#he could end up happy because all trace and memory of Marinette is gone

[nobodyfamousposts]

Hi! So I read something about Missing's ending on your recent asks. I read it a couple of months ago, and really love it! But, on Ao3 isn't marked as completed, while here the last update is on 12/01/22. May I ask for the link to the completed fic? (If is not done yet, sorry for asking! I didn't meant to put pressure on you to finish it and feel free to ignore this ask)

@cornholio4 because you asked as well.

Missing is not completed yet, no.

But spoiler alert for those wondering based on the last ask:

Yes, Adrien ends up happy in Missing.

[wordsofrowan]

From Ashes to Embers

Chapter 11 - One Scoop for Two

I sat on my bed, tears streaming down my face. It had been a couple of weeks since that movie date with Luka, and the constant juggling between school, Shadow Moth's relentless akumas, and my duties as Ladybug was taking its toll on our relationship. As I scrolled through Luka's most recent Instagram post, my heart sank at the sight of him standing with a stunning girl, her multicolored hair exuding an aura of confidence and charm. A wave of sadness washed over me as I couldn't help but feel like I was losing him.

In the photo, Luka looked so happy, and I couldn't help but wonder if he was happier with her than he was with me. The thought of all the times I had to abandon Luka on our dates because of my responsibilities as Ladybug made my heart ache. I loved him deeply, but it felt like I was constantly letting him down.

As the tears continued to flow, I couldn't help but blame myself for the growing wedge between us. The weight of my duty as Ladybug and the burden of keeping my identity a secret from Luka were taking a toll on our relationship. I knew he cared about me, but I couldn't shake the fear that he would eventually get tired of my constant disappearances and broken promises.

"I'm so sorry, Marinette. I'm sure this must be hard for you," Tikki said, her tiny form hovering close to my face, radiating warmth and comfort. "Maybe if you talk to him and explain that you're going through a hard time, he'll understand?"

Despite Tikki's kind words, the overwhelming guilt continued to weigh me down. Tears flowed freely as I tried to articulate the depth of my remorse. "No, Tikki, you don't understand," I managed to say, my voice trembling between sobs. "I fear that Luka must hate me by now. On our second date, a sentimonster appeared, and I had to run out on him. I left him standing there, telling him I needed to get napkins quickly to prevent the ice cream from melting. But by the time I returned, the cart and the ice cream were already gone."

My words were filled with regret as I poured out the painful memories of my mistakes. "Then, on our third date, an akuma flew by, and I made him stop so I could help a friend. It was a weak excuse, considering we had planned our date. And on our fourth date, he was excited for me to watch him perform with Kitty Section. But I was late due to an akuma attack and absurdly told him about mosquitoes on the boat, claiming I needed to go back home for insect repellent. I didn't even have any repellent with me, so he must think I'm a liar. I hate this, Tikki. I hate how I'm hurting him."

With each confession, the weight on my chest grew heavier. My heart ached, knowing that my actions were causing me anguish and tarnishing the love that Luka and I shared. I longed for a way to make things right, to mend the fractures in our relationship, and to prove to Luka that he meant everything to me.

Tikki's comforting presence reminded me that I wasn't alone in this struggle. She fluttered closer to me, offering a gentle touch of support. "Marinette, we all make mistakes," she said with unwavering kindness. "Luka cares about you deeply, and I believe he'll understand if you talk to him and share what's been weighing on your heart. You two have a strong connection, and he'll appreciate your honesty."

Before I could answer, my phone started ringing, interrupting Tikki and me. I glanced at the screen, and Luka's name flashed brightly. Without hesitation, I answered the call.

"Hey, Luka, what's going on?" I asked, trying to sound composed despite the lingering traces of sadness in my voice.

Luka's voice carried a hint of excitement and anticipation. "Marinette, do you think you can come to the Liberty? There's someone I want you to meet."

His request surprised me, but curiosity quickly replaced the heaviness in my heart. "Of course, Luka. Let me just freshen up a little, and I'll be right there."

The call ended, and I retreated to the bathroom, seeking solace in the cool water that cascaded over my face. As I gazed into the mirror, my own reflection stared back at me, a testament to the strength and determination that burned within me. I wiped away the remnants of my tears, refusing to let them define me.

Taking a deep breath, I opened my wardrobe, carefully selecting an outfit that spoke volumes about my intentions. I chose a vibrant, colorful ensemble, adorned with patterns that mirrored the kaleidoscope of emotions swirling within me. Each piece of clothing symbolized my resolve to mend the fractures in my relationship with Luka, to rebuild the trust and understanding we had once shared.

The white eyelet sundress hugged my body gently, filling me with a sense of elegance and confidence. I then gracefully slipped into a pair of delicate white lace stockings, their soft fabric caressing my skin like a gentle breeze. For the shoes, I chose white criss-cross espadrille sandals, their comfort allowing me to walk with assurance.

I turned my attention to my jewelry collection, selecting a simple rose-gold heart necklace with my initials on it, a ladybug charm anklet, and a charm bracelet that held sentimental value from my parents. Each accessory carried a piece of my heart, a reminder of the love and support I had in my life.

Finally, I completed the look with a cropped pink knit cardigan, its softness wrapping around me like a warm embrace. As I swung my pink heart-shaped handbag over my shoulder, I motioned for Tikki to stay safely inside.

With every piece in place, I felt a renewed sense of determination, ready to face whatever awaited me at the Liberty. This outfit wasn't just a fashion choice; it was an armor of my feelings, a declaration of my commitment to make things right with Luka. As I stepped out the door, I knew that the journey ahead wouldn't be easy, but my love for Luka was worth every effort.

Arriving at the Liberty, a rush of emotions overwhelmed me, mixing dread with a tinge of jealousy. There stood Luka with the girl from his Instagram post, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of insecurity. She was undeniably beautiful, and even though I wanted to dislike her, her captivating presence made it difficult to harbor any negative feelings. Her dark rainbow hair flowed like a mesmerizing waterfall, and her edgy outfit exuded confidence and style. The black leather jacket paired with a fitted black dress, fishnet stockings, and knee-high lace-up boots created an aura of allure that was hard to ignore. Each accessory, from the striking silver statement necklace to the ornate hairpins and dark red nails, added to her enigmatic charm.

Luka's gaze towards her was filled with warmth and affection, and it only intensified the pain in my heart. The love and care he displayed made me yearn for a chance to regain his trust and affection. I wanted to be the one he looked at with such tenderness, the one who held a special place in his heart.

Feeling a mix of determination and vulnerability, I knew I needed to make things right with him. I didn't want to lose him to the shadows of misunderstandings and mistakes. I wanted him to see how deeply I cared for him and that I was willing to work on our relationship with every ounce of my being.

With a mixture of trepidation and determination, I mustered the courage to approach them, my footsteps cautious as I inched closer to overhear snippets of their conversation.

"Do I actually need to meet her, Lulu?" The girl's voice carried a hint of skepticism, and her question piqued my curiosity. Who was she, and why did she seem so possessive of Luka's attention? My heart raced as I waited for Luka's response, hoping to gain insight into their relationship.

Luka's reply was steady and composed, a testament to his calm nature even in the face of doubts. "Come on, Noemi. She is my girlfriend. Can't you give her a small chance, at least for my sake?" His words resonated with a gentle plea, and I admired his determination to bridge the gap between us.

However, Noemi's response sent a pang of hurt through me. "Why should I? From everything you've told me, she doesn't exactly sound like the best person." Her doubt lingered in the air, and her words cut through me like a knife. I knew why she thought that, but I couldn't help but feel hurt and broken by that comment. The weight of her words bore down on my already burdened heart, making me feel as if I was being judged solely based on my mistakes.

Hearing those words, an instinctual reaction surged within me, and I instantly wanted to turn and run away. The desire to escape from the pain and judgment overwhelmed me, but I fought against it, reminding myself that running away wouldn't solve anything. Instead, I took a deep breath, finding strength in the face of my vulnerability.

“Hey, Luka,” I said, plastering a smile on my face as I turned to look at Noemi, “Hello, I’m Marinette, I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure of meeting before.” As I greeted Noemi with a smile, I couldn't help but feel a tinge of unease in the air. The tension between us was palpable, and I wondered how this encounter would unfold. 

Mari! I'm so glad you're here," Luka said enthusiastically, introducing me to Noemi. "Marinette, this is Noemi, my best friend in the whole world. Noemi, this is Marinette, my girlfriend, and the one I've been telling you about."

As the words left his lips, I saw Noemi's eyes narrowing slightly, her gaze fixed on me. I felt a knot forming in my stomach, unsure of how she would react to me in person. Trying to ease the tension, I extended a hand towards her. "Well, hi, Noemi. It's a pleasure to meet you," I said, attempting to maintain a friendly demeanor.“She sure seems really cool.” 

But before I could say anything further, Noemi interjected, correcting my assumption. "They," she-they said firmly, emphasizing their preferred pronouns, "I'm Nonbinary, my pronouns are they/them."

"It's nice to meet you, Noemi," I said with a slight smile on my face, trying to maintain a friendly demeanor. "Luka hasn't really mentioned you before."

Noemi's guarded expression softened slightly, but skepticism still lingered in their eyes as they replied cautiously, "Well I’ve definitely heard about you." As the words left Noemi’s lips I couldn’t help the glare that settled on my face as I looked at them. 

 "I understand that you may have reservations about me based on what Luka has shared. But I want you to know that I'm genuinely trying to be a better person and to make things right. Luka means the world to me, and I would never intentionally hurt him."

Noemi's response came out with a scathing edge, cutting through the air like a sharp blade. "Sure, that's why you constantly ditched him, consistently neglected him, and left him hanging high and dry." Their tone was filled with accusations, and I felt the weight of their words pierce my heart.

Luka's expression shifted from surprise to concern, his eyes searching for a response from me. I felt a mix of emotions welling up inside me – guilt, shame, and frustration at myself for hurting Luka repeatedly.

"It's not like that," I tried to explain, my voice tinged with regret. "I never intended to hurt him. It's just…”

“Just what Marinette?” They asked and I couldn’t bring myself to answer, “That's what I thought.  Excuses," they retorted, their voice dripping with sarcasm. "You know, Marinette, actions speak louder than words. Luka deserves better than someone who prioritizes everything else over him.” 

"I... I never meant to hurt him," I stammered, my voice wavering with emotion. "I care about him so much, but it's just so complicated.”

Noemi's expression remained unyielding, unmoved by my attempt to justify my actions. "That may be true, but you also have a choice. You can choose to prioritize Luka and your relationship with him. But it seems like you've already made your choice."

Tears welled up in my eyes as I felt the weight of their words. I had made choices, and they had consequences. I had hurt Luka, and it was a painful truth I couldn't escape. Noemi's presence only served as a reminder of my failures. I took one more look at Luka, my vision blurred by tears threatening to spill.

"I..." I started, my voice choking with emotion, "I have to go." I managed to say as tears streamed down my cheeks. I turned away, unable to bear the pain of facing Luka and Noemi in that moment.

As I ran, my heart felt heavy with regret and sorrow. The conversation with Noemi had opened my eyes to the damage I had caused, and it was overwhelming. I didn't want to face Luka until I could sort through my feelings and find a way to make things right.

In the midst of my tears, I heard Luka's voice calling after me, but I couldn't bring myself to stop. My emotions were in turmoil, and I needed time to gather my thoughts and find a way to fix what I had broken.

XoXo Rowan

[inevitableconfusion]

Thank you all so much for your response to part one - it’s been incredible!! This turned into an actual beast (I’m talking like 10 pages in microsoft word for just this part) so I have to split it up again. The final chapter will be up by the end of the week! We’re gonna end this thing on a happy note, you guys!!

All Left AU - fanfiction | part one | part two (here) | part three Creator of the au: @sabertoothwalrus​ (Here’s the post that started it all - cw: blood, gore)

Read on ao3

He wakes up on a Tuesday.

It starts out slowly, like waking up from a deep sleep that keeps trying to pull him back in. There are voices, quiet and calm, from somewhere near his feet. There’s a rhythmic beeping off to his left. Something tickles his nose, and it takes him a second to realize there’s a tube on his face. Beyond the tube, he smells antiseptic and soap, and recognition slowly sets in.

A hospital. He’s in a hospital. He takes a big breath, and lets out a groan.

A chair scrapes against the floor and footsteps hurry across the room. There’s a gentle hand on his cheek. “Adrien?”

His eyelids are heavy, but he manages to blink his eyes open, squinting against the fluorescent light. His sight is fuzzy at first, but there’s a familiar blue gaze above him, and everything starts coming back to him all at once. The fight. Hawkmoth. The wish.

“Ma-” he breaks into a coughing fit, voice scratchy and dry from disuse. Sabine appears with a glass of water and they help him sit up, tipping the rim gently against his lips. The water is cold and soothing, and he takes several long, grateful gulps until the glass is empty.

Before he can try to speak again, Tom comes back into the room with the doctor. “Mister Agreste, glad to see you’re awake. How are you feeling?”

“Tired,” he croaks and clears his throat. “How long was I out?”

“About a week.” He jolts. A week? “Miss Dupain-Cheng, could you please step into the hallway? I need to ask him a few questions while he’s awake.”

Marinette seems to hesitate, but the doctor reassures her that it will only be a few minutes, and she eventually nods before turning back to him. “I’ll be right outside, okay? As soon as he’s done, I’ll be back.”

“Okay,” he whispers. Her eyebrows scrunch up a bit and she hesitates again, grabbing his hand and giving it a squeeze. He squeezes back, and she turns and follows her parents out of the room. Everything feels a little colder as soon as she’s gone.

The doctor pulls over a laptop stand and slips some reading glasses over his nose. “Are you feeling any pain, Mr. Agreste?”

“No.” He doesn’t feel anything, actually. He looks down at his lap, where his left hand is fiddling with the hospital blanket, an IV taped against his wrist and an oxygen monitor clamped on his finger. He can see thick white bandages in the corner of his eye, peeking out from under the sleeve hanging off his right shoulder. “Just… a little sore.”

“That’s okay,” the doctor says, “soreness is to be expected. But if you start feeling lots of pain, tell me or the nurses and we can give you a stronger medication.” He pauses, taking his glasses off and looking Adrien in the eye for the first time since he entered the room. His expression is solemn and his voice is quiet, almost apologetic. “We tried our best to save your arm, but the damage was too extensive. The bone had been crushed in a couple of different areas and some of the nerves and blood vessels were pretty badly frayed –”

The words fade into the background as his mind flashes back to that day with excruciating clarity. The musty smell of the lair. His mother in a glass coffin. Hawkmoth charging at him with terrifying speed. Pain and more blood than he’s ever seen before, screaming, a flash of light as he de-transformed, his arm –

The doctor’s hand on his shin snaps him back to reality. The beeping of the heart monitor has picked up noticeably, so he closes his eyes and takes deep, shaky breaths until it slows down to a more acceptable pace.  “Mr. Agreste, are you alright?”

He winces at the name. “Please, call me Adrien.” There’s a stinging behind his eyes and he can’t bring himself to look at the doctor, instead choosing to stare off to the side.

After a pause, the doctor slowly straightens back up. “I… I apologize, Adrien. I didn’t mean to upset you.” He doesn’t say anything in response; the sound of typing fills the room. A few inconsequential questions later, and the doctor leaves as quickly as he came in.

Marinette walks in as soon as the doctor is gone, just as she promised, nervously fiddling with something in her hands. She takes a seat on the edge of the bed, bites her lip for a second, and then holds out her hand to him. He takes a sharp breath. The silver ring shines beautifully even in the cold light of the hospital room. He can feel it calling out to his soul, an invisible siren song pulling him forward.

“I wanted to make sure you got this back. If… if you want it.”

He reaches out tentatively. The metal is surprisingly warm, cradled safely in the palm of her hand. He blinks back tears, curling his fingers around the miraculous. “Thank you, Marinette.”

She lets out the breath she was holding. “Here, I’ll…” she trails off, gently grabbing his hand so she can slip the ring on his finger. Her hands are shaking. Even after the ring is in place, her touch lingers, clearly lost in thought. It must be a painful memory for her, too.

He threads his fingers between hers and squeezes their palms together. Thank you. She offers a small, sad smile and squeezes back before letting go. Everything feels a little more right in the world.

She reaches up and touches her earring. “Plagg and Tikki… all of the kwamis have been dormant since… for the past two weeks. I don’t think they’re gone forever, but I don’t know when…”

She trails off and he frowns, his thumb tracing the underside of the silver band. Plagg is gone. Maybe not forever, but probably for a while, at least. He didn’t even get to say goodbye.

He curls his hand into a fist. “And… and fa – Hawkmoth?”

She takes a moment to speak, as if trying to figure out how to answer him. “He… he’s in a coma. Here in the hospital.” Another beat of silence. “Do you want to see hi-”

“No,” he cuts her off. He doesn’t want to see that man. He doesn’t want to see him ever again.

Marinette doesn’t say anything in response, but he knows she understands. Of all people, she would understand. She gently touches his hand, uncurling his fist into something looser, and he relaxes. He’s always found comfort in her touch – from both sides of her. Marinette. Ladybug. Two of the most important people in his life, now one.

“How many people know about our identities now?”

She frowns, and he notices for the first time just how exhausted she looks. Like she hasn’t slept the entire week since the fight. “Everyone.”

“What?” His stomach drops. Everyone?

“The… when the ambulance came, so did the police.” Her voice is thick and she grips his hand tighter. “I guess your father confessed when he called, because they knew, somehow. They just – they saw me, and then they saw you, and I didn’t – I couldn’t –” A tear slips down her cheek, but she blinks quickly and wipes it away. “And then the media caught wind, and it was just… chaos.” She closes her eyes, her voice a broken whisper. “There were so many people.”

Everyone. They all know who he is. Who they are. They all know what happened. He doesn’t know what to do, what to say. He feels so lost. But then, he feels the weight of the ring on his finger – solid, smooth, and real. She gave it back to him. And she still has her earrings.

That… that has to mean something, right?

He looks at her carefully. “So, what do we do?”

She sniffles and opens her eyes. Her expression is firm. Steady. Determined. And even through the tears, it’s just so Ladybug. “We face it, together.”

Adrien’s heart stutters. Together. He lifts his hand to cup her face, his thumb brushing over the soft skin under her eye. He swallows the lump in his throat. “For the record, I’m really glad it’s you.”

Her brows scrunch up and she takes a shaky breath. She lifts a hand to cover his, pressing it against her cheek. “I’m glad it’s you, too.”

He gives her a watery smile, feeling his own tears well up. “It’s you and me against the world, m’lady.”

“Always,” she whispers.

He feels his face crumble as everything comes crashing down. She throws her arms around him, pulling him closer, hugging him tighter, until there’s no space between them. He buries his face in the crook of her neck, finally letting out all of the emotions he’s been holding back.

He’s alive. She’s alive. They made it.

.

.

His father dies on a Thursday.

It doesn’t really come as a shock; he’s been waiting for the news since he first woke up two days ago. The doctors have been doing everything they can to keep him alive, but Adrien knew that nothing would help in the end. The wish saved his life, so it would take his father’s. The universe has to balance out, and nothing can change that.

What does come as a shock is information that he’s given directly after.

His head shoots up, eyes wide. “Nathalie is missing?” He hadn’t even thought to ask about Nathalie, given everything that’s been going on.

Officer Raincomprix pauses, then slowly closes his notepad. “We… have reason to believe that Miss Sancouer was working with Hawkmoth, under the name ‘Mayura’.”

“What?!” Marinette shrieks, leaping to her feet so quickly that her chair knocks over. “Why are we just being told this now?”

The officer holds up his hands in a placating gesture. “I’m sorry, but since you can’t turn into Ladybug and Chat Noir right now, we could not risk having you try to go after her. It seems Ms. Sancoeur has fled the country, but we are doing everything we can to track her down and bring her back. Justice will prevail in the end!”

“She has a miraculous! We don’t know when they’re going to become active again, so the fact that she’s still out there means she’s still dangerous! And now that she knows our identities, don’t you think she’s going to come after us first?”

“Not to worry. By then, we’ll either have her locked up, or you’ll be Ladybug again. Either way, it wouldn’t be smart for her to try anything.”

“I am still Ladybug. And you have a duty to-”

“Wait!” Adrien shouts, interrupting them both. There’s a strange mix of cold emptiness and white-hot rage boiling up inside him. He feels his body shaking. “Wait. Did Gorilla know about this, too?”

Officer Raincomprix’s eyebrows furrow. “Who?”

“The Gorilla! My bodyguard!”

“Oh. No, he has been cleared of all involvement and released.”

Adrien rubs his eyes and then pinches the bridge of his nose, doing his best to hold off the sudden, unwelcome tears building up. “Okay. So, two out of the three people living in my house were secretly trying to hurt me for years. Got it. Cool.”

“Ad-”

“I need a moment,” he snaps, and then sighs and softens his tone. “Please.”

They are quiet for a few seconds, and the policeman offers his thanks for their time before leaving, closing the door with a soft click. Adrien still has his eyes closed, but he can feel Marinette’s concerned gaze on him.

“Are you okay?”

His shoulders sag, feeling heavier and heavier as the day goes on. He leans back against the pillows on his bed and stares at the ceiling. He doesn’t feel like crying anymore, he just feels tired. “It’s… a lot to take in.” He rolls his head to the side and gives her an apologetic look.

Sometimes he’s thankful that she can read him so well. She offers a gentle smile and grabs his hand, giving it a light squeeze. “I’m gonna head home a little early today. See if you can get some rest before your therapy session, alright? I’m only a text away.”

She starts to pull away, but before she can get too far, he tugs her hand closer and kisses her knuckles. Thank you.

She stares for a bit too long, and he realizes belatedly that that was a very Chat Noir thing to do. Warmth crawls up his neck and over his cheeks, but there’s a fondness on her face that he’s not used to seeing. “See you tomorrow, kitty.”

Silence fills the room after she leaves, and it would be enough to drive him crazy if he had the energy to think. Instead, he lies back and closes his eyes.

  Father is dead.

He wakes up in a cold sweat. Just as quickly as the thought comes, the memory of whatever nightmare he was having fades into nothing. He’s not sure how long he managed to sleep. A few minutes? A few hours?

A gentle knock on the door tells him it was the latter. It’s time for his therapy session. He’s not ready. He’s never ready.

The physical therapy they’ve been having him do every day has been tough. His muscles are sore from a week of being unconscious, and his right shoulder hurts with even the barest movement. He has to re-learn how to do everything with only one arm – going to the bathroom, carrying large items, writing with his non-dominant hand. Even the once-simple act of tying his shoes or buttoning a shirt has left him in frustrated tears a few times.

Yet, the emotional therapy is so much harder. It’s difficult to turn his jumble of thoughts into words, much less coherent ideas that he can then dissect and analyze. And every time the counselor tries to bring up his father, he completely shuts down. Progress is slow and mentally taxing, and tonight is no different.

He finishes his dinner in a daze and Louise – one of his nurses – comes in. She sets his empty plate to the side and starts unwrapping the bandages on his arm to check on the stitches. She tries to make small-talk, but Adrien only answers half-heartedly, and eventually the conversation peters out. He feels a little bad; she’s a very kind lady, but he just doesn’t have the energy to talk. All he wants to do now is sleep.

After re-wrapping the bandages, Louise pulls an envelope out of the pocket of her scrubs and wordlessly hands it to him. He takes it, tossing her a questioning glance. “It’s a get-well-soon letter.” She picks up the dinner tray and gives him a small smile. “We thought it might make you feel better.”

She walks out of the room and he stares down at the letter, debating with himself. The exhaustion wins out in the end and he sighs, setting the unopened letter on the bedside table. He’ll get to it tomorrow.

.

.

The funeral is on a Friday.

His Aunt Amelie has insisted on have at least a bare-bones ceremony, because even though no one wants to honor the man who’d terrorized Paris for the past three years, she still wants the people close to him to have the opportunity to say their proper goodbyes. And by people, she means him.

Adrien doesn’t want to go, but his counselor thinks it could be cathartic, an opportunity to get everything off his chest. The hospital releases him an hour before the funeral starts, and even in death, he realizes he’s still stuck under his father’s thumb.

When he walks into the lobby, Gorilla is sitting by the door, and he feels a flood of relief. The man stands as soon as he spots Adrien, and his stoic face melts into something softer before engulfing him in a hug.

Gorilla isn’t officially his bodyguard anymore. He isn’t being paid; he has no obligation to be here. He has the right to uproot his life and start fresh somewhere new. Adrien wouldn’t blame him if he did. And yet, here he is.

It… it means a lot.

They step out of the doors together and are immediately swarmed by the paparazzi, the sound of inaudibly shouted questions and incessant camera shutters filling the air. Thankfully, Gorilla manages to mostly block his body from view, and they’re in the car just a few steps later.

The funeral itself is nothing to marvel at. A small church that he’s never set foot in, a simple urn, a wreath of flowers next to a picture of his father. It’s the only photo he’s ever seen with his father smiling; a family portrait from when he was a child. A happy, loving family that’s long since disappeared. The pews are almost empty, since very few people were allowed to attend. Not that many wanted to attend, anyway. He sits alone at the back, eyes scanning over the rest of the guests as the organ music drones on and on. The priest is kneeling off to the side, dutifully entranced in prayer. His aunt and cousin are in the second row; Andre and Audrey Bourgeois in the middle section; Roger Raincomprix and Gorilla standing guard at the doors. And that’s it. The only people in the world who cared about his father, all gathered in one room. Not a teardrop in sight.

He slouches in his seat, very aware of how much he does not want to be here. But someone sits down next to him, and he jumps. There, wearing a simple black dress, blonde hair in a sleek updo, looking like she’s halfway to tears, is Chloe Bourgeois.

“Chloe?” he whispers, unable to hide his shock at her presence. He hasn’t seen Chloe in… months. At least three or four months, probably. Not since he’d confronted her about her increasingly cruel behavior, and she’d subsequently cut him out of her life.

But here she is, eyes locked on the dangling sleeve of his suit jacket. Without a word, she reaches out and touches the sleeve, slowly closing her hand around it, as if afraid to see if it was truly empty. It is empty, of course. The realization seems to hit her hard, and she clasps her other hand to her mouth to muffle a gasp. She looks up at him, mascara already starting to run down her cheeks. “Adrien, I’m so sorry.”

It’s a little weird. Chloe’s become almost a caricature of herself over the years, really leaning into her mean-girl attitude, especially after cutting Adrien out. So, it’s strange to see her be so… vulnerable now. The way she’s looking at him, it reminds him of the girl he used to know growing up; the girl who shared her teddy bear when he cried, who played with him when he was lonely, who always stood up for him whenever his father was angry. Something like hope sparks in his chest, seeing her now. Maybe, just maybe, his friend isn’t totally gone after all. Maybe she just needs a friend, too. Someone to pull the old her out of this new shell.

He feels the corner of his mouth lift a little. “I lost an arm, Chloe. I didn’t die.” She wipes away her tears, taking a moment to compose herself. “I thought you hated my father?”

“I didn’t come here for him,” she scoffs. “I came here to support you, Adrikins.”

That’s… actually touching. A small, fond smile tugs at his lips. “Thanks, Chlo. It means a lot that you’re here.”

She faces the front and rests her head on his shoulder – a brief, silent show of solidarity. He rests his head against hers in response, and when the organ music cuts out, they both sit up straight. The priest walks to the front and begins the service with a solemn “Thank you all for coming,” and Adrien has to fight not to scowl. He wouldn’t have come if he’d had the choice.

Marinette plops down at his other side, slightly out of breath. “Sorry I’m late, the police almost didn’t let me in.”

He ducks his head closer to her, feeling significantly more at-ease. “That’s okay. I’m glad you made it.”

She takes his hand and gives it a squeeze. But she stiffens when her eyes lock onto something over his shoulder, and he realizes with some apprehension that she’s caught sight of Chloe. The two girls are staring each other down, and the air that hangs between them is so thick that he’s almost choking on it. But the tension breaks when Chloe gives her a curt nod, and Marinette nods back in some sort of weird understanding, and they face the front again.

The sermon is as short and to-the-point as it can be, but it still feels like it drags on. Marinette holds his hand the entire time, and it’s the only thing that keeps him from disassociating. When the priest asks if anyone would like to come up and say a few words, Adrien stays silent.

Afterward, as people are leaving, the priest offers the urn to him. He tries to refuse, but Aunt Amelie suggests that he take the urn to the mansion and spread his father’s ashes in the garden, next to the statue of his mother. And well… it’s as good an idea as any.

The ride to the mansion is silent. It’s just him and Gorilla now, and his bodyguard was never much of a talker. Not that he feels like talking, anyway. Adrien looks down at the urn resting in his lap, and frowns. He can’t remember the last time he was this close to his father, aside from that day. He can’t even remember the last time his father had hugged him. And here he is, cradling his ashes gingerly, as if he – as if he cares.

Gorilla stays in the car while he steps out, choosing to walk around the exterior to get to the garden. He doesn’t dare step foot inside the mansion. The last time he was here… well, it wasn’t a good memory. He didn’t have a lot of good memories here, actually. At least not after his mother died.

And his mother wasn’t really gone, it turns out. She had been in the basement for years, frozen in some sort of awful cryo-sleep. She was always there, waiting in limbo; while father was torturing him, and his friends, and all of Paris; while his house – the place where he was supposed to feel safest – became a prison; while his only remaining parent cut his arm off… all in the name of bringing her back.

Adrien sets the urn on the grass and takes off the lid. It really is a beautiful urn. It’s a shame it holds such an evil man.

He picks up the urn with only a little difficulty and starts spreading the ashes as best as he can, taking care to keep them close to his mother’s statue so it won’t harm the other plants. Now – now he can be with his wife for eternity. It’s what he wanted, isn’t it? Never mind his son, never mind that he still had family – all that mattered was bringing his wife back from the dead.

All of the love Adrien had for his father, all this time… it was all one-sided. It leaves a bitter taste in his mouth. The empty urn drops onto the grass with a dull thud.

He’d done everything his father had asked. For years, he’d done everything – things he didn’t want to do – piano, fencing, Chinese lessons, homeschooling, modeling, all of it. He was left to grieve his mother alone, he was isolated in his home, he was kept from having friends and seeing other family; all while working sun up to sun down, until he was exhausted to the bone, and even then being pushed to do more. And despite it all, he tried his best to be the perfect well-behaved son that his father expected him to be. He – he’d tried so hard just to get a little praise, a little attention, a little love, but he never did.

His father had been so blinded by his goal of resurrecting his wife, that he failed to realize that he still had a son. He had his son, right there, hurting and in need of a father when it mattered most. And he hurt him further. Adrien wanted love, and all he ever got was pain, pain, pain.

No matter what he did, no matter how hard he tried, it was never enough. He was never enough.

He doesn’t even realize he’s crying until the tears drip onto his hand. He wipes roughly at his cheeks, but they just keep coming. He’s crying – why is he crying over this? Over this person, this person who caused him so much anguish? This person who was supposed to love him?

He feels stupid for crying. He feels angry.

Why?

The question he wanted to ask his father as he slipped out of consciousness. The question he will never truly know the answer to.

Why?

A wave of grief crashes over him, knocking him to his knees. He curls in on himself, ribs pressing into his legs so hard that he can barely breathe.

Why?

Because despite it all, despite everything, he couldn’t hate his father. He wanted to, god, he wanted to. He wanted to be able to move on, to carve out all memory of him and live the rest of his life in peace, to say he hated the man who had cut off his arm and ruined his life. Yet, he can’t. He can’t erase the memories of playing in the garden with his mother and father, laughing in the sunshine, his father smiling like he didn’t have a care in the world. He can’t shake off the ghost of his father’s arms, circling him in a hug when he got home from his first day at school. He can’t unsee the panic, the regret, the tears dripping from his father’s face after he de-transformed. His father was the only family he had left. Adrien had loved him so much, so unconditionally, for so long, that he – he didn’t know how to hate him.

Why didn’t you love me back?

Strong arms pull him off the ground and into a hug, and it just makes him cry harder. It’s like everything he’s been holding back, everything he’s been refusing to let himself feel, is all crashing out of him at once. The flood gates are open and there’s no turning back.

He’s angry, and he’s confused, and lonely, and sad, and relieved, and it’s just – it’s all too much.

“I was there, that day, before the ambulance came.”

It’s the first time Adrien has ever heard Gorilla speak, and it’s enough to startle him out of his thoughts. His voice is deep, but quiet.

“It took me a while to break into the room, but by the time I did, you were already unconscious. So was Gabriel, and Marinette was kneeling by your body. She looked so scared.”

Adrien pulls back and looks at Gorilla, sniffling and wiping at his eyes.

“She told me who she was,” he says, “and who you were, and who Gabriel was. She said that there was a wish – that, if you make a wish using two of the miraculous, it could save you. Your father knew this, and wouldn’t let Marinette make the wish herself. He was the only one who knew the incantation, and he refused to tell her unless she gave him the miraculous.”

What?

“She had no choice, so she gave them over. He made the wish, and then he collapsed.” Gorilla moves his giant hands to rest on Adrien’s shoulders. “Your father loved you. He was proud of you. I heard the way he talked about you when you weren’t around. He tried to do what was best for you, he just went about it the wrong way.” Gorilla pauses, choosing his next words carefully. “He wasn’t… a good man. But he did love you.”

Adrien’s gaze falls, a few fresh tears rolling down his cheeks. “I… I can’t forgive him.”

“You don’t have to. No one has to. What he did – especially what he did to you – was unforgiveable. But,” he tips up Adrien’s chin so he can look him in the eyes, “You can’t hold onto this anger forever. Your father couldn’t get over his grief, and that was what lead him down the wrong path. Negative emotions like this, they’re important to feel – they’re what make us human. But if we hold onto them for too long, they can turn us into monsters.”

A shiver runs up his spine. He doesn’t want to turn out like his father. He doesn’t want to be another monster that his father created. But he can’t… he doesn’t know how to move past this. Not when looking at his reflection, seeing his missing arm, is a daily reminder of what his father did to him. “How? How do I let it go?”

Gorilla pulls him into a gentle hug. “You do better. Be better than he was. Turn your anger around into something good. It’s okay if you don’t know how yet. You are the strongest person I know, Adrien. And you have all of us – your friends, and your family, and all of Paris – behind you, to help you. We’ll always be here, so don’t worry about facing this alone, because you are not alone.”

The words are a weight lifted off his chest, a warm fire melting the ice that has surrounded his heart since his mother died. You are not alone.

He closes his eyes and buries himself into Gorilla’s chest.

 That night, he’s the one to bring up the topic of his father in therapy. It’s not much, but it’s a start.

[2manyfandoms2count]

A blog request from the @mlwritersguild ! Hope Anon sees it and likes it. It was a great prompt to write!

Warning: 75% of this hurts a lot, although nothing's graphic. I was feeling very angsty when I wrote it (and now I cry when I hear OneRepublic's Wherever I go). Happy ending, though!

---

Disappearing Act (AO3)

The magical ladybugs engulf Paris in their tornado and rubble falls back into place in puffs of dust, clearing the streets. Ladybug runs, tracing back her footsteps, until she finds what, or rather who, she is looking for, standing alone in the middle of the road, looking slightly disoriented.

“Chat Noir!” she yells as she picks her pace up to a sprint, hurling herself at the black-clad teenager in front of her.

Her voice has him turning towards her, and he barely has time to process the red and back bullet coming at him at full speed. His eyes widen and he manages to catch her in his arms without them both falling over. He feels her crying against his shoulder, and his arms instantly tighten around her.

“Shh, my Lady, it’s okay, I’m here,” he whispers soothingly as he strokes her hair.

Her head is buried against his chest, her body shakes with sobs, but her hands are balled into fists, striking his shoulders. Her punches are slow, void from the strength he knows she’s capable of, and he knows she doesn’t mean it.

He knows he’d deserve every one of them, though. His heart is still beating too fast from his jump to protect her earlier. He hadn’t even thought about it, his legs carrying him until the blast hit him straight in the chest. Everything had turned black.

Ladybug pulls away and looks up at him with tear- and anger-filled eyes, and he can’t help but think how beautiful she looks. He wipes a runaway tear from her cheek and tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear, smiling tenderly at her. Oh, the things he’d do for her.

“You have to stop doing that! I thought I’d lost you,” she says through gritted teeth.

He knows it’s to keep more tears at bay.

“I’m sorry, Bugaboo.” He means it. “I pawmise I won’t do it again.” He doesn’t.

A loud crash a couple of streets away and her earrings' insistent beeps bring back their focus to the matter at hand. The Akuma is still running around, and Ladybug’s first Miraculous cure may have brought Chat Noir back, but not so much time. Ladybug wipes her eyes, takes a shaky breath, and stands taller. She doesn’t make a move to leave, though.

“I’ll hold them off, you go restore. I’ll see you later?” He picks her hand up, winks, and his lips gently brush her knuckles (the gesture is imprinted in her brain, she’s replayed it so much), like everything is going to be okay. He runs off, turning around one last time before he turns a corner, to flash her a confident smile.

Everything isn’t okay, though. Later finds the Akuma defeated, the Miraculous cure cast again, yet Ladybug is collapsed on the floor, clutching a lone, silver ring, at the exact spot where Chat Noir had stood a mere moment before.

As she screams into the void, she barely registers the rain that starts pouring down in a thick curtain, mingling with her tears, and part of her wonders if they will ever cease from flowing.

---

Minutes. Hours. Days. Weeks.

Time passed so slowly, yet so fast. Chat Noir wasn’t the only one who didn’t come home on that fateful day. Or the next. Or the one after that.

There’s an empty space in class, right in front of Marinette, and although it could be a coincidence, she knows deep inside that it’s not.

Alya is supportive, and so is the rest of the class, but they don’t, can’t understand the extent of her despair. Nobody can, after all.

The other disappearing act is pulled by the one and only Hawkmoth. She’s surprised, yet relieved, yet furious not to see purple butterflies around anymore. Has the man suddenly grown some morals? Does he draw a line at murdering a teenager?

Because there’s no other word for it, and she knows he knows it, as she fiddles with the ring that now sits on a piece of yarn around her neck. It’s long enough that no one can see it, but she knows it’s there nonetheless, and the cold metal against her skin soothes her. As she holds it in her darkest hours, she can feel Chat Noir’s presence, and she knows his probable disapproval is the only thing keeping her from going on a rampage to find Hawkmoth and make him pay for his actions.

Instead, she does the thing her partner would approve of; she gets dressed in all black, and finds her way to the Agreste Mansion. Nathalie hugs her like she needs it just as much as Marinette does, and the teenager understands from the little she says that Gabriel finally realised how much his son meant to him. Marinette gives her a bitter smile at the news. If only it could bring him back.

A month goes by. Ladybug stops patrolling. It’s too painful to sit at the top of the Eiffel Tower, alone. To get flashbacks of all the battles they fought together anytime she lets her stare linger a little too long anywhere. To walk on rooftops knowing he’s not going to hop at her side at any minute. To feel her heart beat faster every time she sees a flash of black out of the corner of her eye. To feel the pain that invades her chest when she realises it was just a shadow.

More time passes. Mayor Bourgeois issues a communication out for her. A statue in honour of the fallen hero is to be unveiled at the Tuileries. He hopes she will be there, and possibly give a speech.

The day comes, and she hadn’t planned on speaking. She’d tried to imagine what she could say, but everything was too painful, and she couldn’t find the words, nothing felt worthy of him. Seeing so many people turn up, though, some she recognises, a majority she doesn’t, all united in their grief for one person, her person, makes her find her way to the microphone.

She sees the hope in their eyes. She opens her mouth. Closes it. Feels the sting of tears.

She turns around to regain her composure, and is faced with the statue. She hasn’t looked at it properly yet; she couldn’t bear to.

There is Chat Noir, standing in all his glory, wearing a confident grin and seemingly ready to jump into action. She wishes he would.

Behind him, Adrien sits cross-legged, a hopeful smile on his lips as he looks up towards the skies. She can almost hear him singing. She wishes she could.

Taking a shaky breath, she turns around to face the crowd.

“I don’t know where to start with Chat Noir. He infuriated me, so much. He was reckless, which got him in the end. But he was also a great partner. The absolute best. He was kind, caring, and so, so lucid. I… I loved him for it. He didn’t hesitate in the face of danger. A month, twenty three days and a couple of hours ago, he sacrificed himself. He did it for Paris. For us. May this statue be a reminder of him and what he stood for. Faith in Good. Selflessness. Justice.” She takes a deep breath before continuing. “I learned at the same time as you did that Chat Noir was Adrien Agreste. I’ve had time to think about it, and it makes sense that there weren’t two people as amazing as they were, that they were the same purr-son.” She tries to chuckle, but more tears spill out. She knows he’d like it, though. “He juggled his career, school, and a mask. Let him be an inspiration to us all; never back down from anything you’re passionate about, if it can make you happy. You might be afraid of launching yourself, but eventually you’ll just feel freer. That’s what being Chat Noir brought Adrien: freedom. And rest assured that I’ll still be there to make sure the freedom of this city remains. I’ll be there if Hawkmoth ressurfaces, or if Paris needs me in any other way. Even though it’s hard to imagine how I can go on without Chat Noir by my side, I know it’s what he would have wanted. And I know he’ll be with us in spirit, too.”

She chokes on her tears and has to yoyo herself out to avoid her tear-stained face to be on the front page of every magazine the next day, and to escape the question that’s on every reporter’s lips; will Chat Noir be replaced?

She doesn’t understand how people can even think about it.

---

Marinette waits until the dead of the night to make her way back to the statue. She brings flowers, this time. A red rose, which she tucks in Chat Noir’s hand. A peach rose bouquet for Adrien’s lap. Hyacinths and forget-me-nots, which she deposits between them both, amongst the multitude of flowers that cover the base of the statue.

Sorrow, regret, but also love, gratitude and memory. She wishes she could do more.

It’s late, she has school in the morning, but she can’t bring herself to leave. She walks around the statue a couple of times, tries to dislodge a black cat that has elected Adrien’s lap as his sleeping pad, before sitting on a park bench, facing them, facing him.

You promised you wouldn’t do it again. Her stare silently accuses him.

I know, my Lady. She knows him well enough to know exactly what he’d say.

You left me all alone.

I’m so sorry. She wishes the statue would come alive, and he’d come and hug her. It doesn’t, of course.

Whatever happened to you and me against the rest of the world?

There wouldn’t be any of that without you either, would there? She can almost see his sad smile.

Paris needs you.

They need Ladybug more. He’d counter.

I need you. A tear rolls silently down her cheek, just as many have before it. It hovers at the edge of her jaw before collapsing on her thigh. I can’t believe I never told you, I should’ve said it out loud every day, at every occasion. I love you Chaton, Adrien, the name doesn’t matter. And now you’re gone, and you’ll never know. More tears spill out. She brings her knees against her chest, wrapping her arms around them and buries her face in them.

“Hello, m’lady.” She looks up at the sound of the soothing voice. Her vision is blurry with tears, and she knows it’s just a trick of her imagination before she even sees that the scenery hasn’t changed, apart from the light breeze that picked up, taking a couple of fallen leaves in its stride, but she can’t help it. Whatever happens, however much it hurts, she’ll always look, always hope. She shakes her head, pressing her forehead against her knees, and takes a deep breath.

It’s getting late. She should probably get going. A sleepless mind (not that she gets a lot of rest anyway, but every minute counts) will only play further tricks on her, and she doesn’t need that.

“That was some speech you gave.”

Her head snaps up, and this time, she wipes her tears.

She might be sleep-deprived enough to hear the things she wants in the wind, but this is too real. She wasn’t expecting it, either.

The night is still. The cat has lazily lifted its head from its paws, and for a second she wonders if it spoke to her, but it’s not facing her, and this is real life. Cats don’t talk. Right?

She pinches herself. Maybe she fell asleep on the bench.

“You know how much I love it when you speak passionately.” There’s a tender smile in the voice now. She remembers it so vividly.

A figure steps out from the shadow of the statue, almost sheepishly. The teen doesn’t look at her directly, so she doesn’t recognise him at first. His dishevelled black hair, leather jacket and ripped jeans are unfamiliar.

Then his green eyes meet hers, and she’s home.

“Y-you,” she stammers, trying to stand up, but she feels her knees buckle under her.

He’s at her side immediately, catching her in her fall and helping her sit back down.

“I’m sorry for showing up like this,” he says while she touches his face, making sure that she isn’t dreaming, that he’s okay, that he’s alive.

She answers by hugging him like her life depends on it (and maybe it does), feeling her tears make a comeback. He rubs soothing circles on her back. It’s exactly what she needs, what she’s been craving for the past months. He’s here.

“Why?” she croaks against his chest. The question is cut short by a sob, but he understands all of its layers nonetheless.

Why did you leave? Why did you leave me? Why did you pretend to be dead? Why did you not let me know? What you were planning, then that you were okay? Why are you back?

“I… I overheard something. Not then, but during a previous Akuma attack. Hawkmoth asked his minion to spare me. Adrien Agreste. The Akuma was confused, and asked him to confirm. I couldn’t make sense of it at first, but the more I thought about it, the clearer it became that Hawkmoth had to be someone close to me, or to my father.” Marinette feels his body tense and holds him tighter. She’s not letting go of him anytime soon. “And then that day, when I saw what the rays did… I had to seize the opportunity. If I could just… disappear, lay low for a while, then maybe…” he trails off.

“Maybe you could get to the bottom of it.” Marinette sniffles. “I get it. But were you safe? It’s been months, Adrien. Where did you go?” She withdraws a little from his arms to look up at him with worry-filled eyes.

He seems taken aback by her questions. “You’re not going to ask me about what I found?”

“Adrien, I’ve just found out that the person I love most in the world, the person I thought I’d never see again but by looking at this damn statue,” she points towards it, but her eyes stay locked on his, angry tears gathering in her eyes, “is alive, I need to know you’re not about to collapse or disappear all over again. I couldn’t-” Her voice catches.

“I know.” He interrupts, cupping her cheek tenderly. “You’ve been so strong, my Lady. I promise you, I’m fine. I had some cash saved up, it paid for a small half-board hotel in the 20th Arrondissement, no questions asked, my makeover, and of course, my stalking.” His thumb stills on her cheekbone as he processes her words. “But wait, did you just say that you love me?”

A month ago, Marinette would have blushed and stammered in response. Today, her response is unwavering.

She grabs him by the collar of his jacket and their lips crash together. It occurs to Adrien that this is his first kiss with Marinette, Ladybug, he’ll hopefully remember. He makes sure to commit every last detail to memory.

It tastes like tears (hers, at first, and then, theirs - they’re all happy, though). Desperation. Disbelief. Thankfulness. Love. He hopes she feels it from him, too.

He takes it all in. Her chapped lips. The way she’s pulling him closer, clinging to him to keep him close, as if he’d ever run away from this. How soft her hair is under his fingers.

Nobody’s ever going to take it away from him.

When Marinette breaks off, leaving both of them panting, Adrien is awestruck. He knows it’s too soon to joke about being able to die happy, but the thought is there.

“So…” Marinette’s hands untangle from his hair to rest on his chest. “Now that my feelings for you are elucidated, and that I’ve established that you seem to be fine, how about you tell me if your disappearing act was at least worth it?” She sniffles a little.

“Marinette, I’ve just had the lights kissed out of me by the girl I love, and you expect me to be able to make a coherent sentence?” He nudges her nose with his.

“I just need to know you’re not going to disappear on me again,” she whispers.

“I purr-omise, my Lady,” he replies earnestly. “Never going to run around and desert you ever again. Not if I can help it.”

“Shut up.” She lets out a small giggle, her first in ages, and punches his shoulder lightly. A pun and a questionable reference. Her kitty’s back alright. “As if that wasn’t a coherent sentence.”

“Maybe the sentence was, but you’ll have to admit the thought wasn’t.” His smile vanishes as he looks around them. “Seriously, though. I’m not sure we should talk about it here.”

“Fine.” She gives him a small smile, and kisses his nose. “You’ll tell me when you’re ready, and we’ll deal with it.”

“You and me against the world.” He smiles.

“Forever.”

She buries herself in his arms once more, and they stay on the park bench until their heads start drooping. Even as they leave, she can’t bring herself to let go of his hand, and it doesn't take a lot of convincing for him to go home with her.

There’s no way she’s letting him out of her sight again. Not if she can help it.

[hanaasbananas]

Aftermath

Set immediately after let's get covered in flames and play some games with the smoke

AO3

She doesn’t move for hours.

Head resting on Adrien’s chest, she feels his blood seep into her hair, feels his body go slack, the arm around her shoulders loosening and falling away, feels him go cold beneath her fingertips.

Still, she does not get up.

Thunder rumbles above them, lightning flashing in the distance as the sky darkens, clouds growing heavy with rain before releasing a torrential downpour, soaking her in seconds.

And still, she does not get up.

But as the rain pounds down, Marinette lets herself cry once more, the storm hiding her tears and drowning out her screams.

***

A hand lands on her shoulder, squeezing gently when she flinches. “Sweetheart…”

Papa.

Of course. She’d dropped her transformation in the middle of an akuma battle. Of course he would have found out. Everyone must have found out.

She can’t bring herself to care.

“I can’t let go,” Marinette speaks for the first time in what feels like eternity, her throat hoarse from crying.

“You must,” Papa’s voice is gentle. “the cure, you need to cast it, set things to rights.”

Set things to rights. She almost laughs. As if anything could ever be right again.

“It won’t bring him back.”

A pause. “No, it won’t.”

“Then what's the point?”

***

Marinette doesn’t remember casting the cure.

She doesn’t remember being pulled to her feet and being carried to the car, or arriving home, where maman waits for her.

“Oh,” she breathes when she sees her, rushing forward and folding her into her arms. Marinette’s arms remain rigid by her side, but her legs crumple beneath her, and maman follows her to the ground,

Marinette doesn’t come back to herself until she���s in the bathtub, letting maman wash her clean.

“He was my soulmate,” she whispers, watching as the blood—Adrien’s blood— is sluiced from her skin. Maman inhales sharply beside her, pausing with the washcloth still in her hand. “He should have let it hit me.” Looking up, she meets mamans stricken gaze with her own.

“Why didn’t he let it hit me?”

***

The funeral is on a Friday.

Marinette sits at the back of the church, her face scrubbed clean, covered with a veil so that she won’t be recognised.

Félix gives her only the barest nod in acknowledgement. He doesn’t try to speak to her, and for that, she is glad.

After the burial, when the mourners have gone and the cemetery sits empty, she makes her way to his grave, sitting cross legged beside it.

“You know,” she says “I always knew we wouldn’t have a happy ending. Call me a pessimist but even so…” she swallows, reaching out to trace the words on his headstone. “I never imagined it would end like this.”

***

Time passes. Seasons change, autumn giving way to winter, melting into spring.

Her grief does not fade.

It is not a pretty thing, this grief of hers. It is not simple or elegant or something that she can hide. It is guttural and ugly, clinging to her, crawling over her skin and seeping deep into her bones.

She lies awake, night after night, tears soaking her pillow like summer rain. On some nights, when the pain is too much to bear, a heavy stone crushing her beneath its weight, Marinette wishes that she could simply reach into her chest and rip the beating heart out from within, feel it pulsing in her hand, blood dripping from her fingers and coating her arm. She wishes that she could take a knife and slice away the parts of her heart that ache and grieve for Adrien until the pain is gone.

She imagines that if she did, there would be nothing left of her heart at all.

***

A letter arrives for her on Adrien’s birthday.

There is no return address, and she doesn’t recognise the handwriting on the envelope. She does recognise the ring that falls out of it though.

Adrien’s ring. His miraculous.

Fingers closing around the ring, Marinette feels it cutting into her palm as she reads the enclosed note.

Father believes that you have this. I figured I may as well make that the truth.

Félix

She has both now.

The ladybug and the black cat. Heart beating rapidly in her chest, Marinette looks down at the ring, her mind racing at all the possibilities, the power she now holds.

She could do it. Make the wish. Bring him back.

But what would the cost be?

If it was her life, she would gladly give it. Even if she was granted only a few short moments to see him again.

But Marinette has wielded her own miraculous long enough to know that magic is a fickle thing, unpredictable and unconstrained by the laws of man.

No. The risk is too great; she cannot do it.

Legs bucking underneath her, Marinette sinks to the ground, clutching Adrien’s ring in her hand, and she weeps, her heart breaking anew.

***

Marinette isn’t sure what possesses her to go back to the apartment.

Masochism, she supposes. Maybe, it is because already, she struggles to recall the exact shade of Adrien’s eyes, the texture of his hair between her fingertips.

Whatever the reason, she stands now, in the doorway, surveying the place, a lump forming in her throat. Everything is as they left it. Her shawl is draped over the back of the couch; one of Adriens ties lies crumpled on the living room table beside an empty mug and a newspaper. If not for the fine layer of dust covering every surface she’d think they’d been here only hours before.

Moving carefully so as not to disturb anything, Marinette steps inside gingerly, wincing as the door slams shut behind her.

The apartment is thick with ghosts of the past, memories of all that they did here. She can almost hear their laughter, hear the music they’d dance to; can almost see the two of them pushing the sofa and table to the edges of the room to make space for dancing.

Sitting down heavily on the sofa, she surveys the room once more. Memories are important, she knows. God knows, she’s held onto them as tightly as she can, cherishing every new recollection, as though it is the most precious treasure.

But everytime she remembers something new, everytime she sifts through her memories, going over their time together like a film reel, Marinette wishes that Adrien would come to her instead.

***

“Marinette,” the whisper comes late at night, rousing her from a restless sleep. It’s not unusual to hear his voice—she’s dreamt of that smooth cadence a thousand times before, over and over, but always—absolutely without fail—the illusion falls silent, dissipating the second that she opens her eyes, leaving her cold and alone.

This time however, feels strange. Different.

Lying motionless, Marinette hardly dares to breathe, hands trembling at her sides as she strains her ears in the silence, hoping, praying for his voice to come again.

It isn’t real, she knows, but she craves it nonetheless.

“Marinette,” his breath ghosts over her skin, causing goosebumps to rise on her arms. “This is real.” His voice is laced with amusement “open your eyes.”

“No,” she says stubbornly. And then, more plaintively: “I don’t want you to disappear.”

“I won’t. I promise.”

Hands, smooth and strong, reach to touch her. They stroke her face gently, reassuringly, turning her face to the side. Cold lips brush against her closed eyelids and she shudders, exhaling shakily.

Maybe it is real. Maybe...

Opening her eyes, Marinette blinks in the darkness, a small gasp escaping her lips at the sight in front of her.

For a long moment, she can do nothing but gaze at him, drinking in his features. He’s still beautiful; as beautiful as she remembered. Regarding her steadily, the entrancing depth of his dark, luminous green eyes and the ethereal glow of his hair in the moonlight filtering through her window makes sets her heart racing.

He says nothing, simply smiles at her and her breathing quickens. Oh, his smile! How she had missed his smile; it was like the sun. It warmed her like nothing else. Looking at him, it feels like she is finally seeing in colour again—shades of gold, yellow, and green all blooming before her.

Sitting up on her knees, tears spill from her eyes as he reaches out to cup a hand against her cheek. She covers her hand over his, pressing it harder against her cheek until she feels a dull pain from the pressure-a welcome pain, telling her that he is here, that she can feel his touch once more.

“Hello, doll.”

Something in her breaks—a dam bursting in her chest at the endearment.

Her sobs are violent, and Adrien pulls her towards him, into his arms, but she resists, refusing to let him out of her sight for even one second. Despite the fact that fat, hot tears are blurring her vision, she keeps her eyes locked on his, as if he might disappear forever as soon as she blinks.

Still smiling, Adrien runs his hand along her shoulder, consoling her.

“You will be alright, my love.”

“I won-I won’t,” she blubbers “you do-you don’t understand, Adrien. I can’t do this. Not without you. I can’t.”

Sniffling as he wipes her tears away with his thumb, she leans into his touch, letting herself feel his warmth. “You don’t know what it’s like,” she says softly “to live without a heart.”

At this, he finally frowns. “But you do have a heart.”

Marinette shakes her head. “Not anymore. Not without you.”

“You still have me.” the low, calm timbre of his voice soothes her and she watches as he places a hand over her heart. “I live on, in here. You’ll carry me with you always, Marinette.”

Sliding his hand to the back of her neck, he pulls her towards him, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead; his lips lingering for a moment in an all too familiar gesture.

In his face, she sees tenderness in every line, something kind and warm in his expression. There is an insurmountable sorrow too, the edges of his lips curling in a sad smile, and she knows what he is going to say to her, knows now why he has visited her this night.

“But you have to let me go.”

[nerdypanda3126]

A Game of Snake and Mouse – Ch. 2

So... uh... I’m not entirely sure how, but this became a Thing™ 👀 hope you guys are up for four chapters of lukanette make outs, ‘cause... that’s pretty much all this is lol 

Read on Ao3

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He didn’t hear from or see Marinette again until a week later, when she showed up to help with Kitty Section practice, still wearing her disguised Multimouse pendant. He waved as casually as he could with his heart thudding in his throat and his lips buzzing, the taste of peppermint already on his tongue. She blushed and tripped over her feet, avoiding his eyes. 

When he walked up, he let his arm fall lightly across her shoulders, giving her a comforting squeeze as he did, and she jumped and made that adorable squeak again as a crimson blush painted her cheeks. 

She had a different chapstick on today that gave her lips a perfect red tint. He couldn’t help but lick his lips. Strawberries today. The scent was wafting off her and making his mouth water. When did she start wearing flavored chapstick? 

He blinked as he realized he had been staring at her lips. He gave her shoulder another squeeze and cleared his throat before he sat down. Juleka was glancing between them with a clear question in her eyes, but Luka steadfastly ignored her as Rose went over the new lyrics and Ivan tapped out the rhythm on his shoe with his drumsticks. 

Marinette stayed the entire time, sketching new costume designs in her notebook. Luka missed several chords when she nibbled on her lip in thought. His head was buzzing with thoughts of those lips on his, of strawberry and peppermint, of gorgeous blue eyes that made him forget his own name, of that adorable squeak she’d made, of pale pink blushes and—

It wasn’t until a balled up piece of paper hit him in the side of the head from Juleka’s direction that he snapped out of it and realized the whole band had stopped to wait for him. Marinette hid a giggle behind her hand before her eyes disappeared behind her bangs and she pretended she was absorbed in her work.

Juleka flicked her eyes from Marinette and back to him before she jerked her head at Marinette, implying that he should go talk to her. He shook his head in answer. They did need to talk about what this was, what they were, if it meant anything had changed. But he didn’t particularly want the audience of the band. 

So instead he just shrugged to apologize and the band picked back up where they’d left off. He kept his eyes on his fingerings and not on the incredibly distracting girl that had his entire heart and attention. 

After practice, he lingered on deck, waiting to see if she would want to stay and talk to him or if she would run away. He hadn’t entirely decided on whether or not he’d follow after her if she chose the latter. But he also didn’t want to push her if talking to him about it would make her nervous without the mask. 

As it turned out, he needn’t have worried. She walked right up to him. 

“You sounded great today,” she started. He could hear the nervous tremor in her voice. 

Juleka cleared her throat and grumbled that she was heading below deck and Luka nodded, thankful that his sister had at least a sliver of discretion. Although when Rose started to lead the way, he couldn’t help but smirk. Juleka rolled her eyes and flipped him off before disappearing downstairs. 

“Thanks,” he answered Marinette when they were alone. 

“Although you seemed a little… distracted?” Her eyes were alight with mischief and she giggled when he swallowed visibly. 

“Yeah, we have this mouse problem,” he said, although how he was forming words around his cardboard tongue he had no idea. “I thought I saw one on deck earlier, but I wasn’t sure.” He reached out to adjust her pendant before he met her eyes. “Funny thing is I could’ve sworn I’d caught it before.” 

A squeak escaped her before she seemed to be able to help it and that pale pink blush started to dust the tops of her cheeks. He gave her a warm smile and pulled away, afraid he’d pushed too hard. But she stepped forward, grabbed the lapels of his jacket, and pulled him down for a fierce kiss. 

And he melted into strawberry bliss. 

Without the fangs, he didn’t have to worry about being too excited, so he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, kissing her like he’d never known what strawberry tasted like before it was on her lips. His tongue traced across her bottom lip, simultaneously licking off her chapstick and hoping to deepen the kiss. 

Her face scrunched as she giggled and pulled away to wipe her mouth. His knees were wobbling underneath him and he sat on an amp to avoid falling straight down. He kept a hold on her hand though and tugged her along with him, slotting her in between his knees to hold her close. 

“So I guess maybe we should talk?” he asked breathlessly. She nodded and squeezed his hand, from nerves or excitement he couldn’t tell. He tried to take a calming breath, but it just filled his senses with strawberries and he wanted to pull her into his lap and keep kissing her. 

“I really like kissing you,” he finally managed to admit. “And I’ll take every chance I can get. I just want to make sure we're on the same page before...” His eyes darted to those lips and a lovesick grin spread across his face. "Before I get too carried away." 

Another shy blush sprang up on her cheeks and he felt an urge to kiss her again just to watch it turn crimson. 

“I haven’t told Juleka," he continued, "or anyone, actually, because we hadn’t… I mean we didn’t really…” He gestured between them and she nodded as she caught his meaning. 

“I really like kissing you, too,” she said, which made his heart leap into his throat. “And I…” She bit her lip again as she met his eyes. “I don't care who knows it. If that’s okay with you, too.” 

His head was swimming and his heart was soaring and somewhere in the middle of all that his mouth managed to say “Yes,” so emphatically that she squeaked again before tumbling down into his lap to pull his face back to hers.

As he pressed kiss after kiss into those lips he’d only dreamt about for so long, his dopey grin came back before he could stop it. He tangled his fingers in her hair and deepened the kiss, only vaguely registering that her hands were smoothing along his chest and shoulders before she slid them up to clasp around his neck, holding him to her. 

He didn’t care if he passed out from lack of oxygen, he wasn’t going to relinquish her lips first. 

Finally though, she pulled away to press her forehead against his fondly, brushing her nose against his as they paused. Her strawberry chapstick was long gone, but her lips were an even brighter red than before, flushed from kissing him. He pressed one more chaste kiss to them, chasing after her still, and she giggled as he peppered her cheeks with kisses, too.

“I really, really like kissing you,” he said with a chuckle into her ear. “I’m not actually sure if I can stop.” 

She surprised him by pressing her lips to the side of his neck and sucking lightly. A groan escaped him before he could help it. After a moment, she pulled back to admire her handiwork, tracing the new mark on his skin with the tip of her finger. 

"You did say I could have as many chances as I wanted," she murmured. 

He blinked at her. A foggy memory that they were superheroes swam through his thoughts. He was the Guardian now. She had trusted him with the responsibility. He should probably try to think about their next move on that front, but he found it increasingly difficult to think about anything but Marinette's fingers raking through his hair. He closed his eyes and hummed in pleasure. 

A small squeal made Marinette freeze and he turned his head to follow the noise. Rose had come up for something and she was practically vibrating with repressed romance, her hands pressed to her mouth as she tried to contain herself. Luka chuckled. 

"Let it out, Rose, it's okay." 

Rose's squeal grew in pitch and volume until it made him wince. At the end of it, she sighed dreamily and clasped her hands together. Marinette hid in his shoulder and he rubbed her back before he cleared his throat.

"Uh, did you or Jules need something?" 

"We were going to put a movie on, and Juleka wanted to see if you wanted to join us, but… I'll just… I'll tell her you're fine up here." She waved, grinning, and turned around to go back downstairs. 

"Good thing you didn't care who knew," he said to Marinette, still chuckling as he squeezed her to him. "What do you think, you want to go watch the movie with them?" 

She shook her head against his shoulder and sighed before she pulled away and stood up. "I should be getting home." 

"I'll walk you there."

He stood and laced his fingers through hers. She looked down at their joined hands before she took a deep breath. "I guess I should introduce you to my parents." Her eyes flicked up to meet his from behind her bangs. "As my… boyfriend?" 

It was just a word. But it was a word that made him feel like a plucked guitar string, vibrating with sound and harmony and pure happiness. He brought their joined hands up to his lips to kiss the back of her hand before he managed to nod. 

"Definitely." 

[seasonofthegeek]

Somebody You Loved, Part 2

A lovely Nonny requested a second part to this story through ko-fi. Thank you so much for your support!

Parts 1, 2:

“Hello?”

“Is it a good thing or a bad thing that I’m trying really hard not to think too much while I’m getting ready?” Chloe stared at her reflection as she held the phone to her ear. She’d gotten through most of her makeup, but her left eye was obviously missing mascara. She’d gone as long as she could without freaking out enough to call Adrien but he’d become her safety blanket on rough days. “Because by trying not to think too much, I think I’m thinking too much which might be really bad.”

“Chloe?”

“Yes! Answer the question,” she snapped. “Please.”

“I...wait, can you repeat it?”

She huffed and put the call on speaker so she could keep working on her makeup. “I’m getting ready to go meet Nathaniel. We’re going to do coffee at that cat cafe down the street.”

“You hate cats. As much as that pains me to say, by the way.”

“Which is why it will be a valid excuse to leave if it’s too much.” She swiped the wand along her lashes with practice.

“I guess, but it seems kinda, I don’t know...going somewhere you don’t like when you’re already stressed about seeing him feels like adding fuel to the fire.”

Chloe dropped the mascara into its spot in her counter organizer. Everything had a space now and things needed to be returned to their spots after being used and not left to clutter. That had been an exercise she’d been working on since starting therapy. 

The Chloe five months ago would’ve had makeup scattered along the vanity, piles of clothes around the room, and ancient takeout in the fridge. Present Chloe was trying to do better about taking care of herself and her space. She was surprised to find what a mental relief it had been once she’d actually stopped bitching and started organizing her apartment. She’d let her therapist know how dumb she thought the whole thing was and still wasn’t planning on admitting how much it’d helped her anytime soon.

“I should text and cancel.” Chloe picked up her phone. “Thanks, Adrien.”

“Wait! Don’t hang up yet. That’s not what I’m saying.” There was a murmur on his end of the line and his reply was inaudible.

“Is that Marinette or Nino?”

“You know, it could be someone else. I know more than three people.”

Chloe smiled as she opened her lipstick. “Sure you do, Adrikins. So which one is it?”

“Marinette. She’s cooking dinner.”

“Mmhmm.”

“What I was going to say is that I think you should meet Nath somewhere else. If you’re going to the cat cafe, you’re already looking for an excuse for it not to work and if that’s the case, just call it off all together.”

She rolled the lipstick all the way up and then back down into the tube. “What if I’m not sure if I want it to work?”

“Tell him you need more time.”

“It’s been months though.” She could hear his steady breathing on the line and it was a comfort. Adrien was the only person who’d known her most of her life and had seen the best and the worst of her and was still there. 

“We’ve had this conversation before,” he reminded her gently. “If you aren’t ready, you aren’t ready, and if Nathaniel moves on, he moves on. You’ve both got to do what’s right for you.”

Chloe looked at her reflection, her shiny ponytail and her perfect makeup and her lovely jewelry, and she knew she wasn’t leaving her apartment. “I’m not ready,” she said, and she wasn’t sure if it was a confession or just fear and doubt.

___

Cancelling her coffee date with Nathaniel had thrown Chloe into a funk. She cancelled dinner with Adrien and Marinette the following week and called in sick for her therapy session. She ordered takeout every night and did the bare minimum she could get away with at work. Her phone died days ago and she’d never bothered to put it on the charger. She knew she was slipping, but she was finding it hard to care.

She was moving from watching television on the couch to her bedroom one night two or so weeks after cancelling the date when there was a knock on her apartment door. After the initial surprise of a visitor wore off, she glared at the door as another knock sounded out.

“What?” she barked, crossing her arms.

“Chloe?”

Her heart jumped into her throat at the sound of his voice. 

Nathaniel was at her door.

She looked around the trashed living room with slight panic. This wasn’t how he was supposed to see her after this long. She had her shit together now. She took care of herself. The next time they saw each other, she was supposed to be able to show how well she was doing. She wanted to look pretty and she was currently going on day three without a proper shower.

Maybe he would go away if she didn’t answer. It wasn’t like he could wait in the hall all night. The terrifying thought that he still had his key struck her like a bolt of lightning and she crouched down behind the couch as if he could somehow see her through the door.

“I’m sorry for just stopping by like this,” Nathaniel said, voice muffled through the door. “But after you didn’t reply to my texts and calls, I got a little worried. Adrien said maybe I should stop by?”

Chloe scowled at a greasy box of old Chinese takeout by her feet on the floor. She was going to kill Adrien.

“He said he hasn’t been able to get in touch with you either for a few days and he’s worried.” There was a weighted pause. “Hey, Chlo, you don’t have to open the door or anything, but can you just let me know if you’re okay?”

She was tempted not to reply. There was a small, twisted part of her that wanted him to worry. She wanted him to be afraid something had happened to her and she wanted him to blame himself for it.

Chloe took in a deep breath and shook away those thoughts. That wasn’t the person she wanted to be. She went to the door. “I’m here,” she said. Her voice wasn’t loud but she could hear Nathaniel’s sigh of relief on the other side. She slid down to the plush carpet and leaned against the door. “I’m okay.”

“Okay...okay, good. Thank you.”

She didn’t reply. She didn’t know what else to say.

“Do you want me to leave?” he asked.

No. She didn’t. She really didn’t. But she didn’t want him to come in either.

“No,” she finally answered. “But I need you to stay out there.” There was a thud against the door that didn’t quite feel like a knock and Nathaniel’s next words rang out clearer as if he’d sat down by the door as well.

“That’s fine,” he said. “It sounds like you’re sitting so I’m going to sit too.”

“You’re just going to sit in the hall?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay.”

“How have you been?”

Chloe snorted and picked at the chipping pale gold polish on her thumbnail. “The jury’s still out on that one. How about you?”

“I’m fine. Not fine, fine, but...fine.” There was a long pause. “I really miss you.”

She felt relieved and scared at the same time. “I miss you too,” she replied after a minute of strained silence. “I’ve, uh, I’ve been going to therapy. I started after you, after we...well, you know.” She felt her face flush. She wasn’t ashamed of going to therapy, not really, but it suddenly felt like a very private thing. But it was also something she wanted him to know. It was complicated.

“How’s it been?”

“Sometimes it sucks and sometimes it really helps.”

“I’ve heard that about therapy..”

She didn’t quite laugh, the sound she made coming out more choked than happy. “Yeah, it’s definitely something. I think it’s been mostly a good thing though.”

“I’m really glad,” Nathaniel replied. 

Chloe pressed her cheek against the door and imagined she could feel his warmth through it. “I’m really sorry, Nathaniel,” she said quietly. “I was awful to you. I’ve been awful to so many people but I never should’ve hurt you.” She was tense as she waited for a reply.

“I could’ve stayed,” he said. “I could’ve tried to understand or...we could’ve gotten help together or something. It’s not all on you.”

“I needed to get myself straightened out for me before I could be someone to you or anyone else. I’ve been learning that slowly. It’s not the easiest thing.”

“No, it’s not.” The door shifted as Nathaniel adjusted his position. “I’m glad you’re okay, Chlo. I’ve been worried about you but I was trying to give you your space.”

“Thank you for that. I...I needed it.”

“I’m sorry if showing up tonight made things hard.”

Chloe smiled at the door and traced her finger along the ridges in the wood. “I think this is actually exactly what I needed.”

“Oh, that’s...I’m really glad then.”

She imagined what his smile looked like; she could hear it in his words.

“I don’t want it to seem like I’m pressuring you though,” he continued. “After our coffee date getting cancelled and then hearing that Adrien hadn’t been able to get in touch with you either, I couldn’t keep myself from coming over. I’ll try to keep my distance again though. You take as much time as you need.”

The locks on her door shined in the light and Chloe was tempted to reach up and undo them. She wanted to whisk Nathaniel back into the apartment they’d shared and maybe it could be like this nightmare had never happened. The last half a year could fade away into a hazy memory.

But she needed to remember. She didn’t want to fall back into bad patterns. She wanted to keep evolving and changing and becoming the person she hoped to be.

“I want you to come in,” she said, “but not tonight. Soon, but not yet.”

“Soon sounds good. Just don’t shut everyone out, okay, Chlo? Even if you aren’t ever ready for me, make sure you reach out when you need someone.”

She hugged herself and felt strangely happy. “I will,” she promised. “And I want to be ready for you, Nath. I’m working on it.”

“Then I’ll be waiting.”

“Good.” She stretched and stood, smiling from ear to ear. “I’m going to do some stuff around here but I’ll call you when I’m ready, okay?” She listened as he got to his feet on the other side of the door.

“That sounds great. Thanks for talking to me tonight. It made me really happy.”

“Me too. Goodnight, Nathaniel.”

“Goodnight, Chloe.” 

She pressed her palm to the door and imagined he was doing the same. After a long few seconds, she stepped away and surveyed her living room. With a decided nod, she went to her kitchen to get a trash bag. She swept all of the takeout containers and miscellaneous trash into a bag and straightened up around the room. The whole apartment could use a good cleaning but that would be for another day.

With a content sigh, she went to her bedroom and crawled into bed. She turned on the television and cuddled in her blankets and felt right. She had slipped. She’d had a funk. She’d let herself fall, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t get up again. Nothing was set in stone.

She would keep growing because she wanted to, and she would take life a day at a time and that would be just fine.

Buy me a cherry coke?

[authorlmfletcher]

Now that Who’s Who is over, I can finally share one of my favourite stories that I’ve written. <3 

Adrien Agreste wasn’t happy. It wasn’t that he was ungrateful for his life- he knew he lived a privileged life with wealth, fame, and beauty. But it was hollow and lonely. The only woman in the world he wanted to be with had vanished, leaving a gaping hole in his heart that he didn’t think would ever be repaired. She was gone and Adrien was left helpless to find her. A civilian instead of a superhero.

Also on Ao3 and FFnet.

Alarm. Stretch. Shower. Clothes. Coffee. Car.

Adrien shifted in his seat, taking care not to spill his coffee on his jeans. It was the same routine almost every morning - his bodyguard always seeming to know exactly where he had to be. The coffee was too cold, but at least it offered a little warmth to start the day. His body had long since ceased to function on caffeine, but Adrien drank it anyway. Maybe it was the idea that coffee somehow indicated the arrival of adulthood.

The grey sky outside the car window reflected his mood - grey and dismal. He’d better pretend to change that soon or he’d get a stern look of disapproval from his father. A look that still made Adrien’s skin clammy and teeth grit. But maybe that would break up some of the monotony of his life.

Leaving the coffee cup in the car, he stepped out to the location of the day, closing the door behind him with more force than he needed.

Hair. Makeup. Clothing change. Pose. Switch positions. Pose. Try to look happy.

The problem was, Adrien Agreste wasn’t happy. It wasn’t that he was ungrateful for his life- he knew he lived a privileged life with wealth, fame, and beauty. But it was hollow and lonely. Sure, he could practically have any woman he wanted whenever he wanted - but he didn’t. The only woman in the world he wanted to be with had vanished, leaving a gaping hole in his heart that he didn’t think would ever be repaired.

Lunch. Calorie Check. Weights. Lunge. Parry.

Kagami had once tried to push a relationship on him but it had never really worked out. Not while his heart belonged to another. Not even now. Instead, Kagami was the bright spot in the dullness of his day - taking time to fence with him long after competitions were a requirement by either of their parents. Now it was just part of the fitness regime and a personal challenge to best each other. Kagami usually won, despite Adrien’s sincere attempts otherwise, laughing as she found an unguarded spot to press the point of her steel.

Shower. Suit. Office. Emails.

Typically, his afternoons allowed him to complete his required work at Gabriel . Mind numbing things like answering emails about things he didn’t really care about, meeting with his generally disapproving father, and any other tasks on the list. He didn’t want to be there. Didn’t want to be the face and heir to the fashion company that he didn’t even care one whit about. But it was all he had and it was something to fill the time.

Empty time to think was the worst. Memories seeped into any moment he wasn’t busy. Memories of a girl with pigtails and a red-spotted suit. Memories of a woman with blue eyes and macrons. Of a floating cat with a cheese addiction. Memories that left a painful throb in his chest and a catch in his throat. He only allowed himself to rub the emptiness of his finger for a moment before forcing his brain to go numb and answer another stupid email.

Car. Supper. Run.

The only time in the day of his own - truly his own - was when the sun was sinking deep into the horizon and he could run. It wasn’t the same as rooftops but it was as close as he could get, freely racing through the streets of Paris with music blasting in his ears to block out any unwanted thoughts. At least, until the bakery came into view. His legs fumbled to a stall as he stared at the elegant font on black signs, breathing hard. Unwillingly, his feet were at the entrance, hand pushing the door open, the tinkle of the bell startling him to reality.

The petite woman behind the counter looked surprised to see him as well, the smile on her face turning from welcoming to pained as she shook her head in silence. Of course not. Nothing had changed. Nothing at all.

His eyes turned to the door at the back of the shop, the question asked without a word and Sabine nodded, her features so like her daughter’s that for a blurred moment it left him confused. Blinking to clear his vision, he bowed in thanks before slipping through the door.

He climbed the stairs to their apartment, arguing with himself about this choice, knowing he would regret it but unable to stop. It was the same, the warmth of life still smacking him in the face as he pushed the door open. Even with her gone, it felt like home.

They’d left her room untouched as a sign of hope. Pink and soft, even now her scent lingered despite the swirling of dust. Her chair. Her mannequin. Her sewing corner. Her bed. He couldn’t do this. He knew he couldn’t do this - the strength of his legs leaving him as a shaking crumpled pile on the floor of her room.

Cry.

Her mother found him, arms encircling him in a way that he hadn’t felt in a long time. A mother’s love. She didn’t need to ask questions. She just knew. How could her heart take the emptiness? He might never be as strong as her.

“She’ll be ok, Adrien. We have to believe it.”

Dream.

His apartment was hollow. Simply an empty shell that served its purpose. It would never feel like home now. Never with her gone.

Desperate for sleep to take him, the pills went down quickly, the promise of nothing ascending as he settled beneath the covers.

It rarely did - twisted dreams of chaotic memories making his sleep fitful.

Freedom. Memories of the past, running over the Paris rooftops in the twilight. The view from the Eiffel Tower. The Butterfly and Peacock Miraculous voluntarily sitting in Ladybug’s hands, delivered anonymously by one last akuma, leaving them both surprised at the sudden and unexpected twist of events. Their reveal to each other - her mask melting away to show him her beautiful face and her look of shock as she discovered his own. Kisses and laughter and a different ring. One that sparkled with diamonds just for her. Sudden and frantic desperation - tears on her face and panic in her voice as she pleaded for his co-operation. The emptiness on his finger that once carried the weight of destruction. Her being gone without a trace.

Waking up with a start, he breathed deeply to try and calm the irrational galloping of his heart while he dug his fingers into his hair. She was gone and he was left helpless to find her. A civilian instead of a superhero.

Not even the slue of private investigators or frantic trips to possible sighting locations found her. She had vanished into thin air along with the miracle box. Her duty as Guardian, she’d whispered through the streams of tears, kissing him goodbye before he had even realized her plans.

He wouldn’t sleep anymore tonight - flopping back to stare at the darkness of the ceiling in aching loneliness.

Rinse. Repeat.

It was easiest to live in mindless monotony. Turn off the brain, go through the motions, be disconnected from everyone and everything as much as possible. So he did. Each day the same basic schedule. Each day an attempt to avoid memories and the questions that dragged at the corners of his brain.

Sometimes, his evenings involved something different than running or mindless television or killing things in a game. Sometimes, he forced himself to get dressed and socialize - whether at an event for Gabriel or to see Nino.

Parties were easy. All he had to do was plaster on the fake smile and make the rounds. A carefully auto-piloted version of himself.

Seeing friends typically left him emotionally drained, especially when Nino brought Alya along. He couldn’t take the questioning or the reports of leads that Alya thought she had on Marinette. Three years and the woman wouldn’t let it go. He supposed that’s why Alya was so successful as a reporter - her unyielding determination. She kept on hoping. But, for him, it was gone.

Sometimes, his father sent him off to the world, ruining his routine and carefully numbed life. His father never seemed to care about Marinette’s mysterious disappearance. Instead, his father had pushed Adrien into the business, keeping him busy. In some way, Adrien supposed, it had been his father’s way of helping.

So, to New York, Toronto, Berlin, London he went.

Walk. Smile. Walk. Pose. Outfit change.

Do his job. Represent the brand. It was easy enough. Mindless enough. Parties and networking to attend, he stared at the bubbling golden liquid in the tall glass between his fingers with a mixture of disgust and desire.

He’d tried that before.

It hadn’t ended well.

The poor young girl he’d chased down in the drunken belief that she was Marinette was likely haunted for life by his screaming and flailing. No amount of apology could make up for that. It had taught him two valuable lessons.

One - stop drinking.

Two - stop looking for her in every face.

So, he held the flute of champagne with casual obligation instead of desperate hollowness.

When the chaos of the fashion work died down for the day, long after the sun had set and the sky was dark, he raced down the streets and let the freshness of the air burn his cheeks and fill his lungs. A new location sometimes helped clear his head because her memory wasn’t around every corner. He ran until he could barely move, dropping himself into bed exhausted - praying for a dreamless night.

Alarm. Stretch. Shower. Clothes. Coffee. Car.

Adrien stared at the coffee in his hand as the car lurched through the streets. Funny how his routines stayed the same even in other countries. His body felt heavier than usual - likely the aftermath of his parties and restless nights. Obligation to complete the tasks here in Shanghai before his late night boarding call home to Paris guided the day.

Hair. Makeup. Clothing change. Pose. Switch positions. Pose. Try to look happy.

More photo shoots. The city’s fashion school, a beautiful and abstract building, lent itself well to the academic attire he wore. God, he was getting tired of fake smiles and trying to pretend he was flirting with the women on his arm for photos. At least the makeup team made him look like he wasn’t the walking zombie he felt like.

On order of the photographer, he loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top of the shirt before the hairstylist ruffled his hair. Keeping his eyes on the camera while the female models posed around him, he tried to look the roguish bit that the designer desired. Everyone seemed pleased with the results, sending him to relax for a bit before the next clothing change.

He needed more coffee. Following the signs on the walls to the cafe, he absently wondered if “Les Petits Temps Cafe” would have any Parisian style treats - like croissants - the thought flaring the constantly dull ache to a quick flame. No treats then. Just coffee. The girl behind the counter smiled shyly when she passed over a steaming cup.

Perched on a stool at a wooden table overlooking a large window to the bustling city of Shanghai, Adrien sipped the coffee with careful mindlessness. The heavy, dark clouds threatened rain.

Only a few more hours. Regretting that his phone remained with his discarded day clothes, he turned his attention to the patrons of the cafe to keep his mind distracted.

People bustled in and out, mostly students with bags thrown over their shoulders and books tucked into their arms as they chatted in various languages about projects and teachers. The girl behind the counter refilled the coffee machine while her co-worker, a single small-framed woman, trailed from table to table, cleaning up dishes and crumbs as people left.

Pushing himself to his feet, he scooped up his mug to bring it to her so she wouldn’t need to add more work to her day. She looked up at him in surprise when he spoke gently to ask where to place the dish.

Panic.

Wide blue eyes that he knew better than anyone else in the world stared at him in silence. He wondered if he was breathing. If SHE was breathing.

“Marinette.” Her name spilled unbidden from his lips. That seemed to wake her up, a blush tearing across her cheeks as she blinked and looked down at the mug he somehow still held on to.

“I’m sorry, Sir. I can take your cup from you.” Her voice nearly doubled him over, even when he realized she spoke fluent Mandarin. Her fingers grazed his hand while reaching for the mug, the spark from the brief touch jump starting his heart that had forgotten to work.

She shuffled away from him as quickly as she could, sliding behind the counter with her back to him.  He didn’t know what to do, torn between the magnetic pull to hold her and being frozen in place. He couldn’t take his eyes off her, desperate for any sign of recognition. Streaked with a light tone, her hair reached nearly to her waist. It wasn’t unpleasant, just - different.

She intentionally faced away from him, chatting quietly with the other girl behind the counter in casual Mandarin before slipping through a doorway off to the side and vanishing.

“Marinette! Wait!” His voice was too loud, too desperate. His feet dragged his disconnected body to the counter, jumping over it like it was nothing. A shocked gasp from the other employee faded into the background as he threw himself through the doorway.

Scanning the kitchen, he panicked for a moment when he couldn’t find her. Had she escaped through another door? He couldn’t lose her again. He couldn’t. A ripple of uncontrolled panic flooded his system, leaving his heart in his throat and limbs quivering.

Then there she was. Hand on the handle of an oversized fridge, partially hidden behind its face.

“Marinette.” The knuckles of her hand grew white as she tightened her grip.

“Sir, you can’t be back here.”

He couldn’t stop himself anymore than rain can avoid gravity, his footsteps bringing him so close that he could feel the warmth of her prickle against his skin. Steeling himself to keep his hands at his side, he just breathed in the smell of the woman he had loved for ten long years, even when she’d disappeared.

She spun to face him, wide-eyed as he drank the sight of her in, memorizing every feature of her face, every freckle on her cheeks, every fleck in the brilliant blue of her eyes. How those eyes haunted his dreams. Eyes that now slammed shut, jaw tensing in a sign he long recognized as one she did before starting a difficult plan. Her hand reached up and clasped onto a necklace hanging under her shirt before she opened her eyes again.

“You need to leave. You cannot be here.”

He couldn’t understand what she meant, the words not settling into his head. He’d found her. After all this time. After all this hopelessness. He couldn’t leave. He simply stood there in front of her, unsure what to do. She was banishing him. Sending him away with no explanation.

“Why?”

Her eyes begged him in silence, making him step back a little.

“Please go.”

Voices called his name, asking him to back away from the cafe girl, trying to get him back to the photoshoot. Hands touched his arm, attempting to pull him away before he broke his arm free from the grasp.

“I can’t lose you again, Marinette. Please. Please!” More hands. Stronger ones. Pulling him backwards out of the room. Away from her. He tried to fight against them, knowing the struggling and shouting her name was drawing unwanted attention. Father would be angry. Adrien didn’t care.

Run. Scream.

Security threw him out, blocking his way back to her, carefully protected in her tower. She made him leave and he couldn’t understand why. The pain of rejection stabbed afresh, leaving his heart bleeding. He couldn’t stop the wave of tears that burnt his cheeks or the sobs that rattled his chest.

He ran through the streets in anger, letting the cold pellets of rain sting against his skin. Running felt like the only way to escape the pain - his brain swirling with memories and questions he didn’t know the answers to. Why? Why had she pretended she didn’t know him? Why had she banished him away?

Collapsing to his knees, he threw back his head and screamed into the storm. Screamed until he couldn’t any longer. Screamed until his voice gave out to nothingness, leaving him empty and raw. Slumping over, he let the rain wash down, focusing on the sensation of the droplets snaking their way down his skin. His hair plastered to his head, the products used in the morning shoot long since washed away. There was nothing left but emptiness.

Willing himself to disconnect again, to numb the feelings and shove them back into the nothing where they needed to be, he stared at the circles rippling from each raindrop as it hit the pavement in front of him.

At least he knew she was alive. She was safe. Maybe that could be enough. Maybe that was all he could ask for, even if every fiber of his being screamed otherwise. She didn’t want him here. Didn’t want him to know where she was. Could he honour that? He didn’t know.

“Adrien.”

If he’d been Chat just then, his cat ears would have flattened on his head as they twitched and strained to hear more clearly. Instead, he slowly lifted his eyes as he turned his head, not fully believing he’d actually heard her voice over the thundering sound of rainfall.

But there she stood, wrapped in a brilliant red raincoat, under an umbrella.

At first, he thought he was hallucinating - finally tipped over the edge of insanity. Or that, in this dreamscape, a whole new nightmare waited to tear a hole in his already damaged heart.

When she stretched out her hand, he took it, letting her guide him to his feet. Her head tipped back to look at him when she pulled him under the umbrella. They stood there for what might have been hours or moments, he didn't know. He felt himself dragged down into the depths of her eyes, drowning in her soul while rain splattered noisily on the canvas overhead.

“I’m sorry.”

He didn’t know if she meant for today or for vanishing 3 years ago and breaking his heart into a million pieces. Part of him didn’t care. At least she was here now.

There was so much more to say. So many questions he needed to ask. Instead, he just stood there, under the umbrella, lost in her eyes and trying to ground himself into something real. Because this couldn’t be real.

"Come."

Blindly, he followed her, fingers interlaced with hers, certain that at any moment he would wake up and she would be gone again. He tightened his grip on her hand just in case it would keep her beside him longer.

Wait. Tea. Remember to breathe.

Her apartment was nothing more than a single room divided with a large closet wall between the bed and the one wall kitchen. She shooed him into the small bathroom with quiet orders to take off his dripping clothes, practically shoving her biggest and fluffiest towel into his hands.

The face reflected in the mirror seemed more real than the usual one. Haunted eyes peered back. Shoving the heels of his hands into his eyes, he tried to rub this away - this dream that he knew he had to wake up from before he fell further into darkness. It was too real here. The smell of her, the sounds of her rustling outside the bathroom door to make the promised drink of tea, the goosebumps on his skin that made him shiver slightly from the coldness of the air.

Reality hurt almost as badly as memories.

He stepped from the bathroom with caution, disbelief filling him as his eyes found her waiting.

“I’m sorry, I don’t have any clothes that would fit you. Wrap yourself in the blanket on the bed for now.” She bustled by him, picking up his discarded clothes and throwing them into a dryer hidden behind a closet door. The soft, rhythmic thrum gave him something to focus on over the chaos of his thoughts and emotions.

He didn’t dare to speak, simply watching her move quickly through the small space to bring him tea. She’d changed into oversized comfortable clothes, her hair pulled into a ponytail behind her. Her ever-present earrings glinted as she turned.

Tea in hand, blanket curled around him like a cocoon, he sat on the opposite side of the small table from her and waited.

Listen.

He knew her. He knew the moment she allowed herself to speak that all the words would come tumbling out and she would tell him everything. A million emotions flew across her face - emotions he could recognize in an instant. He knew her.

Fear.  Panic. Sadness. Worry. Determination.

Finally she jumped to her feet, arms flailing and words rushing out almost faster than he could understand.

Hawkmoth, it seemed, whoever he was, only returned his miraculous because he was afraid. Their celebration had been too soon, although it had given them time together. Time, she explained, she would never trade for anything.

A new threat had appeared. One that scared her to the core. One that Tikki panicked about. One that wanted the miraculous box and the two most powerful beings inside more than Hawkmoth ever had.

Fu had given Marinette the job of Guardian, a title she hated now for what it meant to her life. Fu told her to value the life she had - but what kind of life was this? Torn from the man she loved to protect the Miraculous? To protect him? How could she love life when it had become so hollow?

She’d been on the run, moving from place to place when this new threat found her. Only once had she faced the monster directly - a battle that left her injured and frantic to escape. She always said that she was nothing without her kitty by her side and that proved it. She needed him more than anything else.

Marinette’s voice broke as she explained how she wanted nothing more than to rush back to Paris and throw herself into his arms. How much she had needed him, but couldn’t let the monster find him. She spent 3 long, isolated years doing her job - guarding more than the miracle box. She’d been guarding him too.

Tikki stayed hidden all the time now, afraid to let any sign of her power or existence give away their location. The rest of the miraculous remained carefully protected in the box.

Finally, she collapsed back into the chair, spent of emotion other than the flow of tears that poured down her face.

Adrien just listened, unsure what to say or do that would make sense now. Her muffled sniffs. The drone of laundry. The surprisingly calm beating of his heart.

The tea in the mug between his fingers was still hot, warmth creeping up his arms as he simply stared unseeing. All their years as partners where it had been his job to protect his lady and she ran away to protect him. This was the true cost of life as a superhero - self-sacrifice.

“Where’s Plagg?”

She blinked at him, a small sign of hurt crossing her face at the first words he’d spoken to her since he’d been dragged from the school.

“Safe in the box.”

Adrien nodded, contemplating his next words carefully. His fingers sunk into his hair, still damp from rain.

“We’re supposed to be partners, you know. All those years ago, Fu chose us to be partners. I protect you. You protect me.” Her eyes were wide as she listened to the raspiness of his voice.

“I wanted to be partners in life, too, Marinette. I wanted us to share everything together. Everything. And you took it all from me and disappeared.”

Neither of them spoke for a long time, eyes on the tea that grew cold. The loud chime from the dryer stirred them both from their thoughts. Marinette moved, standing to put her mug on the counter before disappearing behind the wall. Adrien listened to her shuffle through the closet on the other side before she stood beside him again.

Grabbing his hand, she uncurled her fingers to drop something hard and cold into it, pressing her hand overtop.

“I’m sorry.”

Cry .

Plagg’s look of utter disapproval to Marinette followed by loud complaining about the lack of food conjured such an overwhelming sense of emotion that all Adrien could do was burst into tears. Too much, too fast. And yet, everything he desperately needed.

He clutched at her. It would take a long time to repair the wounds and scars, but he could start here.

“I’m sorry.” She wouldn’t stop saying it and he couldn’t stop her if he tried. He needed to hear that from her until it settled into the haunted memories of the last 3 years. “I shouldn’t have left you. I just didn’t want them to find you. If anything happened to you -” She didn’t need to finish that thought. He knew exactly what she meant.

Fear does crazy things to people. He knew that. But she didn’t need to be afraid or alone anymore. No more running and hiding. Time to be partners again.

“You and me against the world, Milady. Remember?”

Alarm. Stretch. Shower. Coffee. Subway.

Paris be damned, he was staying in Singapore. His father’s sharp tone betrayed his anger, especially when Adrien couldn’t fully offer an explanation for his sudden decision nor for how long he would be gone.

Marinette insisted that they keep their distance in public - slipping her hand from his as they approached the train. It made him nervous every time, even when she agreed to let him trail behind and make sure she got to work safely. Even when she half-turned and soft-smiled as she went inside. Even when they walked home. Day after day.

Hide. Transform. Fight.

She was right to be scared, he thought as he wiped the blood from his lips. This…. thing…. was so much more dangerous than any akuma Hawkmoth had thrown at them. It was little more than a shadow, but the wounds torn through his suit claimed otherwise. Evil unlike any power he felt before oozed through the air, pulling the breath from his lungs and plunging his sight into darkness. Even Plagg was quivering under the surface, the feeling of destruction shifting beneath Adrien’s consciousness.

How could you stop something that was there but wasn’t?

Light searing through the dark burned against his retinas, scattering the heaviness from his lungs before his body crunched painfully against a wall. Blinking, he admired Ladybug’s new power.

The light beam tore through the darkness again, blasting from her yo-yo to send it cowering until the light faded. The moment the light disappeared, the thick black fog swirled around her, enveloping the woman in red.

His body screamed in agony even as his mind shouted her name and long before the cry of “LADYBUG” escaped his lips. She needed him.

Cataclysm .

It was all he had. A bubbling hand of annihilation stretching out to touch nothingness only to find it pressed hard against the light she shot from her yo-yo. Destruction and Creation together. The unexpected blast from their combined energy left him with barely a moment to connect eyes with hers before everything exploded around them.

Alarm. Stretch. Breathe.

Turning his head, Adrien looked at the space beside him. Marinette lay curled up tightly in a ball, the covers pulled almost over her head as she refused to let morning in. He couldn’t help but smile.

She was here. Nothing else mattered.

His ring sat with heavy comfort on his finger. The ring he’d given her now rested on her own instead of hidden on a necklace.

Beautiful colours of life replaced the hollow dullness of the apartment they called home. Smells of cookies and cheese combined with the inexplicable scent of her assaulted his nose. It was perfect. It was home.

His days might still be filled with the same photoshoots, fencing, emails, but now they offered promise. Running wasn’t an escape anymore. They did it together, footsteps on rooftops filled with laughter and games. Just like it used to be. Like it was meant to be.

Her smile emblazoned into his memories, every time the nightmare of finding her gone would seep into his dreams. She was here. She was happy. She was safe.

They could never seem to stop touching each other - hands always entwined together as if they could keep each other grounded.

Friends never rolled their eyes or made groans at the constant need for closeness. They understood. Her parents too. Likely because they wanted to hold their daughter and never let her go.

How many meals had been eaten at their house since Adrien personally escorted Marinette back to Paris? How many bone crunching hugs had they survived? How many hours of phone call conversations?

It didn’t matter. Every question, every hug, every phone call, every THING was worth it. Because she was here with him again.

Rolling over, Adrien pulled her close against him, burying his nose deep into her hair. Marinette. His wife. He could finally breathe. No matter what the future held or what monsters they might have to face, they would do it together.  

She was home.

[taurusnoir]

taste of a twilight fruit

Fandom: Miraculous Ladybug

Pairing: Adrien/Marinette 

Rating: M

Summary:  In which Adrien falls in love with a girl he met at a bar, Marinette is just trying to prove to Alya she can have a one night stand, and Nino desperately needs a drink.

ao3

Adrien almost drops the rhythm and his bass when he sees her at the bar. He quickly finds his place again, grip tightening around the neck of his instrument, and the girl with blue eyes smirks under her mask. The bar they’re playing at has deemed Friday’s “masquerade nights”, and she’s evidently gone all out with the suggestion. Her mask is black, trimmed with delicate red lace. It’s a beautiful piece, and Adrien feels the heat in his cheeks when he realizes his face is covered with a shitty halloween cat mask. The girl winks at him, and she has her lips wrapped around what appears to be a red curly straw, liquid slowly rising up to her mouth from her drink, and Adrien curses Nino for ever forcing him to play in his stupid band. 

He’d only agreed because he likes making music with his best friend, and Nino’s talent was starting to get recognized. They’d moved up from playing house shows to actual bar gigs, and nice bars too. But Adrien didn’t sign up for this- pretty black-haired girls  with freckles who looked like they wanted to eat him alive. He can’t move, stuck on the bar’s small stage, caught between the music and the girl’s stare. Heat creeps under his collar and Adrien is very aware he can’t do anything about it because of the guitar in his hands. Somehow he doesn’t lose the placement of his fingers, the chord progression locked tight in his muscle memory, and he’s thankful for it. It feels like a cruel irony- Nino’s drawl exclaiming the presence of a heartbreaker, and Adrien drowning in the mystery girl at the bar. 

The universe must decide to spare him though, as the song comes to an end and with it their set. He needs to get the bar as soon as he can. He has no idea what he’s going to do once he gets there, but thinking ahead was never his strong suit. 

“Dude, that was sick. You killed it.” Nino praises him, grabbing the cord from his amp and wrapping it around his hands. Adrien is only half listening, lost in the task of trying to slide his bass in the fabric case as quickly as he can, but his shaking hands refuse to cooperate with him.

 “Thanks, but you’re the main man, Nino. Can’t do it without you.”  

His stupid- fucking- guitar won’t return to it’s case. He looks at the bar, trying to locate the girl, and lets out a frustrated growl at his bass. Grabbing his shoulder, Nino gives him a worried look, “Woah there, Agreste. You okay?” 

Adrien cocks his head to the direction of the bar. “There’s a girl-” 

Before he can finish, Nino throws his head back, laughing. “I should’ve known. You look like you saw a ghost.” 

He finally gets the godforsaken thing in it’s case. Nino is still laughing, and Adrien looks up and scowls at him. It only makes his best friend laugh harder. 

“Remember dude, you gotta mention the bass. Girls always want to-” He cackles.  

“Nino if you say ‘fuck the bassist’, I’m revoking your best friend card.” 

The other boy just snorts, “Go get her tiger.” 

By the time Adrien gets to the bar, the girl is gone.

Adrien finds himself at Clyde’s the next Friday. He contemplated not coming, he knows it’s ridiculous. Why would she come this friday just because she came last time? But there’s a lingering hope that has solidified itself in the back of his mind, and it’s not going anywhere. He scans the room, observes the bodies pulsing beside one another, wondering if his mystery girl is one of them, and sips his drink. 

“Looking for someone?” Adrien almost drops his glass. She’s snuck up behind him, and Adrien almost chokes at the sight of her. It’s the girl from the bar, black hair and blue eyes shining and swimming with mirth at sneaking up on him. She has even more freckles up close, and her cheeks and mouth are soft and rose-colored. She’s wearing a different mask than before, this one red silk, with black dots and an embroidered lattice. It matches the rest of her outfit, which consists of a black off the shoulder top tucked into the tightest red miniskirt Adrien’s ever seen. His mouth goes dry. 

“Possibly.”

She grins at him. “I’ve been looking for the super cute bassist from the band last week- have you seen him?” 

She’s leaning against the wall, nonchalant, and Adrien feels like he’s going to explode. 

“I- uh- Have you checked the lost and found?” 

She throws her head back in a laugh, exposing the elegant line of her neck. Adrien wants to press his mouth to it, enraptured by the tone of her joy. She smiles at him and Adrien knows he’s absolutely and completely fucked. 

“I have to go look- last time I was in there all I found was some underwear. I was trying to find some to throw at the blonde guy in the band.” 

 It shocks a laugh out of him. She’s looking at him with excitement, like he’s a brand new chew toy and she can't wait to get her teeth around him. There’s something innocent and hungry about it, and Adrien struggles to keep up with her.

“You couldn’t use your own?,” he counters. She looks down bashfully and shrugs. 

“I wasn’t wearing any.” 

Adrien chokes on the liquid in his throat.

“Can I buy you a drink?,” He asks, once he can breathe again. 

“You know, that really is such a nice offer, but I think I’ll just have yours,” Before he can say anything she’s plucked the whiskey and coke from his hands and knocks it back. He sputters. This woman can’t be real. She sucks on one of the ice cubes from his drink and looks around as if she’s pondering something. She shifts her gaze to him and speaks.

“Oh well, looks like you lost your drink. Can I buy you another one?” Jesus. She’s looking at him expectedly, like she hasn’t completely reached into his circuity and torn out all his wires. She’s fast, and Adrien’s brain is slowly turning to syrup. He feels three steps behind, still drinking in the presence of her. Her lips are coated with a fine sheen of gloss, and Adrien has to catch himself from getting lost in watching the lights of the bar refract off of it. 

“Hello?” She waves a hand in front of his face. “Come on, that wasn’t even my best move.” There’s a small shadow of anxiety on her face, as if she’s worried she’s overstepped. 

Adrien shakes his head. “I’m gone, broken. You’ve ruined me.” He looks at her, pleading. “A margarita, please.” 

The fear eases from her face and she breaks out in a grin. “Stay here, I’ll go get that for you.” He has no idea what he’s done in his life to deserve this, and he can’t decide if its punishment or a gift.

He watches her saunter to the bar. She’s a tiny girl, and her skirt’s even smaller. He can’t tell if the material is latex or leather, and he should definitely know these things, but the sway of her hips as she walks to the bar has turned his mind into a puddle of goo. His gaze is ripped from her legs as she turns around suddenly, and he’s been caught. He can feel the heat rising in his face and he reaches up to rub the back of his neck. Everything is so warm, and he can’t tell if its the pulsing of bodies around him or the pulsing of his heart. She winks at him and waves down the bartender. 

He keeps staring at her, trying to find some sort of clues to solve the mystery she’s presented him. Adrien doesn’t even know what her name is. Her top must be made of tulle, and it contrasts against her pale expense of back. Everything looks exquisitely made, almost made for her, and he has half a mind to ask her who her tailor is. She’s got a smattering of freckles in between her shoulder blades and across her shoulders, and Adrien wants to trace each and every single one of them, map out constellations and tell her she's out of this world. Something in Adrien’s mind is sounding off an alarm, he’s getting way over his head, this woman is so out of his league but he can’t run. She’s told him to stay here and he feels like fly seduced by the silk of a web; he’s stretched out, exposed and all he can do is wait for her to come back and kill him. He knows next to nothing about her except that she could tell him to jump off a bridge and he’d be all too happy to do it for her. It’s dangerous, and Adrien can’t do anything but lean against the wall and wait. 

She returns with two drinks in her hand. 

Smiling, she extends one of them out to him.

“A margarita for the cat.”

Adrien graciously accepts the drink, cringing. He’d forgotten. Tilting her head, she gives him a quizzical look. 

“I forgot I was wearing this stupid mask.” 

Adrien is still wearing the cat mask from his first encounter with her, except the cheap thing is taped on one side where the string hole ripped. He suddenly feels horrifically underdressed. Undermasked, rather. 

She shrugs, “It’s cute.” 

He takes a sip of his drink. The normal burn of alcohol and lime is brightened by something new, something saccharine. 

The surprise must be evident on his face and she says, “I asked the bartender to put some agave in it, after that whiskey, thought you could use something sweet.” Adrien knows there’s something he should say, the floor open for a witty comeback, to continue the game of cat-and mouse they’ve been playing. But the gesture hits Adrien in his chest, taken aback by the thoughtfulness of it. 

“It’s delicious, Thank you.” 

There’s a hint of awkwardness in daring to creep in, and Adrien desperately wants to keep it at bay. But he also wants to lose himself in the expanse of her, how she feels so immense and finite all at once. Maybe it’s the alcohol, but he knows he’s engaging in emotions not meant for pretty nameless girls at bars. He searches his brain to say something cool, interesting, something to impress her, something safe-

“You look like a ladybug.” 

“What?”

Adrien’s gonna kill himself. 

“I mean- you- the red and black thing- you got going on.” He winces, “It reminds me of a ladybug.” 

She giggles at him, and Adrien can feel his face heating up. He wants the ground to swallow him whole. He can hear Nino laughing at him from his apartment a few blocks away. The black-haired woman takes pity on him. 

“Ladybugs are symbols of good luck, right?” Her tongue traces along the rim of her glass, Adrien can see the crystals of salt melting into her mouth. He nods. 

She a cheshire cat grin breaks out across her face. “Guess that means you’re gonna get lucky then, huh?” 

Adrien groans and hits his head against the wall. He’s dead, this woman has murdered him and she won’t even let him rest in peace. He shakes his head and stares at her, she just laughs and playfully pushes his shoulder. He feels like he’s locked in a room with a tesla coil, electricity thrumming through him at her touch. 

“Who even are you,” He wonders. 

Her eyes light up from underneath her mask and she counters, “A ladybug, apparently.”  

He laughs, “No, I’m serious. What’s your name, bug?” 

She puts her hand on the wall behind him, arm reaching across the side of his face, and he can smell the lingerings of her perfume, something with notes of berries and pear and musk. He can feel the puff of her breath on his cheek. 

“I don’t think that’s something you need to know, Kitty,” She purrs, and Adrien shivers. His brain can’t stop screaming she’s so fucking hot she’s so fucking hot she’s so fucking-

“You’re so fucking hot,” He gasps, and Adrien immediately closes his eyes at the embarrassment of not being able to keep his stream of conciousness at bay. He feels her step back, and when he opens his eyes hers are wide. He opens his mouth to say something, so apologize, but Ladybug, his brain supplies, (he must just be calling her that now) wipes the shock from her face and presses herself against him. His body gets shocked with a couple million volts at once. 

“Oh, Chaton, I am happy to hear you think so highly of me.” Her nose bumps against his. 

“Why don’t you take me home?” 

The reinforcements around Adrien’s brain crumble into dust, the alarm bells are winning, and it takes everything in him to not let his knees buckle. He can’t breathe, he can’t move, so he does what he does best. Make a fool of himself. 

“I can’t- my cat- is allergic to… women.” If Adrien had any control over his body he would take his phone out and find the directions to the nearest cliff. Ladybug takes a step back, confused amusement across her features. 

“Oh?” 

“His name is Plagg. I think it’s psychosomatic.” 

She bursts out laughing, something genuine and joyful, and Adrien just halfheartedly laughs beside her. Gasping for breath, she folds over onto her haunches and breaks out into even harder laughter. Her eyes twinkle. 

“How about my place then? I have a cat too, but Tikki’s allergy-free.” 

“Your cat’s name is Tikki?” 

She draws her eyebrows together, she’s leaning against the wall now. “Yes?” 

“That’s- that’s great,” He stumbles, and takes a long, long swig of his drink. 

“Thank you?” She questions, taking another step back. Her fierceness is slowly being replaced by confusion and Adrien feels like an absolute idiot.

“I’m sorry, I might have been reading this wrong, but do you- not want to sleep with me? 

Because it’s okay if you don’t-” She starts. 

Adrien shakes his head vehemently. “No- no no I definitely want to sleep with you! I just. Have to go to work tomorrow. Early,” He says. “I should actually get going.” 

He’s technically not lying, he does have work tomorrow, and he needs to leave the nuclear bomb sight he’s found himself in so he can go back to his apartment and slam his head against the wall repeatedly.  Ladybug looks at him, bewildered but she offers him a shy smile. 

“Well, then. Um. Good luck.” 

He puts his glass down on the nearest table and thanks her for the drink. And then he runs. 

Adrien spends the next hour in his apartment screaming into his pillow. 

Nino cries laughing the next day when Adrien tells him. 

“You told her- your cat-” He gasps, tears streaming down his face. “Is allergic to women-” 

Adrien groans and buries his head further in the couch. Maybe if he borrows deep enough the leather will eat him. 

“Speaking of the Devil-” Nino says, as Plagg make his presence known by rubbing up against his best friend’s leg. The musician scratches behind the cat’s ears. 

“I am so sorry to hear of your affliction, Plagg. I’ll have to find you some Claritin.” 

Adrien sticks his hand out from underneath his blanket and offers Nino a middle finger. 

His best friend just laughs harder hiccuping with the force of it.

“Nino, you don’t understand. She was like- imagine every single one of your wildest fantasies came to life and then cornered you in a bar and very much was willing to sleep with you.”

Nino stops laughing and stares at him. “I don’t see the problem here.” 

“Nino, my brain stopped working.”

“Evidently. Adrien.exe fully crashed. Spectacularly, might I add.” Adrien groans again and rubs his hands across his face. He’s a model goddamn it, surrounded by beautiful women on a daily basis, and for some reason he couldn’t talk to a girl at a bar. 

“I wish I’d gotten a video of it. Alya would’ve fucking cried.”

Adrien throws a pillow at him. “Don’t tell your girlfriend about what an idiot I am!”

“Don’t worry, my friend. I didn’t have to tell her. She knows,” Nino says, and Adrien just wants to create a self-sustaining village in this crevice of the couch so he never has to leave. He can’t stop thinking about her, her voice, her smell, the way she forced herself into his space. Adrien’s been attracted to girls before, but this feels dangerous. There’s a level of interest he’s not used to. It’s not just her physical appearance, it was the thoughtfulness and sweetness of adding nectar, how she laughed from her stomach. He read Romeo and Juliet in highschool, he knows how lust can disguise itself behind a black and red mask and call itself love, but Adrien’s on a dangerous precipice and he’s scared at how much he doesn't want to step back. 

“I think I might be in love with her, Nino” He sighs, voice betraying the weight of his predicament.

Nino pats his stomach. “Adrien, I say this with all the love in my heart, but you are the definition of a disaster bottom.” 

Adrien pushes his friend’s hand off of him. “Please know I hate you and you are no longer welcome in my apartment.” 

“Yeah well, you’re gonna hate me a lot more in a second.” Adrien pushes himself on his elbows and stares at him. 

“What did you do?” 

Nino licks his lips, and suddenly finds extreme interest in Plagg’s fur. “I may or may not have agreed that we do another gig at Clyde’s.” 

Adrien swings his feet around so that he is sitting on the couch. If he kicks Nino in the process it’s definitely an accident.  

“Nino, I can’t go back there,” He whines. He knows he whining- but he cannot show his face again in that bar. Nino is his best friend. Nino should understand this. 

All he does is roll his eyes at him. “Dude, you’re gonna be on stage- focus on your guitar and it’ll be fine. Afterwards we can just leave, no chit chat.” 

“Can’t you get another bassist? I’m sure there’s some poor university student that needs a couple bucks and a drink that would be happy to do it.” 

“Adrien, you’re my bassist. You know the music, you’re part of the band- please. Do it for your old pal Nino.” 

The blonde boy shoots him an unimpressed look. 

“Also if Ladybug is there, you can make up for your disastrous conversation skills with your sexy ass bass playing. You know what I always say- ‘Girls always want-’”

“Girls always want to fuck the bassist,” Adrien finishes. 

Nino nods assuredly, “Bingo, my friend.” The boy looks at Adrien, pathetically wrapped up his blanket burrito and sighs. 

“Also, if you’re in love with this girl, wouldn’t you want to see her again?,” Nino asks. 

Adrien scratches his beloved cat below the chin, and Plagg looks up at him and Adrien swears the stupid cat is laughing at him. 

Whenever Gabriel Agreste calls his son into his office, it's never good. It has been the place of many a tongue lashing, expression of disappointment, and overall Adrien prefers to avoid it at all costs. He knows he’s not the only one- he has seen many, many interns leave the room blubbering and teary-eyed. So when Natalie tells him his father requests his presence, Adrien resigns himself to his fate. However, it seems today he will be avoiding his father’s wrath, because when he walks in his father is conversing with a girl. She’s probably about his age, with dark hair, and large blue eyes. She’s dressed conservatively, but still fashion forward. Adrien is pretty sure he’s seen her in the occasional gaggle of interns. She looks nervous, and considering she’s in Gabriel Agreste’s office, Adrien can’t blame her. 

Finally, his father acknowledges his presence. “Adrien, I’d like to introduce you to Marinette Dupain-Cheng. I’ve recently hired her as a pattern maker, she will also be doing embroidery work and helping with fittings. I wanted to make her presence as a new member of the team known to you.” His father had made it a habit of introducing Adrien to the new hires as a way of showing him who he was allowed to converse with, as Gabriel had made a strict “No interns” rule after one too many of them tried to “inter’n” to his pants.

Adrien nods politely at her, “It is a pleasure to meet you Marinette, we are incredibly happy to have you as part of our team.” She offers him a tense, tight lipped smile. She looks uncomfortable and out of place in Gabriel’s modern, minimalist office space. The coldness of his father’s immaculate office walls seem to fight against the girl’s inner warmth. She looks the type to possibly have pictures of loved ones on the wall or something equally insane, and his father's office is not a place for anything other than weird ten thousand dollar avant garde art sculptures. A picture of his child? Unfathomable.

 Adrien is ecstatic for the girl’s resume, empathetic that she now has to deal with his father’s iron fist. But she’s young, one of the youngest hires they’ve ever had, and if Adrien had seen her in passing as an intern, she must’ve stepped up to the challenge. Anyone that can survive, even flourish under his father’s rule was strong. Definitely stronger than him. He wishes the best for her.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Mr. Agreste,” She offers and Adrien offers her a bit of warmth in the frigid space they’ve both been confined to. 

“Please, call me Adrien. Mr. Agreste is my father.” 

His father huffs, “Adrien, please, that is hardly professional-” 

Marientte Dupain-Cheng smiles. “It’s nice to meet you Adrien.”

His father raises his eyebrow at the woman’s words, but he says nothing. Adrien smiles back. 

He just might like this Marienette girl.

[theunluckiestchat]

Remembrance 5

AO3 link Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 Summary:  Dinner date with a lot of blushing.

CHAPTER 4

Marinette was frantically digging through her all her jewelry and sock drawer at the same time while Alya watched her with an amused smile.

“No this necklace doesn’t match the earrings and the earrings are totally the wrong color for this dress so maybe I should take the necklace anyway? Do I need stockings? No, it’s summer, of course I don’t! But maybe it’ll get cold when the sun goes down, are we even going to be out that long? What if he gets bored with me and goes home early? But what if he wants to take a walk afterwards? I’m not prepared for this! Alyaaaaa help meeeee”

Alya laughed. “Did fourteen-year-old Marinette somehow take the place of twenty-one-year-old Marinette?” she asked and walked over to Marinette, putting her hands on her friend’s shoulders and turning her towards her. “Mari, you look great and he’s not going to get bored of you” she said and then picked up a pair of simple, silver earrings. “These go perfectly with your dress and you don’t need stockings because, yes, it is summer and it’s hot outside”

Marinette nodded slightly and grabbed the earrings. She really didn’t know what happened to her. Adrien asked her out and suddenly it was like she was fourteen again, like Alya said. It was as if the confidence she had gained as she got older went out the window and she was a nervous wreck. But she knew Adrien and she knew that he wouldn’t have asked her out if he didn’t like her. There was no need for her to be this nervous.

After a few minutes of calming herself down with the help of Alya and putting the finishing touches to her outfit, she finally felt like she could breathe again.

“I can’t believe it took him so long to ask you” Alya said and took a sip of her tea. “He’s obviously liked you for a long time”

“He’s had a hard time since his dad… you know” Marinette looked away. For some reason she almost felt guilty for what had happened with Adrien’s father, even though she knew that she had nothing to do with it. “It’s not strange that he needed time to get over it”

“I guess” Alya responded and was about to say something more when the doorbell rang.

The girls looked at each other and Marinette could feel her heart picking up speed and her hands shaking. Alya had to practically drag her out of her seat and over to the door. She took a deep breath before opening the door and seeing Adrien.

He was dressed slightly fancier than usual and his hair was combed in a different way, similar to when he was younger and more time was put into his appearance. In his hand was a small bouquet of roses that matched to color of his flushed face.

“Hi” he squeaked out and Marinette could have laughed if she wasn’t just as incapable of speech at the moment.

“Hello” she squeaked back, almost hearing Alya roll her eyes behind her.

For a short moment they both just stared at each other before Adrien remembered the flowers in his hand and held them out to Marinette who wordlessly took them, all too aware of how red her face was right now.

“You look great” Adrien said, the red of his face matching hers perfectly.

“Thank you” Marinette replied and then they went back to quietly staring at each other.

They were lucky Alya was there.

“Ooookay, so I’ll take those” she said and grabbed the flowers. “And you two, go!” she pushed Marinette towards Adrien and made sure she grabbed his arm.  

“Let’s go then” Adrien said and tried to pull off a charming smile.

Marinette was actually very happy that she wasn’t the only one of them to be so nervous, even though she’d never really imagined that Adrien could get like this. She supposed it was kind of flattering that she was the reason for him being so flustered. It also gave her some more confidence.

“Let’s” she agreed and they started walking down the hallway.

“Be careful, kids!” Alya called from behind them and Marinette decided to glare at her while Adrien just laughed. “Don’t be out too late!” she continued, clearly thinking she was very funny.

“We won’t!” Adrien called back, also thinking she was very funny while Marinette just groaned.

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”

“Wouldn’t dream of it!”

Marinette shook her head at her friends antics and pushed Adrien in front of her to get him down the stairs before they could continue.

“Bye Alya!”

She heard her friend laugh and close the door as she followed Adrien. He waited for her at the bottom of the stairs, all traces of the highly amused expression he had while joking with Alya gone. Instead the nervousness seemed to have returned, along with the blush. Which, of course, made Marinette remember that the two of them were going on an actual, real date.

She giggled nervously.

“You really do look great” Adrien said as he held the door open for her.

Marinette blushed fiercely

“So do you” she tried her hardest to keep her voice sounding normal but it still ended up more high pitched than usual.

Adrien just smiled and led her to the taxi parked outside the building. The ride wasn’t very long and they would probably have been fine walking but seeing as she was wearing heels Marinette was grateful. What she really didn’t like was how they barely said a word to each other the entire ride. Going on a date with Adrien had been a dream ever since they first met when they were fourteen, now that it was finally happening, she shouldn’t ruin it by being awkward! She hadn’t had trouble talking around him for so many years, in fact he was one of the people she found it easiest to talk to. But actually being on a date was a whole new situation, and it seemed like neither of them really knew how to navigate it.

Adrien turned to her and opened his mouth and - oh finally - they were going to start a conversation when the car stopped, indicating that they were at their destination. They stepped out of the car, Adrien looking a little sheepish as he did so, and crossed the street to get to the restaurant that they had a reservation at. He had picked it so Marinette knew practically nothing except that it was not way too fancy and it had good food, so when she finally read the name of it she couldn’t help but snort.

“Really? You chose a restaurant with a pun for a name?” she asked with a raised eyebrow and a smile.

Adrien grinned back. “That’s how you know it’s good quality!” he said. “And the food and service are good, I suppose. But the pun is very important” he did a faked serious nod and Marinette burst out laughing. She had always loved Adrien’s humor.  

By the time they were seated at their table however, the awkwardness was back at full force. They had a rather stilted conversation about what food they wanted to eat before ordering. By the time their beverages arrived they still hadn’t made much progress.

Marinette was sipping on her water trying to cool down her blush when Adrien slumped in his chair and sighed loudly.

“Why am I so nervous? I’m always comfortable around you!” he said with a groan and Marinette put down her glass.

“First dates are always weird” she tried to reason, even though she was asking herself the same thing.

“What do you even do on a first date?” there was a slight frustration in his voice even though he said it in a joking manner.

“I guess you usually try to get to know each other” Marinette was very well aware of how uncertain she sounded.

Adrien hummed and nodded, seemingly lost in thought for a moment. Then perked up, leaned forward of the table and looked at her intensely.

“So, Marinette, have you always wanted to be a fashion designer?” he asked and Marinette immediately grinned, joining the game.

“Oh, yes, ever since I was a little girl” she said pursing her lips in fake seriousness. “What about you, Adrien. Was becoming a teacher your childhood dream?”

Adrien leaned back in his chair again. “No, no. I always dreamed of becoming a dinosaur” he said, his eyes gleaming with delight while he kept up his acting.

“Mm, very interesting” Marinette said, silently wondering if it was true and finding it adorable.

“Yes, it was big passion for me. But alas, it is impossible” he placed one hand on his heart and wiped away a fake tear with the other as Marinette gasped.

“Don’t say that, nothing is impossible! You must follow your dreams!” she exclaimed rather dramatically.

The two looked at each other in silence for a moment, and then burst out laughing. They laughed for maybe a bit too long and only composed themselves when their food arrived.

From there conversation flowed easily. They just needed a bit of ridiculousness to break the dam. They talked about everything between heaven and earth, from classes to best picnic spot in Paris to if the Gorilla ever actually used words. And seeing as they were on a date and it was confirmed that they did both like each other, some flirting and compliments were peppered into the conversations.  

Marinette was over the moon. So much so that she chose to ignore the slight tickling in the back of her brain that appeared when Adrien said some things and when he made certain expressions. It was as if it was urging her to remember something. The same thing had happened at Adrien’s homecoming party when they were on the roof and looking over Paris. She knew the feeling was connected to her accident and her missing memories, it had appeared at random times throughout the years but had never really led to anything. Which is why she had started ignoring it most of the time. She couldn’t focus on it when she had such a wonderful date.

But she wasn’t the only one who seemed bothered about something. She could notice Adrien getting a faraway look or frown at times during their conversations. This wasn’t anything new, it was a common occurrence ever since the whole thing with his father went down, everyone had noticed it. It was as if some certain things reminded him of something, though they could never figure out what exactly and he would never tell them. Nino thought it had to do with his father but Marinette couldn’t help but wonder if it was related to The Girl. He had talked a little about how he felt about his father after all, but he had never said anything about the girl except that she existed. It made Marinette wonder if he was really over her, if he really was ready for this date and starting something with her or if he’d rather be with his mystery girl.

“I…” Adrien said, slight blush on his cheeks as he looked at her. “I’m so happy I asked you out tonight. I really like you, Marinette”

And his smile was so soft, his eyes so fond and his voice so sincere. All her previous thoughts were forgotten. She believed him.

“I really like you too” she answered with a fond smile of her own.

————————-

They ended up not leaving the restaurant until the sun was hanging low on the sky. They walked slowly towards Marinette’s apartment with their interlocked hands swinging between them. She had even surprised herself when she in a moment of bravery grabbed his hand, but she also figured that she had waited long enough to hold Adrien’s hand. Luckily, he didn’t object.

“So, did you really want to be a dinosaur when you little?” she asked after he finished up a rant about how some new movie adaption of a book he liked got all the characters wrong.

He chuckled a little before answering. “Yeah, I did. I think it’s because of The Land Before Time” he said.

“Oh, well that makes sense. Those leaves looked really tasty” Marinette answered with her own giggle.

“I know, right! I even had this dinosaur costume that I would wear all the time”

Marinette almost squealed, but managed to keep it down. “That is so adorable!” she said instead.

Adrien grinned. “Thank you. I was a really adorable Apatosaurus now that I think about it”

“Apatosaurus?”

“Long neck in the movie. I was really into it”

Marinette snorted at that.

“Yeah, I was really crushed when father told me that you couldn’t become another species” he said and seemed to try to stay lighthearted but as soon as he uttered the word father his smile turned bitter.

Marinette hated seeing him like that but also didn’t know what to say, so she just squeezed his hand in silent support. It seemed to snap him back and as soon as he looked at her his smile became real again.

“It was okay though, I found a new passion pretty fast” he said, all happy again.

“Oh yeah? What was it?” Marinette asked and raised her eyebrow.

“I decided that I would become a knight who saved damsels in distress. That’s why I started fencing”

The idea of a little Adrien running around in a dinosaur costume had been adorable but it couldn’t top the picture of little Adrien with a toy sword wanting to be a hero and save people that popped into her mind. Marinette supposed that Adrien must have always been cute, at any age and no matter what he did.

“Well, then I know who to call if I’m ever in a ‘damsel in distress’ situation” she teased him, although her giggling might have ruined it.

Adrien pulled his hand away from hers to do an exaggerated bow. “I’ll be your knight anytime, princess”

The tickling turned into pounding. There was something so familiar with those words, as if she had been told something like that before. This was stronger than any other time it had happened. Like there was a memory right at the tip of her brain trying to break through but not quite making it. It was a strange feeling and if it was any other situation, she might have curled into herself and tried to force it out. But right now, Adrien was in front of her being goofy and sweet and she didn’t want to think about anything other than that.

“Why thank you” she said and curtsied as a response.

They continued their walk and she did all she could to push the feeling away. She focused on Adrien’s voice as he talked and managed to almost forget about it.

It wasn’t long before they reached her building, stopping in front of it to say goodbye for the evening. At this point the sun was gone and stars had started to show up above them.

“I had a really great time tonight” he said with a slightly lopsided smile and wow, had he ever been more attractive?

“So, did I” Marinette replied and leaned up to softly kiss his cheek. “Thank you”

She looked into his eyes trying to ignore how his cheeks had gone red, just like she knew hers had as well. She was starting to lean back again, happy with her accomplishment of a cheek kiss, when his hand found its way to her neck and he pulled her back and leaned closer himself. He gave her every chance to pull away and break it up but, dammit, this was gonna happen.

She pressed her lips against his, trying to not seem as desperate for this as she was. He responded immediately and deepened the kiss. It was slightly sloppy but it was so real and it made her entire body vibrate. The feeling of kissing Adrien was so new and exciting and familiar. It felt like coming home. She decided that it was her new favorite thing.

They broke apart rather quickly because it was late and they were tired and also out on the street. But Marinette knew that this would be something that would happen a lot after this. She could feel it in herself and see it in his expression.

She smiled.

“Goodnight”

And opened the door to her building and slipped in. She could just catch Adrien’s happy and lovesick grin before the door closed and she made her way to her apartment, feeling like she was walking on clouds and all thoughts of forgotten memories gone.

[littleogreboii]

MIRACULOUS DAZE: 1

DAZE

Summary:  Felix Agreste has been a shut in since the death of his best friend Bridgette Cheng and the disappearance of his brother Adrien Agreste. His only company is the AI, Ladybug, that downloaded itself onto his computer a year ago. However, there might be more to it than meets the eye, and his foster siblings, Nathaniel, Lila and Rose, might know more than him about the events that are happening. And what the 'Heat Haze' is. (Kagerou Project AU)

Warning: Suicide, Major Character Death, Swearing, and Depression

Particular Cover I like for this

English Lyrics: Jubyphonic and Annapantsu

AO3

1 2

Concrete beating up and down

In a dream, fell awake, hazy days were never ending

Templates follow all around

Same old days, but we just didn't know

High tempo and rhythm flies

Not enough, try again, when'll tragedy end?

Wouldn't say that we're done just yet

So don't cry on the floor anymore

Felix awoke with a start. His hands were trembling. He felt hazy. His dream had felt important, but he couldn’t remember it for the life of him. Sighing, he reasoned that dreams couldn’t hold such a meaning. Yet, the colour red lingered in his mind. It flowed, accompanied by moonlight black. A ribbon or maybe a scarf. He couldn’t tell. He shook his head, sliding his legs off the bed.

“Bad dream again?” A voice called out and he looked up to see his computer screen. It was too bright, way too bright.

He ignored the question, knowing she knew the answer by now. “What the fuck? Did you turn the brightness up?”

She grinned. “Master, how kind of you to notice! I thought that it would help wake you up!”

“More like give me a pounding headache.” He muttered to himself, before squinting at her. “Turn it down.”

“Aye aye, Captain!” She mock saluted, as the brightness returned to normal. He relaxed slightly as he found it instantly easier to look at her. Her hair was similar to that of his dream, but his instinct told him it wasn’t her he was dreaming about. He didn’t dare to voice his thoughts either, suspecting that she would tease him if he did so.

Ladybug, as she called herself, had appeared in his life about a year ago. He had accidentally opened an email and she had instantly infiltrated all his tech like a virus. However, he imagined that a virus would be less annoying. She had moments where she would be pleasant like when they played video games together, on the rare occasion she didn’t cheat, or when she’d compliment a design he made, but most of the time, she was a pest. She would wake him up at random times in the night, suddenly take control of his computer interrupting his work, and more. He had no idea where she’d originally originated from, but he couldn’t get rid of her. He’d tried everything, even getting his father to replace the broadband at one point, but she’d simply came back. And each time she’d come back she’d been pissed off. He erased all his data on a game once. He spent a month just trying to get back up to the point he’d been at.

Initially, he had found the girl attractive, but there was only so far looks could take her. She had her hair tied in two pigtails and she wore a red mask with black spots. It was complete with a red bodysuit with black spots. She almost looked like a superhero, but with how she terrorised him, she was more like a supervillain.

“So, what will you be doing today?” Ladybug cut him out of his thoughts. “Will you be working on that design or playing a game? Oh, we could have a mario kart match! Or maybe you’ll got outside? You know get some sunlight. You could use some vitamin D.”

Felix laughed. “You know that’s not gonna happen.” He slipped onto his chair, rolling over to the computer. He hadn’t left his house in two years. He only left his room to eat dinner and shower. His father couldn’t complain about his behaviour either as he spent the majority of his time locked up in his office. He’s pretty sure it’s been over a month since they last saw each other. The only person he really sees is Nathalie. He doesn’t even really see his younger siblings. Rose might have been in recently to ensure he was still alive, but he couldn’t be sure. The three of them had moved out last year. He didn’t know where. It wasn’t like he’d be visiting them.

It’s not like he’d leave the house. After all, there was nothing out there for him.

C'mon, batten down your eyes

Don't know where to turn?

Without you, there's nowhere to go

And I dream too big to live a lie so why

should I move forward?

Marinette didn’t know where else to go. The world was so wide, yet it was the first time she was seeing it in this way. It felt strange when she first woke up to see everything through a screen, relying on cameras to see outside. Initially, she’d wanted to find Adrien. She didn’t know what she’d do when she found him, but she longed to see his grin as he recited a terrible joke. However, despite having the entire internet at her disposal, she couldn’t find him. It stressed her to no end because the last she’d seen of him, he’d collapsed. She had no way of finding out whether he was alive. It was like he’d just disappeared. There was no hospital records and no death records. He’d simply disappeared. Gone without a trace.

Her next option was her cousin, Bridgette. They’d grown close in recent months and she was the last person she’d seen before she collapsed and became whatever she was now, so maybe she knew something. It was an ideal option as from there Bridgette would be able to let her parents know she was ok. However, this idea fell through too. Bridgette had committed suicide. Apparently, it was the same day Marinette had collapsed. It shocked her to find out. She had seen her only a few minutes beforehand and to find out that Bridgette had been heading towards her death hurt. She could have saved her. They could have saved each other.

Instead, Marinette was stuck in this form. Trapped in technology. A few months ago, this would have been a dream, but right now, she’d give anything to be back with her friends. Friends. That was a strange word. The Marinette from a few months ago hated the idea of having to socialise, but now, she’d give anything to hear a pun from Adrien or to listen to Bridgette gush over Felix.

That’s when it hit her. Felix. Sure, she didn’t particularly get on with Felix. Who did, to be honest? But, he was all she had currently. If Felix was alive, he’d definitely be trackable. After all, the boy practically lived on his computer. It annoyed her to no end when she had found out. While she’d been there struggling to get a D, he’d been easily achieving A+’s. However now, it was her saving grace. She found him, hiding herself in an email and praying that he was stupid enough to open it.

Sure enough, he did and she exploded into life. Yet, when she was the bags under his eyes and his pale skin, she wasn’t so sure she’d made the right choice. It seemed like he needed more help than she did at the moment.

“Who are you?” His voice was hoarse, almost as if he’d been crying. It was only strengthened by the sight of the around around his eyes.

She made a quick decision. “I’m Ladybug! You’re personal AI!”

“Thanks. I don’t want one.” He immediately responded. “Now begone.” He attempted to drag her into the bin.

“No can do, mister!” She tutted. “I’m afraid you’re stuck with me!”

C'mon, throw up both your hands

Zeros all around

We didn't solve a thing but gather again

Ready to go...

Hey, are you still there...caught in the haze?

Juleka knew it was coming again. She knew that they were heading towards a ‘bad end’. She longed to turn them away from it, reset the timeline while it was still early, but there was a part of her that prayed this was finally the ‘good end’. She didn’t want to see her friends hurt anymore, but she didn’t want to continue on alone. She didn’t want to let him win, so for now she’d grin and bear. She’d wait for her to show up again.

For now, she continued to sit in her house, far away from humanity. Her blindfold remained intact as she fretted about whether this might be the time where she ends up hurting Rose. The very thought is nauseating, but it lingers nonetheless. Shaking her head, she tried to refocus. She picked up her book and read it. She’d long since memorised the words, but she was a sucker for a happy ending. She hoped this time she’d be able to achieve it in reality as well.

She longed for the ‘good end’.

Let's "play"

I'm screaming 'til you hear me say

Let's "save"

I'm fighting every single day

Grab a hand so warm you said to take

I can't forget it anyway   

Nino hated this day. August 14th. He felt trapped. A time loop he was unable to leave. She would die again today, no matter how he tried to save her. He’d take her towards the subway today. Maybe, they’d successfully be able to board a train today and stay safe. It was a pointless ambition. She’d died every previous August 14th. It wasn’t like this one would be any different. He could still remember every time. He could still hear every scream. The haze would mock him. It would laugh at him as it said “what you see is exactly what you’re gonna get” and like every other time, he wouldn’t understand it. Nino knew Alya was unaware of the time loop. Every time, he pulled her along with her, she would question him, demanding answers. He didn’t have time to answer her. He had to keep moving if he hoped to save her.

He just wanted to keep the warmth in her hands.

Let's "daze"

My heart's a beat that never fades

Let's "change"

You'll never cry alone the same

All the "lonely days" that you dyed from gray

Because it's you, I’ll put those memories on hold

Lila wouldn’t tell them. She couldn’t. She doubted they would believe her by this point. She’d hid behind so many lies by this point, even she wasn’t sure what the truth was. Even her tears didn’t feel real, but it didn’t matter. The others would never see behind the masked. She would keep playing her role until the very last curtain call, even though it was agonising to do so. It was her role to play though and she was nothing if not persistent. She’d persist even after everyone knew it was all a lie. It was the only way she knew how to live and it was far too late to take it all back by this point.

No, she would never be anything but a liar. Completely alone.

Encore ringing loud and proud,

We go round and around through the streets of broken pavement

Hold hands as we run along - I’ll make sure that I never let go.

Break out, standing tall and strong

Never rest, never stop, cause our cue will soon come!

It’s the day we’ve been waiting for

So find all that you’ve wanted to say!

Alya wasn’t dumb. She knew what Nino was doing, but it would only hurt him more if he knew that she could remember every death. Yet she knew there was no point trying to stop him, so she would allow him to keep holding her hand. She ran behind him, never by his side, and allowed death to take her when it came. Every time it came.

Every August 14th, she would allow it to occur. She would let him drag her down each street, without rest. One day, she hoped he would simply sit and enjoy her company. She prayed he’d be honest and say the words he wants to say to her. She wants to hear them from his mouth. She already knows them, but just once, she wants to hear them from his lips.

But for now, she’ll keep dying for him.

C’mon, give me both your hands,

When we meet, I’m certain

Our meeting was in fate's plan

Just like shadow, filled with pain

The world looks nearly the same

“Frustrations” fill the air, “weakness” echos behind

Worthlessness can sum up both in one line

Ready to fly beyond these grey skies

Whadda’ya say?

Rose ran through the forest, desperate to get away from the noise. They wouldn’t stop. She couldn’t silence them. The thoughts were overwhelming. She could feel herself drowning, the words piercing into her. She wanted them to stop. They wouldn’t end though. They wouldn’t leave her until she was dead.

In her distressed state, she didn’t realise she’d come upon a house. It was near silent now. The only sound, the occasional disturbed noise of a bird. A warning. She frowned. The house appeared normal, if only being strangely far from civilisation. As she got closer, she could hear soft humming. She couldn’t hear anything beyond that though. Whoever was inside that house, she was unable to hear their thoughts. It was almost relieving. She’d heard thoughts from everyone back home by now, even her siblings. It was painful. Thoughts shouldn’t be heard. They were private and unfiltered. It stressed her to hear the truth behind Lila’s lies or to hear how anxious Nathaniel was or how depressed Felix was. The worst bit was that her powers failed to alert her to how much pain Bridgette was in until it was too late.

She hoped the person beyond this door would give her the hope she so desperately needed.

Let’s “play”

I’m reaching for only today

Let’s “save”

My heart is hurting day by day

Even though it seems like hope is lost,

I’ll never lose the warmth of heart

Nathaniel was invisible. It was better that way he told himself. Being around others only stressed him out. They were far too unpredictable and they drained him far too much. Even being around Lila and Rose was too much sometimes. Lila’s loud nature kept him on edge and he was always cautious of his thoughts around Rose. He was at least relieved to know he didn’t have to worry about Felix. Although that was a problem in itself. Nathaniel at least attempted to socialise, but Felix kept himself locked in his room. He was sure he’d heard Felix talking to himself before and it concerned him to no end. He knew Felix wouldn’t admit how much he missed Bridgette and Adrien. He preferred to hide behind the door, spending days on end locked in his room.

He missed Adrien and Bridgette too, but he knew there was more to August 14th than meets the eye. There was something suspicious about their disappearances, especially considering that Marinette had also gone missing at the same time. The haze was mocking him, but he couldn’t work it out yet. He wasn’t sure how aware the other two were of it. Lila could know more than him, but he couldn’t trust her to tell the truth, and he didn’t know how much of his thoughts Rose had heard. However, he expected if Rose had heard such thoughts, she would have asked him about it by now.

For now though, he would cling to this small sliver of hope that one of them had made it out ok for the heat was a scary place.

Let’s “daze”

The streets are filled with endless haze

Let’s “change”

The words are gone, all the same

But my feelings stay, the same as always

It seems like I’m the only thing that’s really changed

Chloe didn’t know when everyone had started paying attention to her, but she used it to her advantage. She would use their adoration to convince them to fulfill her wishes. While there were a lot of benefits to it, it hurt sometimes. She couldn’t go outside without someone noticing her and one person noticing her would lead to a whole crowd. The amount of times she’d had to call someone to rescue her was embarrassing. She couldn’t even do something as simple as walk to school without being swarmed.

While she wanted to blame everyone else for suddenly becoming so interested in her, she knew in herself that it was she who had changed. It wasn’t physical because she could go out dressed in pajamas and people would notice her, but she wasn’t sure the change was mental either. She felt no different, but she knew something had changed. It felt like she was on the brink of remembering something, but she wasn’t quite there. Something was missing yet she wasn’t sure what it was. She wanted to ask anyone, but she’d lost all her friends. Adrien was missing. Bridgette, although their relationship was strained at best, had committed suicide. Who even knew where Marinette was. And Felix had locked himself in his room. She was completely alone.

She knew she could ask Felix’s younger siblings, but they frankly scared her. Rose was constantly flinching. Nathaniel freaked her out with how he was constantly sneaking up on her. And Lila was manipulative. She was entirely alone on the matter. Her mother kept her distance only telling her to use her talents to become rich and famous. Although she loved her father, he was way too big a suck up. She was amazed someone like him was their mayor. However, it put her at an advantage. She’d spent years finding out how to fool people from him. She could probably convince the whole of Paris to off themselves by this point. It wouldn’t ease the weight on her chest though.

After all, it was only her who had changed.

To the kid in the back, with their eyes all swollen red

This blue, more blue

Beyond blue summer skies

If only I could reach you, then you’d see

Felix could remember round azure eyes. They were accompanied by long eyelashes and deep eyebags. He would always look to his right and find them. He found it odd that they were swollen red. The little he could remember of them, he remembered them being always happy yet whenever he dreamed of them, they were filled with such sorrow. He wanted to reach out and wipe the tears away, but he was never able to. He was restrained to his spot. He could only watch a face he couldn’t hope to hold.

He figured he probably saw more than just their eyes when he dreamt, but when he awoke the eyes were all that he could remember. Sometimes, when he thought about it, he would even remember them being red, but he would erase the thought. There was no way someone could have red eyes. It was just impossible.

“Sayonara”, you shouted into endless haze

And yesterday was different too

Surely we’ll escape from this nightmare sometime soon?

A voice called out to Felix occasionally. He was sure it was just Ladybug playing a prank on him or him hearing one of his siblings wonder around the house, but the voice was different. Sometimes, the voice was kind. He could hear a high pitched giggle or sometimes it would say his name. The fondness that his name was said with made him want to break down into tears. However, sometimes the voice was deeper and it would insult him. It would mock him and tease him. It wasn’t like Ladybug’s teasing, it was harsh. The words would dig deep, ripping into wounds that he’d been trying to heal for years.

He thought he might be losing it. He figured the years spent locked up in his room had worn at his sanity, breaking him down until there was nothing left. He kept going though. He got up everyday, pretending nothing was wrong, and ignoring the concerned glances of Ladybug and his family. They didn’t really care because caring about him was pointless.

Please wait, I’m here whenever you’re alone

Just wait, another day will come I’m sure

Be it loneliness, or broken hearts

I’m here for you, so share your part

Sometimes when Felix dreamt, it was of soft embraces and a gentle voice humming to him. In those dreams, he felt at ease. He never wanted to wake from those dreams wishing tomorrow would never come so he could sleep forever. Yet he still woke up each morning with a dull ache in his chest and a throbbing in his brain. He was forgetting something, but he didn’t know what. The loneliness ate him up. He was too weak to push Ladybug away, but he was never strong enough to fully argue with her. Sometimes, he just wanted to shut her up. To end her. He knew these weren’t rational feelings to have, but it didn’t matter. She was just programming after all. Her feelings were all simply coding.

Nothing really mattered, yet he kept going everyday just to achieve the same feelings.

Let's "play"

I'm screaming 'til you hear me say

Let's "save"

I'm fighting every single day

Grab a hand so warm you said to take

I can't forget it anyway

Chat Noir couldn’t remember. He couldn’t remember anything. All that existed was the name the man Gabriel Agreste had given him. The boy reflected in the mirror was unfamiliar. The mask obscuring half his face wouldn’t come off and the cat ears upon his head did whatever they wanted.

There was a duo he’d found. The girl seemed to take a particular interest in him, yet he couldn’t recall her name for the life of him. He should probably question it more, but to think of such things hurt him. He didn’t want to remember because it felt like it would be painful. Maybe that’s why he couldn’t remember what happened to the duo. The memories were probably painful.

Sometimes, he’d be plagued by flashes. One time, he’d seen someone sitting in a hospital bed with blonde hair and green eyes and it had felt like his head was splitting in two. He’d broken down sobbing. He didn't understand why though. He couldn’t remember who it was for the life of him. It felt like it was important, but Gabriel had already told him that it wasn’t. Gabriel had told him many things and why would Gabriel lie to him? After all, the man had stuck by his side all this time and he appeared to be very wise.

That’s right it was easier to forget. That way he could do anything.

Let's "daze"

My heart's a beat that never fades

Let's "change"

You'll never cry alone the same

Colors shining through, the city we once knew

Even if my heart wavers just a bit

All the "lonely days" that you dyed from gray,

Because it's you I know that we’ll get through and try it again

Bridgette had tried her best. Everything she’d done was so everyone else would be happy, but now she realised, she’d played right into the snake’s hand. Everything was her fault and all her friends were suffering because of it. She would never be able to forgive herself for her mistake.

And she wept.

[leswansong]

Marichat May - Kitty Cats & Ballet Shoes

Day Four: Birthday

[ A03 ]

   Adrien flicked through the photo’s on his phone, Marinette had been able to keep the box full of kittens, how she managed that she didn’t say, no amount of asking had been able to loosen her lips. The kittens were just old enough to survive without their mother, he had gone back to the trash-filled alleyway several times to try and find the mother cat but he had no such luck, he truly believed that they were dumped there and it broke his fragile heart. So with him not being able to find the mother cat and he already knew that he couldn’t take care of the kittens with his father’s strict… ness… (there was no way they were going to fly under the radar. Marinette had adopted them and now he awoke each morning to early morning texts from her with pictures attached of the kittens. 

   He looked up to see a newly hired maid enter the room with his lunch, he smiled at her and she nervously placed the tray in front of him on the large mahogany table. She removed the silver cloche off of the top of the plate and left leaving him with a really depressing looking salad, somedays he wished for the taste of something fatty like that of deep fried fries and a pepperoni pizza. He slowly picked up his fork and got stuck into eating his sad lunch.

   He stared over at the manila he had brought down with him. It was full of all of the necessary research he needed to memorise by the end of the week, he stood up and peaked his head around the doors to find Natalie in her seat, he returned to his own seat and opened the folder and started reviewing the files within. His eyes traced the corridors on the small map in his hands trying his best to try and commit it to memory, the map had been a gift from Marinette to say sorry for not allowing him to see the kittens straight after she had brought them home but he had seen them recently. 

   He had passed her small top floor apartment by accident on his way to some ‘business’ appointment and recognised the building, he paused on one of her window sills and looked into the apartment, the kittens had been locked in a medium sized dog cage that had been completely padded down to high heaven with blankets, he had laughed at the sight of the tiny terrors in such a highly padded area. He sadly waved goodbye to them and headed on his way.    Adrien shook his head he needed to focus, he ran his fingers across the page, the gala was less than a week away and he had yet to locate the necklace. 

Marinette had unfortunately not found out who had been cast in the main role, he was a little disappointed but had taken the time to look into everyone who had auditioned for the role, Marinette had been kind enough to steal the list for him. He smirked at the thought of Marinette sneaking around in the corridor and making sure that no one was around before pulling the pin holding the paper to the pinboard then sneaking back into the shadows.

   Marinette… He started to see holes in her stories, they were easy to ignore at first but then, then they weren’t. He wanted to believe her he really did but because of his line of work, he had to look into her so he became very well acquainted with every aspect of her life. And one of the side-effects of this was stalking her social media accounts, he learned all of her friend's names and he was very interested in her best friend, she was an investigative reporter and that was dangerous, very dangerous, he really needed to keep his distance. 

   The sound of heels echoing off the walls sharply pulled him from his concerned thoughts, he quickly packed away everything in its folder and placed it on his lap just in time for Natalie to walk into the dining room, he smiled his trying to act like he was happy to see her, his eyes fell upon the tray in her hands, his curiosity was peaked. She placed it in front of him, the silver cloche on top of it hid its contents from view, he pushed the last bite of the band salad into his mouth and shuffled the plate behind the tray. 

   “Your father has asked me to wish you a happy birthday Adrien on his behalf,” her voice was her usual cold business voice as she removed the cloche revealing a small cupcake and a familiar box. 

   He frowned, ‘birthday?’ His birthday was still days away. He went to ask Natalie for clarification but she had already left, her heels clicked louder on the marble floors the further she walked away. Confused he pulled his phone from his pocket to check the date, his eyes widened as he was proven wrong, he was so caught up with planning the perfect heist that he had lost track of the date. He laughed slightly to himself, he had never lost track of the date before. Removing the folder from his lap he pulled the map back out and started to refocus on it to continue his planning, he picked up the cupcake and stuck it in his mouth, it tasted like a cheap supermarket bought one but it got rid of the taste of ice burg lettuce. The Gala… wait… the gala was less than a week away… and he was pretty sure the date was his birthday. He picked up the box containing the same pen he got every year along with his folder and rushed up the steps to his oversized room. Tossing the folder onto his queen bed he tore open his desk drawer and ruffled around in it pulling out stray pieces of paper just to find the one he was looking for. Finally, he felt the cardstock of the invite, he carefully reread it until his eyes fell upon the date and a sigh erupted from him, he had gotten the month wrong he still had time to find the safe. 

     Adrien fell back onto his bed, the overwhelming feeling of wanting to see Marinette washed over him but he didn’t want to overstep his boundaries and he was supposed to be distancing himself from her. She was realistically his only friend. Chloe was… a friend he had grown distant within the past two years, his ‘work’ always got in the way of their hangout times and she was spending a lot more time at the studio because of it. 

   He pulled his phone from his pocket and opened his text messages the little line to start typing flashed on screen, he really wanted to text her but what, he drafted a message and subsequently deleted it for another draft that also ended up being deleted. He stared at the blank screen as he struggled to express himself through words to her, eventually he tossed his phone aside giving up on trying to message her. He stretched his arm out across his bed and stared up at the white ceiling waiting for something to happen, he felt alone in that moment, the silence ate away at his head, he groaned and sat up he needed to keep his mind busy so he went back to planning.

     He looked through the very long list of rooms he had yet to search, it was a daunting task, over four hundred rooms and unless he found any more information to narrow down the list, they all needed to search. Maybe he could try and talk to one of the guards at the opera house, if he remembered correctly, liked to hang around some extremely exclusive wine tasting venues but sadly he could never get in, fortunately being a rich fashion designers son and former model had its pro’s at times, maybe it was this. 

   Adrien often wondered what he was doing this all for, Master Fu had been very kind to him over the years, it started when he tried going to a public school for the fifth and final time, he gave up that chance and all the planning that he had put into sneaking out of the house just to help the old man up and Master Fu had felt sorry and had given him Plagg. After a year of having Plagg he was finally drafted into the stealing side of Master Fu’s business, he was given a small set of rings to steal from some safes here and there, mainly to test his skills and after he had succeeded in stealing them all without being caught and without the assistance of the suit, Master Fu tasked him with stealing The Dove Miraculous from a wealthy man in America that just so happened to be coming to Paris on a business trip. 

     Adrien planned that heist meticulously down to the very last detail, he really didn’t want to be seen or caught. He practised breaking in and out of safes for an entire month before he struck and nobody noticed it was gone until the mans’ last night in Paris and by that time he was long gone and planning his next target. 

   But what happened to the magical jewellery afterwards he could not say, he just continued his new employment because the thrill was worth the risk. 

   His phone buzzed beside him and as he continued to question his life choices lifted the phone to see the notification, a new message from Marinette stared back at him, he clicked on it and a photo of the very happy kittens greeted him, smiling he typed back his response, temptation ate through him and before he knew it he had sent her a text if he could come over and see her, her not the kittens, he had meant to delete that text and rephrase it. He anxiously tapped his foot waiting to be turned down and not for their… friendship? whatever they were not to be ended but… he shot up, he hadn’t been expecting… well, that…

     “Kid? Are you… Okay?” 

   The Kwami was suddenly hovering over his shoulder and let out a scoff. 

   “Kid I thought she had figured you out and not well… sent you her address.”

     He shot up, ignoring his Kwami’s words, he was already reaching for a jacket and heading towards his window, his mind was several streets away in Marinette’s small living room telling jokes that made her laugh out loud, a goofy grin was plastered across his face. Plagg tried protesting, telling him that he should keep his distance from her but his daydreams blocked him out, he said his transformation phrase and soon his feet were carrying him across the tiled rooftops. 

   He racked his knuckles against one of the windows to her Apartment trying to contain his nerves. She looked a little confused to him at the window and not the front door, she hugged her shoulders at tried to pull the window up to open it, she struggled as the window had become jammed since the last time she had opened it. Slowly she managed to open it an inch and with his help, they pushed the window open. 

   “You could have used the front door,” she grumbled as she clenched and unclenched her fingers to try and get some sort of feeling back into them. 

   “Sorry, I- I didn’t think it’d be a good idea if I was seen,” he explained.

     “Its- never mind, just taking my anger out at you, sorry.” 

   He smiled at her, “it's okay, I get it,” his eyes scanned the small living room looking for the small trouble makers, “so… Where are they?” 

   She giggled and pointed over to a small corner of her living room, he frowned at her but walked over in that direction, the basket they were in had been obstructed by the back of her grey sofa. He almost ran towards them, they had grown quite a lot since the last time he saw them, he had expected them to grow but not this much. He sat cross-legged on the floor and scooped up two kittens into his arms leaving two grey ones left in the fabric basket. 

   “Chat?” 

   “Hmm?” 

   The calico kitten he had picked up clawed its way into the crook of his neck.

     “Are you okay? your message it-“ 

   “I’m okay Marinette,” he assured her, “today was just one of those days I didn’t want to be alone.” 

   “Why?” 

   He shrugged his shoulders at her, “I just didn’t want to be alone.” 

   “Okay then…” she didn’t sound like she believed him, “I have to go to the dance studio into hours so we don’t have much time to do something… what do you want to do?” 

   “Not sure,” he stated as he pretended not to see all the small collection of gaming consoles and controllers on the tall bookcase beside him. 

   “Did you bring any off-“ 

   He shook his head not wanting to remember the number of things he still needed to plan, there was so much left up to chance. 

   “Oh… Okay,” she sounded a little surprised that he hadn’t brought anything to do with the necklace. The sofa creaked behind him as she sat down on it, “Are you any good at Mecha Strike?” 

   He smirked, “You have no idea what you’re up against.” 

   “Really?” she teased, “I’m pretty sure you don’t know what you’re up against.” 

     “Someone as small as you… I’m pretty sure I’ll win.” 

   “You’re going down,” she threatened to pick up her controller and subsequently turned on the controller. 

   He smiled at finally having some competition. Gently he placed the grey and white kitten that had curled up in his arm back in the basket with its siblings, he then tried to remove the calico on his shoulder but it dug its delicate claws into him in protest and wouldn’t budge from its spot, he eventually gave up and left it to sleep. 

     He picked up the spare controller that Marinette had put on the coffee table for him and slowly backed his way up to her, he decided to go easy on her, it had been a while since he had played and when Marinette managed to defeat him round after round he thought it was just beginners luck but he quickly realised Marinette’s skill and his first assessment was wrong. He turned up his skill in an attempt to even the playing field but he was a lot more out of practice than he thought but she just up the ante to stay on top. Adrien had never found someone to match his skill before, he was really enjoying himself, it had been years since he had enjoyed video games. 

   The pause screen suddenly appeared in the middle of his button smashing, he spun around confused at why Marinette would pause the game. 

   “You’re quite good,” Marinette stated, “But I have to go,” she stood up and stretched. 

   “Right the dance studio,” he reached up and gave the kitten a scratch, “it been a while since I’ve had any decent competition,” he stated putting the controller on the coffee table in front of him. 

   “You should meet my papa, he’s even better than me.” 

   “Is that an invite I hear?” he was obviously joking.

     She smiled and shook her head, “You should probably get going,” she looked down at her watch. 

   He nodded his head and reached back up to the kitten on his shoulder slowly pulling it off of him, it let out a soft mew in protest of being disturbed, it broke his heart to move the small kitten but he did and he placed it back in with its brothers and sisters. 

   “Thank you Marinette,” he told her standing in front of the open window, “you made my birthday a less boring one,” his hands met the window frame as he prepared to pull himself up through it. 

   Marinette’s hand shot out to hold his arm causing him to stop in his tracks.

     He turned back to face her, “I’m fine Marinette,” he promised. 

   She gave his arm a final squeeze before letting it go, she opened her mouth to say something but something in her decide against it. He turned back to the window and lifted himself out through the small opening, he waved goodbye to her and headed home happy with his newfound friendship.

Made For @marichatmay

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[rosegardentwilight]

Satisfied Chapter 4

Satisfied Summary: Fate must hate her or her so called good luck had run out. What other explanation was there to the course of events that would collide with her life that would bring her to Adrien Agreste’s Wedding? Rated: T Pairing(s): Marichat, Adrienette, and Adrien/oc Word count: 2.4k ish for Chapter 4 Also read on: fanfiction, AO3

[1] [2] [3]

A.n- And here's the next chapter. Just wanted to thank you all for the feedback I have been given and hope you continue to stand with me in the story. If you're interested in being my beta just hit me up, I'm still looking for one. Italics are flashbacks.

Chapter 4: Helpless

Adrien stood stone still flowers in his hand in front of the apartment door. It was strange that he battled countless villains and still had his palms sweat at the thought of visiting his girlfriend. Despite being gifted in the looks department, most girls wanted to date him because of his money, status, or to get to his Dad. Amelie hadn't asked for any of that. If he was honest with himself, there were moments that the redhead made him feel alive. That he could unleash certain parts of his Chat behaviors, and she wouldn't only accept it, she would embrace it. This was new territory for him.

He found his courage and closed the gap between the door and his body and gently knocked. He could hear shuffling within the apartment which increased his nerves. They were supposed to go out to a new coffee place today, he hadn't texted her that he was on his way.

The door swung open to reveal Marinette, whose face was covered in what he assumed was flour. It seemed that the apple hadn't fallen too far from the tree.

"Hey Marinette."

She couldn't bring herself to tear her eyes away, it was complete. After a couple days of frustration and who knew how many cups of coffee, the project was complete. She wouldn't change anything about it, the dress had her own "Marinette" flare to it. After her project got approved, she would get a chance to create this masterpiece by the end of the semester.

A knock on the door caught her attention, but she couldn't move. It wasn't like she was expecting anyone to visit, it was probably one of Amelie's friends. When the knocking persisted, Marinette didn't have much of a choice, she couldn't keep them waiting. She was expecting a delivery or the neighbor who needed to borrow some sugar. Adrien Agreste holding a bouquet of flowers was one of the last things she envisioned.

"Adrien?" She felt her breath hitch when her eyes traced down to the purple lilacs. "What are you doing here?" This was the first time that she had seen him since fate had brought them into one another's lives again. It wasn't that she was avoiding him, it seemed that they had conflicting schedules which prevented the meeting.

"I stopped by to see Amelie." His eyes jumped from her face to the purple flowers. "They're too much aren't they. I walked into the store, and I saw these,"- His cheeks burned after Marinette reached out her hand on his arm to calm him.

"They're beautiful Adrien." The gesture caught them both off guard and she pulled her hand as quickly as she had extended it. She needed to calm herself before she revisited the girl in middle school that stumbled over her words.

"But just so you know, if you want to impress a girl like Amelie, her favorite are roses." Her eyes drifted to the floor, fighting the blush brewing. Of course, out of all the choices that were available at the flower shop he had to pick her favorite. She believed that with every gift came a message and if he only knew what those purple lilacs meant.

"Thanks," he offered a friendly smile and their eyes connected.

"I'll put those in water," she offered. He gently held out the flowers without hesitation. Electricity seemed to jump from his skin to hers without a word having to be said.

"Adrien! Are those for me?" Marinette retreated to the kitchen to tend to them, if she left it up to her roommate the flowers would only die faster.

It was weird seeing him here visiting Amelie, they had gone on a couple dates, but every time Marinette secretly hoped it was their last date. Whether that made her a bad person she had yet to decide, but regardless the sight of Amelie kissing Adrien sent her straight to her room.

"I see that you took my advice about the flowers." Marinette cursed mentally, after all the time they had been friends, it wasn't supposed to be awkward between them anymore. Adrien was with Amelie now, and she was happy for them, but it was too soon. It would be her life that after all her feelings got stirred up again that the model would get together with her roommate. She had her opportunity and passed on it. This conversation shouldn't be any different than with an acquaintance on the street...except it was Adrien. His emerald eyes made her knees weak every time that he looked at her. She couldn't help it.

"Yeah, I really appreciate it." An awkward silence fell between them when it hit her that he was still standing in the doorway. Her feet couldn't move faster as she stood back to let the model inside.

"I'm glad," she replied. She didn't know what was worse, stuttering beyond belief around him, or making her replies so short that she couldn't mess up the conversation.

"Are you doing some baking?" Adrien pointed to where the flour in question would appear on his own face. Marinette's hands flew up to her cheeks, but she was sure that the damage of the blush was already done.

"Yeah, I'm making some chocolate chip cookies for one of our floor mates old Mrs. Petit. She had a tough week and I thought I would make these to cheer her up."

"You're always thinking of others, it's one of the things I lo-like about you." Marinette's brow rose at the stumble but didn't have the courage to call him out about it. You could love your friends too, she loved Alya and Nino but that was more as sister and brother than anything.

"I would kill for one of your Dad's croissants." Adrien sighed leaning against the outside kitchen counter. The blue-eyed girl smirked, one thing that didn't change was how Adrien felt for his pastries.

"I could put in a good word for you. I know people," She teased. It was strange to talk about her parents like they were celebrities, but their bakery had grown in popularity. They had to sell the old store to move to accommodate the new business.

"You would do that for me?" The blonde placed his hand on his chest in appreciation to play along. Her smile grew further and the two bursts into laughter. They hadn't had anything like this since senior year of high school.

"You know Marinette, we should get coffee sometime, catch up. I want to hear all about your school…as friends of course." This time the red color tinted the tips of his ears and all she could do was stand there. Why now?

"That sounds"-

"Oh Mar-Mar, good you won't believe what just happened." Her excitement was enough to entice the girl. She was surprised that she hardly noticed that she was there with Adrien in the room holding flowers for his girlfriend no less. It wasn't that her roommate was a bad friend in any aspect she got distracted easily, and the fact had put a slight strain on their friendship. Amelie didn't give Marinette a chance to respond, "Bellamy just texted me, turns out I owed him a favor and he wants to collect." Marinette's stomach churned, she had an idea where this was going, and she didn't like it one bit.

"Oh really? What did he want?"

"I kinda promised him that he could have a date with you." Memories of her time with at the zoo when she agreed for Alya to go on a date with Nino. Now she understood her best friend's frustration; although they were happily together now, Alya still gave her grief. Amelie had different taste in guys than she did, and if she thought this guy would be perfect for her, that was a red flag within itself."

"Not going to happen." It wasn't even because she had no interest in the guy, but her workload and her secret life of Ladybug wouldn't allow for it. Hawk Moth wouldn't stop attacking Paris because she was on a date.

She wasn't sure but out of the corner of her eye, she saw Adrien's body relax at the words as if he was as against the idea as she was. He was the protective type when it came to his friends, she told herself because that's all they were, friends.

"Do it for me?" The green-eyed girl started to bat her eyelashes as her lips turned into a pout.

"Amelie, she said she didn't want"-

"I'll do it." It wasn't her constant asking or her whining that had won the raven-haired girl over, it was the knowledge that if she didn't say yes that it would continue. Besides what could one date hurt, the worst thing would be that she would waste a couple hours of her life and never see him again.

"What?" Adrien and Amelie replied in unison except in very different tones.

"On one condition, it won't be till after finals." It was easy to keep her head on straight when it came to this considering there were no feelings involved towards this guy. School and saving Paris took priority over everything else for the next two weeks.

"Marinette you don't have to do this." The blonde's words were lost at a squeal leaving the Redhead as her fingers typed furiously on her phone.

"No taking it back, I just texted Bellamy." She threw her arms around her roommate in delight. "Maybe if you two hit it off we could double. Wouldn't that be amazing Adrien?" Before he could answer Marinette cut in.

"Let's not get too carried away. It's just one date." She could feel the heat from his stare on her skin. She understood his concern about the situation, but they weren't fourteen anymore, she could make her own decisions.

"I think I'm going to go." He couldn't bring himself to watch the rest of this train wreck to unfold.

"But Adrien, I thought we made plans for this afternoon."

"On the way here, I got a call from my Father, I have to go in to do some photos for a magazine." There was a certain level of guilt that flooded through him. Excusing the times where Paris needed his alter ego, he never had to lie to her before. The thought of going to lunch with her was too much for him to handle, but if he told her the truth it was bound to start a fight.

Amelie took the flowers from the blonde and hugged them close to her body.

"Are you sure you can't get out of it?" She ran her hand down his chest playfully, but Adrien didn't allow his body to react.

"You don't know my Father." He threw a glance over at Marinette to find her eyes already glued to him. "Sorry," for a moment he didn't know who he was apologies to. Marinette for the antics of his girlfriend, or Amelie for bailing on their plans.

"Text me when you get off." She leaned in for a kiss, but Adrien moved his head, so her lips landed on his cheek instead.

He found his eyes wandering back to the raven-haired girl, he only wished that he could read the various emotions flashing over her face.

"Sure." His words lost any confidence that he meant to carry. "Bye Amelie...Marinette." Her name seemed to linger on his tongue longer than he was used to. The fact only caused the urge to leave to increase.

"What was she thinking?" He huffed. He needed to blow off some of this energy that was swirling inside him. his first instinct was to change to Chat and spend the night jumping from rooftop to rooftop. Plagg emerged from his pocket and circled around his owner.

"What do you mean?"

"To set Marinette up with some guy that she barely knows, he could be dangerous or hiding something."

"Says the guy running around in a black leather in his spare time." The Kwami's comment was met with a harsh glare.

"That's different and you know it." Adrien snapped back in annoyance. If Plagg thought he was winning points in the cheese department, he was mistaken. He did know the combination to his safe after all.

"It sounds like you're jealous." The comment caused the model to take a step back in shock. Usually his interactions with the black cat were mild teasing at best, but this was different.

"Jealous?" He parroted fighting the urge to grit his teeth. He was Adrien Agreste, the face on most billboards in Paris, he couldn't be…

"I'm just acting as a concerned friend, Marinette didn't want to go, she said so herself. Amelie basically trapped her into it."

"Didn't she agree to go?" The kwami was wondering if he was listening to the same conversation.

"You didn't see how she reacted when Amelie told her. Trust me, I would be doing her a favor if…" His voice trailed off as the corners of his lips tilted up in a Cheshire smile.

"Where are you going with this kid?" Plagg had seen that smile on hundreds of Chat Noir's before, a horrible idea was coming.

"Wouldn't it be a shame if Chat Noir"-

"No." The kwami didn't even give his chosen a chance to finish. He would have gone along with any other plan Adrien had, but this was suicide."

"Think about it, this guy could be a creep, I'll just stay back and watch and if she needs me then I'll step in. I need to know that she's safe." Plagg rolled his eyes trying to decide how much Camembert to demand. If Adrien was one thing, stubborn was the word that came to mind.

"And what if she has a good time?" Adrien's jaw tightened at the words. That couldn't be possible, he had a bad feeling from the moment that his girlfriend mentioned it. He was doing the right thing, he was the superhero after all. He had a sense for these things.

"Not possible." Plagg shook his head back and forth. Humans were the strangest creatures.

"If you say so." The answer was enough to put the blonde at ease. This conversation would be put on the do not discuss, and not another word about it would be breathed.

"Plagg, claws out."

[rosegardentwilight]

Satisfied Chapter 4

[Prev]                                                                                                    [next]

M version is here (A03)

T version is here (FF.net)

Summary: AU- Fate must hate her or her so-called good luck had run out. What other explanation was there to the course of events that would collide with her life that would bring her to Adrien Agreste’s Wedding? Inspired by Satisfied from Hamilton.

Adrien stood stone still flowers in his hand in front of the apartment door. It was strange that he battled countless villains and still had his palms sweat at the thought of visiting his girlfriend. Despite being gifted in the looks department, most girls wanted to date him because of his money, status, or to get to his Dad. Amelie hadn't asked for any of that. If he was honest with himself, there were moments that the redhead made him feel alive. That he could unleash certain parts of his Chat behaviors, and she wouldn't only accept it, she would embrace it. This was new territory for him.

He found his courage and closed the gap between the door and his body and gently knocked. He could hear shuffling within the apartment which increased his nerves. They were supposed to go out to a new coffee place today; he hadn't texted her that he was on his way.

The door swung open to reveal Marinette, face covered in what he assumed was flour. It seemed that the apple hadn’t fallen too far from the tree.

"Hey, Marinette."

She couldn't bring herself to tear her eyes away; it was complete. After a couple of days of frustration and who knew how many cups of coffee, the project was complete. She wouldn't change anything about it; the dress had her own "Marinette" flare to it. After her project got approved, she would get a chance to create this masterpiece by the end of the semester.

A knock on the door caught her attention, but she couldn't move. It wasn't like she was expecting anyone to visit, it was probably one of Amelie's friends. When the knocking persisted, Marinette didn't have much choice; she couldn't keep them waiting. She was expecting a delivery or the neighbor who needed to borrow some sugar. Adrien Agreste holding a bouquet of flowers was one of the last things she envisioned.

"Adrien?" She felt her breath hitch when her eyes traced down to the purple lilacs. “What are you doing here?” This was the first time that she had seen him since fate had brought them into one another’s lives again. It wasn’t that she was avoiding him, it seemed that they had conflicting schedules which prevented the meeting.

“I stopped by to see Amelie.” His eyes jumped from her face to the purple flowers. “They’re too much, aren’t they. I walked into the store, and I saw these,”- His cheeks burned after Marinette reached out her hand on his arm to calm him.

“They’re beautiful Adrien.” The gesture caught them both off guard, and she pulled her hand as quickly as she had extended it. She needed to calm herself before she revisited the girl in middle school that stumbled over her words.

"But just so you know, if you want to impress a girl like Amelie, her favorite are roses." Her eyes drifted to the floor, fighting the blush brewing. Of course, out of all the choices that were available at the flower shop he had to pick her favorite. She believed that with every gift came a message and if he only knew what those purple lilacs meant.

"Thanks," he offered a friendly smile and their eyes connected.

"I'll put those in water," she offered. Adrien gently held out the flowers without hesitation. Electricity seemed to jump from his skin to hers without a word having to be said.

“Adrien! Are those for me?” Marinette retreated to the kitchen to tend to them if she left it up to her roommate the flowers would only die faster.

It was weird seeing him here visiting Amelie, they had gone on a couple of dates, but every time Marinette secretly hoped it was their last date. Whether that made her a bad person she had yet to decide, but regardless the sight of Amelie kissing Adrien sent her straight to her room.

"I see that you took my advice about the flowers." Marinette cursed mentally, after all the time they had been friends, it wasn't supposed to be awkward between them anymore. Adrien was with Amelie now, and she was happy for them, but it was too soon. It would be her life that after all her feelings got stirred up again that the model would get together with her roommate. She had her opportunity and passed on it. This conversation shouldn't be any different than with an acquaintance on the street except it was Adrien. His emerald eyes made her knees weak every time that he looked at her. She couldn't help it.

"Yeah, I appreciate it." An awkward silence fell between them when it hit her that he was still standing in the doorway. Her feet couldn't move faster as she stood back to let the model inside.

"I'm glad," she replied. She didn't know what was worse, stuttering beyond belief around him, or making her replies so short that she couldn't mess up the conversation.

"Are you doing some baking?" Adrien pointed to where the flour in question would appear on his face. Marinette's hands flew up to her cheeks, but she was sure that the damage of the blush already gave her away.

"Yeah, I'm making some chocolate chip cookies for one of our floor mates old Mrs. Petit. She had a tough week, and I thought I would make these to cheer her up."

"You're always thinking of others; it's one of the things I lo-like about you." Marinette's brow rose at the stumble but didn't dare to call him out about it. You could love your friends too, she loved Alya and Nino, but that was more as sister and brother than anything.

"I would kill for one of your Dad's croissants." Adrien sighed leaning against the outside kitchen counter. The blue-eyed girl smirked, one thing that didn't change was how Adrien felt for his pastries.

"I could put in a good word for you. I know people," She teased. It was strange to talk about her parents like they were celebrities, but their bakery had grown in popularity. They had to sell the old store to move to accommodate the new business.

“You would do that for me?” The blonde placed his hand on his chest in appreciation to play along. Her smile grew further and the two bursts into laughter. They hadn’t had anything like this since senior year of high school.

“You know Marinette; we should get coffee sometime, catch up. I want to hear all about your school…as friends of course.” This time the red color tinted the tips of his ears and all she could do was stand there. Why now?

“That sounds”-

"Oh Mar-Mar, good you won't believe what just happened." Her excitement was enough to entice the girl. She was surprised that she hardly noticed that Adrien was in the room holding flowers for his girlfriend no less. It wasn't that her roommate was a bad friend in any aspect she got distracted easily, and the fact had put a slight strain on their friendship. Amelie didn't give Marinette a chance to respond, "Bellamy just texted me, turns out I owed him a favor, and he wants to collect." Marinette's stomach churned, she had an idea where this was going, and she didn't like it one bit.

"Oh really? What did he want?"

"I kinda promised him that he could have a date with you." Memories of her time with at the zoo when she agreed for Alya to go on a date with Nino. Now she understood her best friend's frustration; although they were happily together now, Alya still gave her grief. Amelie had different taste in guys than she did, and if she thought this guy would be perfect for her, that was a red flag within itself."

"Not going to happen." It wasn't even because she had no interest in the guy, but her workload and her secret life of Ladybug wouldn't allow for it. Hawk Moth wouldn't stop attacking Paris because she was on a date.

She wasn't sure, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw Adrien's body relax at the words as if he was as against the idea as she was. He was the protective type when it came to his friends; she told herself because that's all they were, friends.

"Do it for me?" The green-eyed girl started to bat her eyelashes as her lips turned into a pout.

"Amelie, she said she didn't want"-

"I'll do it." It wasn't her constant asking or her whining that had won the raven-haired girl over; it was the knowledge that if she didn't say yes that it would continue. Besides what could one date hurt, the worst thing would be that she would waste a couple of hours of her life and never see him again.

"What?" Adrien and Amelie replied in unison except in very different tones.

"On one condition, it won't be till after finals." It was easy to keep her head on straight when it came to this considering there were no feelings involved towards this guy. School and saving Paris took priority over everything else for the next two weeks.

"Marinette you don't have to do this." The blonde's words were lost at a squeal leaving the redhead as her fingers typed furiously on her phone.

"No taking it back, I just texted Bellamy." She threw her arms around her roommate in delight. "Maybe if you two hit it off we could double. Wouldn't that be amazing Adrien?" Before he could answer, Marinette cut in.

"Let's not get too carried away. It's just one date." She could feel the heat from his stare on her skin. She understood his concern about the situation, but they weren't fourteen anymore, she could make her own decisions.

"I think I'm going to go." He couldn't bring himself to watch the rest of this train wreck to unfold.

"But Adrien, I thought we made plans for this afternoon."

"On the way here, I got a call from my father; I have to go in to do some photos for a magazine." There was a certain level of guilt that flooded through him. Excusing the times where Paris needed he alter ego, he never had to lie to her before. The thought of going to lunch with her was too much for him to handle, but if he told her the truth, it was bound to start a fight.

Amelie took the flowers from the blonde and hugged them close to her body.

"Are you sure you can't get out of it?" She ran her hand down his chest playfully, but Adrien didn't allow his body to react.

"You don't know my father." He threw a glance over at Marinette to find her eyes already glued to him. "Sorry," For a moment he didn't know who he was apologies to, Marinette for the antics of his girlfriend or Amelie for bailing on their plans.

"Text me when you get off." She leaned in for a kiss, but Adrien moved his head, so her lips landed on his cheek instead.

He found his eyes wandering back to the raven-haired girl; he only wished that he could read the various emotions that flashed over her face.

"Sure." His words lost any confidence that he meant to carry. "Bye Amelie...Marinette." Her name seemed to linger on his tongue longer than he was used to. The fact only caused the urge to leave to increase.

  "What was she thinking?" He huffed. He needed to blow off some of this energy that was swirling inside him. his first instinct was to change to Chat and spend the night jumping from rooftop to rooftop. Plagg emerged from his pocket and circled his owner.

"What do you mean?"

"To set Marinette up with some guy that she barely knows, he could be dangerous or hiding something."

"Says the guy that runs around in black leather in his spare time." The Kwami’s comment met with a harsh glare.

"That's different, and you know it." Adrien snapped back in annoyance. If Plagg thought he was winning points in the cheese department, he was mistaken. He did know the combination to his safe after all.

“It sounds like you’re jealous.” The comment caused the model to take a step back in shock. Usually, his interactions with the black cat were mild teasing at best, but this was different.

“Jealous?” He parroted fighting the urge to grit his teeth. He was Adrien Agreste, the face on most billboards in Paris; he couldn’t be…

“I’m just acting as a concerned friend, Marinette didn’t want to go, she said so herself. Amelie trapped her into it.”

“Didn’t she agree to go?” The kwami was wondering if he was listening to the same conversation.

“You didn’t see how she reacted when Amelie told her. Trust me; I would be doing her a favor if…” His voice trailed off as the corners of his lips tilted up in a Cheshire smile.

“Where are you going with this kid?” Plagg had seen that smile on hundreds of Chat Noir’s before; a horrible idea was coming.

“Wouldn’t it be a shame if Chat Noir”-

“No.” The kwami didn’t even give his chosen a chance to finish. He would have gone along with any other plan Adrien had, but this was suicide.”

“Think about it, this guy could be a creep, I’ll stay back and watch, and if she needs me, then I’ll step in. I need to know that she’s safe.” Plagg rolled his eyes trying to decide how much Camembert to demand. If Adrien was one thing, stubborn was the word that came to mind.

“And what if she has a good time?” Adrien’s jaw tightened at the words. That couldn’t be possible; he had a bad feeling from the moment that his girlfriend mentioned it. He was doing the right thing; he was the superhero after all. He had a sense for these things.

“Not possible.” Plagg shook his head back and forth. Humans were the strangest creatures.

“If you say so.” The answer was enough to put the blonde at ease.

“Plagg claws out.”