the breach. “Cat Noir, we need to be sure everyone inside’s safe!”

Her command spurred him into action, but not the one she expected. “M’Lady! I don’t trust Felix. I’m going to put a tail on that dog. I’ll contact you if I find anything!”

Ladybug turned, but Cat Noir was already vaulting away. “Oh Kitty,” she said worriedly,”Don’t go getting into fights with strays. You’re better than that.” As she picked her way through the rubble of the breach, Ladybug hoped she was right.

The yard seemed to be in good shape. The rear doors were closed. Ladybug peered in with a frown. It looked deserted. She hesitated before trying them; during all her previous visits to the Agreste manor, something had gone wrong. “Adrien?” She called. “Mr. Ageste?” Don’t be afraid. You’ve got a good reason to be here this time. Go slow, don’t pry, just look for damage or anyone hurt.

She stepped into the ballroom and scanned. A loud *click* startled her and she spun to find… the door had closed behind her. She looked up and spotted the automatic closer, something so easily overlooked. But perfectly sensible for a man who doesn’t like the outside world sneaking into his home. What am I even looking for? There was no outward sign of damage. Neither Flairmidable nor Hawkmoth had particularly destructive powers though. The wall shot must’ve been a direct hit with Hawkmoth’s cane. Why here? Why as Hawkmoth? Ladybug reached the far doors and opened them to peek into the Atrium. There was no damage there that she could see either. “Mr. Agreste? Adrien?”

Still nothing. Ladybug crept silently into the atrium. The ground floor doors seemed closed. This time the click of the ballroom doors closing didn’t spook her at least. She turned and started up the stairs.

She was ready this time. Agreste manor seemed to have it in for her, so when another click sounded behind her Ladybug spun, Yo-yo at the ready. She came face to face with… Felix? No, he was dressed like Felix, but Felix was dressed like Adrien. So, who am I looking at? Ladybug ground her teeth in frustration, both at the situation and herself.

“Ladybug? What are you doing here? Is everything okay?” Felix-Adrien dropped the small day bag he had been carrying and rushed towards her.

“Stop!” Ladybug held up a hand, her insides knotting in uncertainty. “Who are you? Really?”

“Ladybug? It’s me, Adrien. I’m sorry. I switched places with my cousin to avoid going on this trip.” He stopped, hanging his head, just as Felix had done before. “But you can’t just run from your problems. I came back to talk to my father.”

She wanted to believe him, she wanted so badly to believe. “Tell me something only Adrien would know!”

He was silent for a long moment then looked up. A smile was on his face, the true gentle smile she had fallen in love with long ago. “Remember when Simon Says was attacking the house? You caught me in the shower trying to get me to safety. I asked if I could put my clothes on first and you said ‘If you–”

“--that’s good! Good! That’s good!” Ladybug waved her arms to cut him off. She felt like her cheeks must be redder than her suit. She stepped down to him. “I’m so glad it’s you, Adrien. Today’s been crazy.” She rolled her eyes and flashed a nervous smile. “Even for a Ladybug. There’s so much I want to talk to you about, but when I came here, Hawkmoth was attacking your cousin just outside. I came inside to check on you. I haven’t seen anyone though.”

Felix-Adrien blinked. “Felix? Is he okay?” He looked around. ”Father should be he–” He looked back at Ladybug who was now flexing her fingers in the air, eyes angled up from his own. “Ladybug?”

“Can- Can I please just… Fix it? It’s unnerving right now.”

Adrien followed her eyes up to his hair, laughed, then leaned in. ”I’d be honored, Ladybug.”

Ladybug ran her fingers through his hair mercilessly, ruining the perfectly smooth lay of it and mussing it up into the more natural look Adrien normally wore. He ran his own hand through it once after she was done and flashed her a model smile.

“Better?”

“So much better.” The relief was a physical thing. One part of the world, back to normal. “Felix is okay. He’s on his way home, I believe, with Cat Noir following him. You said your father should be here?”

Adrien frowned. “He should be.” He took out his phone, opening contacts and hitting call.

The volume was up; Ladybug could hear each ring and then the sound of the phone being answered.

“Adrien? What is the meaning of this disturbance?”

“Father? Ladybug is here. She says Hawkmoth attacked Felix outside our home.”

“Here? Aren’t you supposed to be on a train, Adrien?”

Adrien winced. “Yes, Father. I’m not, though. I’m home. Did you hear any fighting?”

“I heard noises before, I assumed it was some noisome public construction in the street. Now, you’ve disturbed my work more than enough for one day, Adrien. Unless it is an emergency it can wait until I am finished here. And we will talk about your disobedience at dinner tonight, young man.”

The fact that Adrien’s only response was an excited, “You’re coming to dinner?” broke Ladybug’s heart.

“Goodbye, Adrien.”

Ladybug wanted to fight Gabriel Agreste right this second, even more so when Adrien gave her an apologetic look. “Sorry for my father. He can be a bit hard to reach when he is deep in his work, and I did kinda try to skip out on a major brand project.”

Ladybug reached out and laid a hand on his forearm. “But if you don’t want to go, you shouldn’t. It’s not right forcing you to leave school in the middle of the semester; forcing you to leave all your friends.”

Adrien kept that same apologetic smile. “Maybe, but, maybe it might be good to think. It’s not like I can’t talk to my friends. For everything else she might fib about, Lila wasn’t wrong when she said I could keep touch with my friends via video calls. I’m used to missing school, and it might help me sort out a few things to be away from it all for a little bit.”

You and me both. Ladybug couldn’t argue against something she herself wished she could do. Instead, she reached out and gave Adrien a light hug before stepping back. “If you do go, just know Paris will miss you and we’ll be waiting for your return.”

Adrien’s smile was genuine, not a hint of the model about it. He slow-blinked at her before replying, “Then, I’d better be sure not to keep Paris waiting too long.”

Ladybug’s brain replayed his reply. Then it did it again. The air took on a pink hazy tint and time seemed to slow down. Ladybug felt a ‘tee hee’ bubble up before she could stop it. The small sound snapped her out of her daydream. She twisted her head aside in a rush to conceal her blush, and surprisingly, Adrien did the same.

Ladybug fumbled her yo-yo out. “I’d better get going! Take care, and safe travels, Adrien! I– I mean, we’ll count the days!”

She was running for the doors before he could reply, and didn’t look back once until she curled up on her bed in a pile of confusion and squees.

---------------

"It's still happening, and get this: Gabriel Agreste himself is coming along now!"

The sharp voice cut through the air and Marinette's cloud of thought as the school day ended. Lila. A quick check picked out her mark talking to a little clique of students on the stairs up to the second floor of the school. Marinette ducked out of sight under the stairs. She took a page from her other nemesis’ book and pulled out her phone, hitting record as Lila continued.

"Can you believe it? I mean, I can. Gabriel—I call him Gabriel—knows I am the best. It only makes sense he'd take a special interest in this project. A weeks-long project is the perfect opportunity to show him just how much Adrien and I are meant for each other. Why, I wouldn't be surprised if we came back with news of a betrothal. I mean, for when we're eighteen of course, but why hide it? Adrien couldn't find a better match."

Marinette wasn't sure which was harder: not screaming, not throwing her phone, or not losing her lunch. She managed all three, though. As the group descended into titters and congratulatory encouragement, Marinette pocketed her phone and headed for the doors. Think it through. Do it twice. Impulse almost cost us against Risk.

------------------

"Why are you still going through with this project, sir?"

Gabriel Agreste twisted his hands in the small of his back, gazing out a window at the ruined wall in the yard. "A new approach, Nathalie. A riskier one, to be sure, but one with potential."

Nathalie moved up beside him, the hydraulic whirr of her exosuit a reminder of his failure. "I suppose it is good I haven't unpacked. What is our new approach?"

Gabriel tilted his head, regarding Nathalie's faint reflection in the glass. "Fear. I have been engaging in physical conflict, which has never been my domain, and leaving my skills to rot. Paris loves Ladybug because they suffer little under her protection. We fight her; she repairs the damage. They are accustomed to it. On this trip, Shadowmoth will inflict wounds across the globe. Wounds Ladybug will not heal. Communities will suffer, for what? Because one person won't surrender their magical trinkets to another. Shadowmoth will, of course, be reviled too, but that mask is merely a tool. Ladybug is the hero. It is her problem to solve, her pressure to bear. We will win a war of minds, Nathalie. By the end we will have people worldwide howling for Ladybug's surrender."

He saw hesitation in Nathalie's reflection. "But sir, to start battles you know Ladybug will not arrive to? To kill civilians without having a chance to claim the miraculous?"

"None of this matters, Nathalie. None of this will have happened. When my wish is granted, the last fourteen years will be undone."

Nathalie's reflection vanished as she turned away from the window. "...Yes, sir."

----------------------

Ladybug watched Cat Noir as he approached across the roofs of Paris. So much was building up right now, focusing was hard. She needed to deal with her feelings for Adrien, with giving the Dog miraculous to Felix by mistake, with Lila’s new gambit and trying to sort out how to respond, and yet she also needed to be here for her partner.

Things had been strained, and as he vaulted through the sky the moonlight reflection on his black leather costume turned it briefly white; reminding her why. Her heart seized, but in the wake of it all another thought wormed its way into her mind. Is this fair to him? Why is he paying for my fears? I thought he’d want the freedom from having to be a hero all the time, but it’s not the same. He wants to be out here. Why don’t I want to be out here? What good is a hero who’s afraid of all the really important things in her life?

Cat Noir’s graceful landing interrupted her thoughts. He spun his baton in one hand and quirked a brow at her. “A day for heavy thinking, M’Lady? Or just admiring your purrtner by starlight? You know we cats love attention.”

And just like that he could make her smile. She noticed the little changes. His words may flirt but his eyes held good humor rather than longing. He postured but kept himself out of her personal space. Her kitty was trying, changing, doing this for her. Do I owe it to him to try to change too? To do what? I love Adrien, but it seems I don’t even know the boy I love. Maybe… I should try loving the boy I know? That’s crazy! There’s no way! No way? Isn’t being Ladybug about finding a way when there is no way?

“M’Lady, you’re staring again. I’ll be blushing soon.” Cat Noir’s voice was a gentle whisper.

Ladybug shook her head. Not enough time, too many things; she would have to consider this later. It was time for patrol. “Sorry again, kitty. I’m a bit lost in my head right now. I’m still rattled from the near miss with Flairmidable and Risk.” She realized she was biting her knuckle and startled. “I want to talk to you about all that. I need to do more to keep you in the loop. I just can’t seem to get enough time to translate my thoughts into actions lately.”

Cat Noir stepped closer. He reached for her hand, and after the briefest of pauses for the subtle exchange of body language to indicate her consent, he took it and gave it a gentle squeeze. He brought her hand up and began rubbing across her palm with his thumbs. Instantly, Ladybug’s brain wanted to focus on nothing else, or maybe just nothing at all. The relief and reassurance in that touch was so complete.

Cat Noir spoke softly. “I– Thank you M’Lady. I know I’ve been a little unhelpful lately. I didn’t tell you how I felt.”

Cat Noir paused and put on a toothy grin before tilting his head and turning it into a self-deprecating smile.

“Well, I told you one of the ways I felt, entirely too often. I didn’t share other things though. That’s on me. I promise to try and be a better kitty though.”

At that, Ladybug’s eyes snapped open from her sedate daze. She turned her hand in his grip and squeezed his hand. Never mind that this left their hands clasped together. Denying affection for her partner was always a silly idea. Affection didn’t need to be love; it was its own warmth.

“Cat Noir, you’re an amazing partner. I haven’t been showing it enough, but I promise I will too. I’ve been focusing too much on just keeping things as they are, because all this is still very scary and new. I don’t know what a little change could do.” Actually, I know all too well. Should I tell him? Soon. I need to think about how. I don’t want to hurt him.

“We’ll figure it out together?” Cat Noir prompted. Their joined hands fell between them, but neither let go.

Ladybug smiled. She shifted her weight to go in for a hug, but balked. Would that be too much after all her talk of setting boundaries? She didn’t want to confuse him right now. She was confused herself. Relationships are hard.

She settled for a smile. “I’d like that.”

Cat Noir took a deep breath. His gaze went from hopeful to hesitant, and Ladybug tensed. She squeezed his hand to cover for it. He opened his mouth but closed it again.

“Kitty?” Ladybug prompted. “Now’s not the time to hide something. We have to start this off right don’t we?”

His eyes turned grateful. “Yeah, I thought I would have figured out how to say this by now. I don’t want to sound like it is coming from a bad place, especially with this little mini-breakthrough.”

She felt his thumb brush the backs of her knuckles. He took another deep breath.

“I have to go away for a while, m’Lady. I hate to do it, but my family needs me. I won’t be in Paris. I won’t be able to be here for you. I hate everything about leaving you, but at the same time. I think it might help me—help us—if I can get my head together, too.”

Ladybug’s stomach dropped. First Adrien almost vanished from her life. Now Cat Noir was going… again! This time, though, she had a chance. She could convince him to stay. I just need to let him know he’s needed. He’ll stay with me then. She opened her mouth but only a hoarse croak came out.

“I’m coming back!” Cat Noir added in a panic. He crushed her hand to his chest. “This isn’t like last time m’Lady. I’m coming back, just as soon as I can. We’re partners, and I won’t ever leave your side for a moment longer than I must. We can talk about the particulars. If– If you need Plagg while I am gone I understand, but know I’m coming back for him.” Cat Noir’s earnest tone rose to a teasing lilt, “Besides, unless you’re rich I don’t think you can afford his cheese addiction for long.”

From rock bottom to snorting with mirth. God, I love you kitty. … I what? Ladybug’s suddenly flushed cheeks earned her a confused look from her partner. She licked her lips to fill the silence with something, anything. “Keep Plagg with you, Kitty. We’ll miss you, but we’ll find a way to manage. It won’t be the same, but I have our allies now, and we’re a team. A team means no one person has to always bear the burden.”

Cat Noir raised his free hand to touch her nose. “That’s right, m’Lady. No one.”

Ladybug flushed anew, trapped by her own words. They were still linked at their hands and she squeezed again, taking strength from his presence. “Yeah, yeah, I get it, Kitty.” Ladybug turned her head to look out at the night skyline. “How long before you go?”

“Tonight.”

Her head jerked back. No time! Always no time. Why? “Do… Do you have time for a patrol?”

“I have time to visit the top of the Eiffel Tower, if you would. Don’t worry, there’s nothing waiting up there for you. I just want a few lingering moments with my Lady and my City and nothing else. I want to carry you both with me while I am gone.”

This time she hugged him. She launched herself at him and squeezed for all she was worth. He laughed softly, staggering under the attack before hugging her back almost as fiercely.

“I’ll miss you, Kitty.”

“I’ll miss you too, Ladybug.”

-----------------

With a ‘spots off’, Marinette sat down on her bed. First almost losing Adrien, and now losing Cat Noir. The blows kept coming. Even if she felt like she was making some kind of progress in sorting out her feelings, life was giving her no chances. She picked up her phone and, spotting a notification, swiped it open immediately. She had to reread it twice before her brain would accept the words on the glowing screen.

Adrien: Hi Marinette. I’m sorry you have to hear this from me via text, but my father didn’t want a big send off like last time, at school. We’re going on the ‘First Love’ tour. I’ll try to text you every day if I can. If you want me to, that is. And if it’s okay, I’d like to maybe get ice cream when I get back? You’ve been there for me time and time again, but I feel like there’s still so much I don’t know about you. I hope this doesn’t come off as weird.

Tikki floated up with a cookie snack beside Marinette, and the poor Kwami took the brunt of Marinette’s internal explosion. “Tikki! Adrien’s going away! Cat Noir is too! At the same time! Do you know what this means?”

The little polka-dot Kwami blinked her eyes expectantly. “What does it mean, Marinette?”

“It means, after all my soul searching, I won’t be able to figure out how I feel about either of them!”

Tikki flopped onto Marinette’s pillow and took an overly large bite of her cookie, chewing with an uncharacteristic savagery for a moment before swallowing. “Is that all? I mean, if that’s all, then I wouldn’t worry too much. You have time. You don’t need to figure out your entire future before your fifteenth birthday, Marinette.”

Marinette flopped over onto her pillow, narrowly missing Tikki. She pulled her pigtails and let out a frustrated groan. “Why is love hard? I mean, I love Adrien right? I’ve known that since that first day. But what kind of a girlfriend can I be if I don’t know him well enough not to be duped? And why did Cat Noir have to change and become…”

Marinette rolled onto her back, letting her pigtails go and staring at her ceiling. Slowly she raised one hand to lay it against her chest, feeling an unaccustomed thumping both inside and out.

“... nice. Not just funny, flirty, goofy, or a jokester, but actually nice. Why can I see that smile now when I close my eyes sometimes, Tikki? Am I cheating on someone I’m not even dating yet?”

Her Kwami drifted into Marinette’s field of vision, looking down with concern. “Marinette, I don’t think that counts. You need to stop trying to feel with your head and think with your heart. They’re not made for that.”

Tikki settled and patted Marinette on the cheek.

“What is it you like about Cat Noir, Marinette?”

Marinette rolled carefully to avoid Tikki this time, pushing herself up on her elbows. “Nothing… really. I mean, he’s pushy, and always throwing himself into danger… to protect me. He never takes anything seriously! No matter how bad it gets he never stops smiling… I can always look to him when I need a boost. I swear, he’s so frustrating. You think he’s one thing then when you’re not looking… you find out he’s nothing like you expected at all.”

Tikki perched on Marinette’s forearm, her mouth open in anticipation. “And…?”

Marinette picked at her pillow, the next few words dropping out begrudgingly. “I never got to really see Adrien in action as a hero. I bungled both times. When I close my eyes, though, and think of what it would be like… I see Cat Noir.”

Marinette sat up abruptly, sending Tikki spinning through the air. Marinette grabbed her pillow and screamed into it before dropping it into her lap.

“How messed up is that, Tikki? Can you imagine if Cat Noir was Adrien?” Marinette stopped. Something was tickling the back of her brain. What if Cat Noir was Adrien?

Marinette shook her head to chase the thought away. Silly, stupid Marinette, you know better! You’ve seen them at the same time, right? Not that you haven’t been in two places at once half a dozen times. UGH, if Cat Noir were Adrien it would be so… so… easy.

She shook this thought away too. It was too crazy to entertain. Even just hinting at the idea was tiring her out. She stared at her cupped hands in her lap for several minutes until a concerned Tikki floated over to sit in them. “Marinette, are you okay?”

Marinette lightly scritched Tikki’s tummy with a fingernail. “Yeah Tikki, sorry. I kinda want to think about something else for a while, if that’s okay?”

Tikki nodded. ”Of course, Marinette. I’ll even give you until your sixteenth birthday to have your whole life planned out!”

The polka-dot Kwami giggled, and Marinette turned the scritches into a friendly poke. Tikki flew off towards the miracle box and Marinette turned to pick up her phone, looking at the message. Taking a deep breath she began to type.

Marinette: I’d love to hear from you whenever you are able! I’ll miss you a lot. Ice cream sounds awesome. I hope you enjoy your trip, and if you can’t, feel free to complain to me about it as much as you want 😁 Where are you stopping first?

----------------------------

“You don’t think Adrien will fall for it, do you?” Alya’s voice was cautious but concerned. Marinette could tell her friend was balancing the video evidence against Marinette’s past with Lila.

Marinette poked her turkey-on-brioche sandwich listlessly. “Adrien? No. Gabriel? That’s what I’m scared of. Even if you still don’t believe me about everything else, Alya, you have to admit Lila is persuasive. She gets what she wants.”

Alya replayed the video. “Well, all of us will put in a good word for you every time Adrien calls us. Aside from that I’m not sure what we can do. You can’t—” Alya made a flying gesture with one hand “—can you?”

Marinette shook her head. She settled for pulling bits of the turkey out of her sandwich and eating them without the bread. “No, I’ve learned the hard way what abusing the miraculous for your own gain leads to. Even if I could, what would Ladybug say? I can’t just show up as Marinette in random cities either.”

Alya sighed, passing the phone back. She reached across and rubbed Marinette’s back with one hand. “Sometimes it sucks being the responsible heroes, doesn’t it? Just once it’d be nice to be able to be selfish and have it work out.”

Marinette was half-listening. Alya’s words echoed around in Marinette’s mind waiting for a chance to sink in. As they did, Marinette's unfocused gaze resolved on the person she was staring at. Two added itself to two and Marinette banged her fist on the table. “That’s it!”

“What is it?” Alya scrambled to catch her drink which Marinette’s table abuse had upset.

“I’ll let you know if it works,” Marinette said, with a grin she borrowed from Cat Noir. With her head finally clear and her stomach settled, she crossed the lunchroom to a table that had never held more than two people.

Marinette took a deep breath as she approached; she opened her mouth.

“What do you want, Du-pain-Cheng?” ACK! How can she do that when I’m still behind her?

Marinette groped for her focus one more time then stepped around, hands clasped behind her back, and peeked at the seated Chloé. “Well…”

All her words dried up. It was like trying to talk to Adrien, but from a different place. Chloé’s sharp sapphire gaze drilled into her and everything seemed so instantly childish. Marinette didn’t even have the advantage of friendly support at this table. An audience to play off of might have given her strength, but here there was only Sabrina looking on with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity.

Marinette’s mind blanked, so she just dove in. “Lila’s going to try to marry Adrien while they’re on this trip and then he’ll be lost to us forever and then he’ll probably end up living in Italy for the rest of his life and we’ll never see him again!”

Close enough.

Chloé drew herself up under the verbal assault. Then after a brief silence in which Marinette felt all eyes in the lunchroom turning to the pair, she laughed. She laughed loud and harshly, covering her mouth with the back of one hand. “Oh Du-pain-Cheng…” Chloé flicked her ponytail and folded her arms. “You really have been working in that bakery too long. All that heat’s gone to your head. There’s absolutely no way–”

Marinette slapped her phone onto the table. Swipe, swipe, play.

She might as well have dropped a viper onto the table for the reaction she got. Chloé stared in confusion and horror at first, and then snatched up the phone. Her thumb stabbed replay. The short clip played again. Stab. Again. Again. Chloé’s face went from her usual bronze to pale, to flushed, to explosively red. “Why that long-eared, sausage-haired, fashion-deaf little cheater—!”

Marinette reached across to pry her phone from Chloé’s grip. “I was wrong about Kagami, and you were too.”

Chloé snapped out of her incandescent rage and narrowed her eyes at Marinette. I can’t lose her. I have to keep this going. Why did I ever think this was a good idea?

Marinette held up a finger. “But I’m not wrong about Lila. This time, we really do have to stop her from sinking her claws into Adrien. He doesn’t want this, but that’s not something someone like Lila cares about.”

Distrust still loomed large on Chloé’s face. She pulled out her own phone. “Well, unlike you, Du-pain-Cheng, I don’t panic. I’ll have this all wrapped up in no time.”

Chloé tapped a name in her contacts and turned up the volume with a smug expression on her face. The line only rang once though before kicking over to a recording.

“Hi! You’ve reached the voicemail of Lila Rossi. I’m currently traveling the world for a big project with the Gabriel Agreste. I likely won’t have time to get back to you until it’s over, but leave a message and I’ll see what I can do.”

“SEND ME TO VOICEMAIL!!?” Chloé screamed at her phone before pitching it across the table. Sabrina, with a padded glove already on her hand, dove to catch it.

Marinette fought desperately not to laugh. It wouldn’t help, but ohhhh that was good. Instead she pointed out innocently, “Why use a phone? Isn’t it more fun in person? If only there was some way to follow them…”

Chloé, on the hook, jumped to her feet, knocking her table askew. “There is! I have a jet!” Chloé reached for her phone, which Sabrina supplied without missing a beat. She stabbed contacts again. “DADDY! I need the jet! I’m going to see Adrien! Now! Yes, now! You let ME worry about that, you just get me my jet!”

She hung up while her father was still stammering on the line and swept her molten blue gaze around the deathly quiet lunchroom.

“WHAT?”

Everyone took an instant interest in their food, except Marinette. She couldn’t believe how well this had worked, but there was one snag. “Now, Chloé? Don’t we need time to pack and get things in order, and talk to our–”

Chloé switched from anger to disdain fluidly. “We? Who says you’re going, Du-pain-Cheng? Get your own jet, mine’s full.”

Marinette was ready for this and played her trump card. “And where’s it going?”

Chloé huffed. “After Adrien of course. I got their flight plan from Li–” she cut herself off.

Marinette smiled ever so sweetly. ”What’s the first city?”

Chloé growled, “Munich.”

Marinette countered, “Venice.”

Chloe folded her arms again, shifting her weight to one foot. “Oh? And how would you know?”

Marinette went for the throat. “Adrien told me.”

For once, victory didn’t feel so sweet. Chloé’s eyes widened and then darted around the lunchroom where everyone was ignoring them all too conspicuously by this point. She lifted her phone as if it might contain some hidden truth before jerking her head away from it and grumbling, “Fine, you can come. Just this once though! Don’t get used to it. Luxury isn’t meant for baker girls.”

Chloé’s voice trailed off at the end, the retort barely audible. Where normally the fire of competition would be burning between them there was an emptiness Marinette couldn’t explain. Later. Focus! “Okay, so, we’ll meet up after school?”

Chloé regained a spark of herself. “After school? Now, Du-Pain-Cheng! You’ve got an hour to get packed. The limo will pick you up, or you’ll stay behind.”

Without waiting, Chloé stalked out of the lunch room, her food barely touched. Sabrina snagged an uneaten sandwich and jogged after her.

Marinette sagged in exhaustion. Little prickling tingles danced across her skin in reaction. She was still trying to process what she’d just gotten herself into when Alya laid an arm across her shoulders. “Well Marinette, that was certainly a show for the ages. I got it all on tape, too. That was either brilliant or insane. I can’t wait to hear which.”

Insane. The word shocked Marinette back to life. She turned and caught Alya by the front of her shirt. “I’ve got an hour! I need to pack! I need to tell my parents! I need to figure out what to do about school. Do you think this will take long? How long is a trip to Venice? Oh my God Alya, what do I do about La–”

Marinette bit off this last worry. Alya gently extracted Marinette’s clenched fists from her shirt. “One thing at a time Marinette. I think packing and your parents come first. Why don’t I walk with you? We’ve got until the end of lunch to sort this out?”

Alya prompted them into motion, and the walking helped Marinette’s brain to restart. She picked out the most important thing first. Once she was sure they weren’t within earshot of anyone else Marinette leaned in to explain. “I’m going to give you a miraculous-”

“Trixx?” Alya’s voice contained heartbreaking excitement. I wish I could.

Marinette shook her head, “I’m sorry Alya, but Shadowmoth knows who you are in that form now. I’m going to leave you the Ox. You can get to know Stompp, and he’ll help you keep threats at bay. I’ll have Kaalki with me and I can voyage back as soon as I get an alert. That should keep us safe. Cat Noir’s not available right now though, so you can’t expect support from him.”

Alya blinked. “What happened to Cat Noir?”

He might be visiting family, or he might be on a trip around the world. Marinette’s heart twisted at the uncertainty. She grimaced. “I don’t know everything, we try not to share too much information. He’ll be back though, so he could show up. I just don’t want you to expect him to if he won’t.”

Alya absorbed the information and after a brief moment nodded. “Sounds good. Do you want to leave any others behind? Shelter sure might come in handy.”

Marinette gave her friend a little elbow. “Your boyfriend wouldn’t recognize you as the Ox anyway. I’ll be bringing back everything we need when I come. I trust you, Alya. You’ll be fine. You’ve already been Ladybug.”

Alya grinned. “Yeah, you have a way of going on last-minute trips and leaving me to hold things together.”

Marinette blushed. “Sorry. This time, I didn’t know I was going until the same time you did though.”

Alya elbowed her back. “Yeah, yeah. You’re lucky I love you, Marinette.”

#ml big bang 2022 #miraculous ladybug #mlb #ml big bang

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