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kasienda · 3 years

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The Five Minute Adventures of Snake Noir: I Want It to be You

Summary: After Ladybug admits to Chat Noir that she told someone her identity, she insists that he do the same. He wants it to be her. She insists it has to be anyone else. He suggests they use the snake. She finds this to be a reasonable compromise. (Season 4 Spoilers)

Per the advice of this post, I only wrote the part that was fun to write. It’s a 90 minute speed-write. They’re on a roof somewhere. Please enjoy!

...

“I understand needing to tell someone. I do!” Chat Noir insisted for the third time that night. “I just don’t understand why it can’t be you!”

Ladybug wouldn’t look at him.

“Do you not want to know?” he asked, his heart had fallen into his gut.

She wilted. “I want to know more than anything.”

“Then what’s stopping you?”

“I can’t explain it,” she admitted. She looked at him with glassy eyes. “Can you trust me on this?”

He met her gaze, but he didn’t have words. She was almost crying and he didn’t know if it was because of the thing she couldn’t share or if he had upset her with his pushing.

“I understand if you can’t. I understand if you’re mad.”

He looked away. “I’m not mad,” he insisted. “I just don’t understand.”

They fell into an unhappy silence.

“I can respect it, LB. You know that I can. I just don’t want to tell anyone else. I want you to be the first to know.”

And then to his horror she started crying.

“LB?”

“I don’t deserve you,” she sobbed.

“You deserve everything,” he countered. He held her then. And they didn’t say anything. Just sat together overlooking the city that they fought to protect.

“What if we used the snake?” he interjected into the silence.

Read on Ao3

She turned to him. “Huh?”

“I will use the snake, and tell you who I am. Then if you still think you shouldn’t know, I will reset it and you won’t remember. Then in some weird way you’ll still have been the first to know, and if you still insist I can then tell someone else. ”

She considers. “Okay,” she finally relented. She immediately opens her yoyo and pulls out the Snake miraculous. She hands it to him with a smile.

Chat Noir’s hands started shaking. Whether it was with nerves or excitement, he couldn’t say. He was going to tell Ladybug who he was. And yeah, she wasn’t going to remember unless he could convince her, but still. He’d know her name.

He slipped on the bracelet. “Plagg, Sass, unify.” And then he turned back to his partner, and she’s fidgeting from one foot to the other. He was relieved that he wasn’t the only one feeling the nerves.

But somehow, her anxiety made his own vanish, and he smiled gently. And she mirrored his expression. “Second Chance,” he whispered.

“Okay kitty, what’s your name?” she asked with a playful grin.

“Adrien. Adrien Agreste.” He can’t spit the words out fast enough.

He didn’t know what he was expecting. He knew she would recognize the name. She had protected him as a civilian on more than one occasion, and she had recruited him as a temporary hero. So she knew him - at least a little bit.

But whatever he had expected, he hadn’t expected her to start crying. And then she threw herself at him, and his arms automatically wrapped around her.

“Buginette?” he prompted.

“W-why… Why did you have to be him?” she sobbed into his chest. And he doesn’t know what to say. He doesn’t understand why this has hit her so hard.

“This makes a lot of things make sense,” she said. Her voice was so soft. He wasn’t sure if she meant for him to hear her.

“Are you disappointed?” he finally managed to ask.

She jerked back so hard he worried she might have given herself whiplash. But her blue eyes gazed at him, searching for what he did not know.

“No!” she said. “Never.” And she said it with such conviction he couldn’t doubt it. Tension he hadn’t realized he was feeling dissipated. “This might actually be the best possible answer, but I can’t know who you are. You being Adrien makes that more true. Not less. I’m so sorry,” and she choked back another sob.

And he realized that she wasn’t crying because of who he was, she was crying because she had to forget. He squeezed her tighter.

“Why does my being Adrien mean you can’t know?”

She shook her head, wiping her tears from her eyes. And her demeanor shifted into battle mode. “We’re running out of time. You’re going to have to reset. When you do, ask me about Chat Blanc.”

“Chat Blanc?”

“I’ll explain! But you have to reset!” She was shouting at him now.

He nodded. And he flicked the bracelet.

She was standing before him, no longer in his arms, but she was smiling. Fidgeting again, but smiling in eager anticipation.

“Okay kitty, what’s your name?”

He offered her a small smile in return, but his eyes burned, threatening tears.

“Are you okay, Chaton?”

“Will you tell me about Chat Blanc?” he asked.

The blood drained from her face. “You’ve already been through a loop?”

“You didn’t have enough time. You told me to ask you about Chat Blanc.”

She turned away from him, and toward the cityscape. “I hoped you would never learn about Chat Blanc. I’ve been trying to protect you from Chat Blanc.”

“Please,” he begged.

She drew in a shuddering breath. “Okay,” she agreed, but she didn’t say anything more. She continued to stare at the skyline.

“We don’t have a lot of time,” he reminded her.

“Chat Blanc was your akumatized form.”

His form went rigid. “Why don’t I remember?”

“It hasn’t happened yet,” she whispered. Her jaw was quivering, her shoulders shaking. “I hope it never happens.”

He can’t stand it, and he yanked her against him. She remains limp in his embrace.

“Did I hurt you?”

She shook her head. “You could have killed me.” His eyes squeezed shut at those words. “But instead, you helped me figure out where your akuma was.”

“That doesn’t sound so bad,” he joked, but he already knew it had to have been awful for her to be simultaneously trembling before him and monotone in her retelling.

“The moon was in pieces.”

“What?”

“Hawkmoth had granted you the infinite power of destruction,” she told him. “And you destroyed… everything.”

He buried his head onto her shoulder.

“I’m sorry,” he mumbled. Her hands rubbed at the back of his neck soothingly.

“No, don’t say that,” she told him. “It wasn’t your fault, and it hasn’t even happened.”

“But you remember it,” he countered. And he understood how hard it was to remember something traumatic that no one else even knew had happened.

She nodded. “The worst part was you were so clearly alone. I don’t know how long you had existed as an akuma when Bunnyx brought me there.”

He didn’t really care how long he had suffered alone. If he had destroyed everything, he felt he deserved it. He had to atone for his actions in some way, if only for falling victim to the akuma anyway. He didn’t say any of this outloud because he knew it would upset his partner.

“The best part was you had killed Hawkmoth.” There was just a bit of warmth in her voice now, and he smiled.

“At least I took him down with me.” His bracelet beeped in warning. He only had a minute left, though he supposed he hadn’t said anything yet that he needed erase. He just hated that he had made her cry.

She looked up at him again, her eyes clear and serious. “Chat Blanc is why we can’t know each other’s identities,” she said.

“I don’t understand.”

“I don’t either. Not completely.” She glanced down at their hands, which were completely entwined together. “But when I cleansed the akuma, you knew who I was. Bunnyx explained that it was our knowing each other’s identities that led to your akumatization. That we couldn’t know yet.”

His eyes watered and there was a rock lodged in his throat, but he managed to keep the tears mostly at bay, and nodded once.

She leaned forward, touching her forehead to his. “It was never that I didn’t want to know. It was never that I didn’t trust you.”

He nodded again.

“What’s your name, Chaton?”

“Adrien Agreste.”

Her sobs were immediate. “This is not fair,” she cried. “I want to tell you my name.”

He kissed her forehead, and then her hands that he was still holding. “Don’t tempt me,” he said lightly.

Then he flicked his bracelet before she let anything slip.

He drank in the sight of her smiling face once again. The smile that reached her eyes, even as her hands writhed in front of her - the only evidence of her nerves. He knew now that she was willing to trust Chat Noir with everything, that she was almost willing to damn the whole world for him and he was almost willing to let her, and he also knew that Adrien was somehow incredibly special to her. Somehow, in the space of ten minutes he had fallen more in love with this woman.

“Okay kitty, what’s your name?”

“You told me not to tell you,” he said, his voice barely louder than the breeze.

She wilted on the spot. “I’m sorry.”

He swept her into a hug. “It’s not your fault, Buginette. You’re just trying to protect the world.”

She tensed in his arms. “I told you about…”

“Chat Blanc?” he filled in. “Yeah, you did.”

She started crying, and god damn it! He was hoping to make it through one loop without making her cry. “I’m sorry,” she sobbed. He rubbed soothing circles into her back. “I never wanted you to know. I want you to know who I am more than I want anything in this world.”

“I know,” he breathed into her ear. “I understand now. I’m sorry for putting so much pressure on you. You have the weight of the whole world, and I regret that I ever added to it.”

She shook her head rapidly. “No! You didn’t! You’ve always supported me!”

“And I hope I can bear more of that weight with you now?”

She grinned. “You say that like that wasn’t what you were already doing. You need to give yourself more credit.”

He smiled. “I will try.”

“Sass, scales rest.” The snake kwami manifested in front of him. “What do you like to eat, Sass?”

“I’m partial to eggs.”

Adrien groaned. “Why do I always get the difficult to feed kwamis?”

Ladybug laughed. “Hey, you only have to feed two of them. You should try dealing with seventeen of them all at the same time!”

Her phrasing struck him. “Do you… do you want me to keep the snake?”

She glanced away, a pink rising to her cheeks. “I was just thinking about what you said. That you wanted to reveal yourself to me. With the snake, you can do that whenever you want. I don’t know if it’s fair. I still think you should tell someone who will remember, but… I am okay with you using the snake so that I can be one of your confidants.”

He couldn’t breathe. He had already established this evening that she actually did trust him, but this… this was a whole new level. He felt dizzy.

“Chaton? You okay?”

“You… You’re not worried about me taking advantage?”

“To do what?” she asked.

“I don’t know. Kiss you or something?”

Was he imagining the blush across her cheeks?

“Would you do that?” she asked.

“Not without your permission.”

“So what’s the problem?” she asked, her eyebrows furrowed in complete confusion.

His tears crashed straight through the dam of his usually tightly maintained composure.

This time, she hugged him. And he let himself cling to her. “Thank you,” he whispered.

“What for?” she asked.

He smiled into her shoulder. “For…” and he had no idea how to put what he was feeling into words. “For being you.”

“You’re so important to me, kitty. You know that right?”

He did now. He pulled away and offered her his most charming smile, and kissed her hand one more time. She definitely blushed that time. “You mean the world to me, too.”

They just stood there for a minute, smiling at one another. “I guess, I should get home,” she said.

He nodded. “Yeah, me too.”

He watched her go, but despite his words he wasn’t ready to go back to his gilded prison.

Instead, he took off through the city, running. And he didn’t know if he was running from something or towards something.

…

Chapter Two: Best Friends

#identity reveal #ladynoir #snake noir #speed write #my own content #a miraculous reveal #ml spoilers #ml s4 spoilers #hurt/comfort #little angsty #hopeful #healing #The Five Minute Adventures of Snake Noir

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gabriel-agreste-has-no-rights · 4 years

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Rating: T

Summary: From cleaning up their city, to strengthening their partnership, to untangling their love lives—New York has taught Ladybug and Chat Noir that they can get through anything together. Well, everything except automatic doors. (New York special reveal fic)

Word Count: 6722

XXX

Marinette had gotten back from New York three days ago, but it wasn’t until she saw Chat Noir that she really came home.

He’d arrived early to the meeting spot—a rooftop where someone had planted a pot of blue forget-me-nots—and he hummed under his breath while perching at the roof’s edge.

“Little kitty on a roof... all alone without his lady…”

She thought she’d overcome the stutter in her heart when she heard that tune. But that was before she’d almost lost her partner again.

“Not alone anymore,” she said, plopping down next to him and bumping his shoulder.

He didn’t bump back. That was weird.

“Kitty?” She leaned forward, trying to get a better look at his face. The mask made it difficult to tell, but she was pretty sure his green eyes were rimmed with red. “Are you alright?”

He shrugged too quickly. “It’s nothing. I’m really glad to see you again, LB.”

“Which is why you haven’t looked at me this whole time.”

Finally, he met her eyes, and she gasped. He’d definitely been crying. A lot. What had… what had happened? Was it just seeing the city for the first time since they’d been back? Mayor Bourgeois had done a surprisingly good job of organizing the cleanup, but there was still a long way to go. That was the reason they’d come out on patrol tonight, so surely he’d expected the damage.

Could he still be upset about everything that had happened between them? No. He knew she’d forgiven him.

Still, she squeezed his hand just in case.

“Chat. You know you can always tell me the truth.”

His eyes went wide, and then fresh tears welled in them.

“I—right. I promised I’d never hide the truth from you again.” He wiped his eyes with the heel of his free hand. “I’ve just been stupid. Even more stupid, if that’s possible.”

“You’re not stupid,” she said. Stupidly. She didn’t know what would help, but surely she could come up with something more comforting than that. “You’re the brave, amazing, irreplaceable Chat Noir.”

He snorted. “My girlfriend thinks I’m replaceable.”

The world screeched to a halt. The moon could’ve fallen from the sky, and she wouldn’t have noticed.

“You have a girlfriend?”

Chat Noir winced. Oops. She probably shouldn’t have shouted right by his ear.

“I had a girlfriend. For almost a month.”

“And you didn’t tell me?”

His brow scrunched under his mask. “I didn’t want you to think I was trying to make you jealous. And… I didn’t tell anyone, actually. It kind of had to be secret in case my father…” He shook his head. “Sorry. I don’t want to get too close to my identity. Which is another reason I didn’t tell you.”

Of course. There was no good reason for him to tell her.

She still felt like she should’ve known.

“I’m sorry. You had every right to keep your personal life private.” She rubbed her thumb over the back of his hand. “And I’m sorry about your girlfriend, too. She clearly doesn’t know who she’s missing out on.”

He looked up from where he’d been staring at their hands. “I—uh-um-hhhh-yeah.”

She made a noise somewhere between an eep and a cough, jerking her hand back so quickly she almost fell backwards.

“I—I mean, anyone would be lucky to date you—no! Um, you’re a catch?” Oh, that was even worse! What was wrong with her? “You—you know what I mean!”

His head tilted. “I, um. Do I?”

She dropped her head in her hands. She didn’t even know what she meant. She was still in love with Adrien. The last thing she wanted to do was give Chat false hope.

“Sorry,” she groaned. “Lately I can’t get two words out without making a mess of things.”

“Join the club.” He snorted.

“I might not be much help, but… do you want to talk about it?”

“You—you’d let me?”

“You did say you weren’t going to hide things from me anymore.” She smiled, bumping his shoulder.

This time, he bumped her back. “I guess I did.”

He paused, seeming to gather his thoughts. The sounds of traffic drifted up from below to fill the gap. Funny how even the traffic felt more like home in Paris.

“It was my fault, as usual,” he murmured. “I didn’t tell her I was leaving Paris, either.”

“You didn’t?” It made sense that he wouldn’t want to hurt his partner, but why would he hide from someone in his civilian life?

“Like I said. Stupid.” He shook his head.

“Not stupid enough to break up with you over.” She frowned. “Not if she really loved you.”

That probably wasn’t the most tactful thing to say, either. She hoped Chat’s girlfriend loved him. He’d always been so full of love, it was difficult to imagine him with someone who wouldn’t return it.

“It… wasn’t just that.” He took a deep breath. “Promise you won’t hate me?”

That question didn’t reassure her, but she still knew her answer.

“You’re my best friend, kitty. I could never hate you.”

The tension drained from his shoulders.

“Right. I should know that by now. It’s just hard to remember, when I’m so scared and stupid and—I think I might have accidentally cheated on her.”

Marinette blinked. Chat? Cheating? The boy who would rather turn Marinette down in front of her Marichat-shipping papa than hide his feelings for Ladybug?

“What did you do?”

His ears drooped. He looked so limp without the over-the-top confidence that normally filled him.

“I danced with another girl. And hugged her a lot. I thought it was as friends but then my other friend posted some pictures of us to Instagram, because she didn’t know that I was dating K—my girlfriend, and it looked way worse than it was and my girlfriend thinks I’m in love with this other girl and I… the worst and best thing is she might be right.”

Wow. That was. There was a lot to unpack there.

“You’re… in love with… two people?” Neither of which are me?

No. Bad Marinette. This wasn’t about her; this was about Chat Noir. Besides, she wanted him to move on!

“I don’t know. All I know is that I never wanted to hurt either of them, and I feel awful.”

...Was this about her? The sentiment definitely hit too close to home.

“It stinks, doesn’t it.” She sighed.

“More than Plagg’s cheese.”

That got a smile out of her. “I wish I knew how to help, but the truth is, I’ve never had any luck with love either.”

Chat’s brow furrowed. “But what about the boy you…?”

Her throat clogged. Memories flashed through her mind—her and Adrien dancing in the sky, tumbling through doorways, accidental touches and soft smiles and words she’d said too late.

“This isn’t about me,” she said, banishing those thoughts.“We’re working on your love life tonight.”

Unraveling hers would probably require an intervention from Bunnyx. Or a Lucky Charm. Why hadn’t she thought of that before?

Because Tikki would kill me, probably.

“I don’t think there’s much to work on,” he muttered. “I blew it with my girlfriend. And what if I do try to ask out the other girl, but I just make the same mistakes again?”

Marinette smiled and placed her hand over his arm. “You always learn from your mistakes, kitty. And you’re always thinking of other people first. If you just learn how to be honest with everyone—including yourself—I don’t think you’ll have a problem.”

Wow. Three whole coherent sentences. That was miraculous.

“Heh. And you said you didn’t have any love advice.”

“Well… I guess I can give it, but I can’t take it.” She grimaced. If only she’d been honest with Adrien…

But it wasn’t over. She knew how much he meant to her, and she knew what she stood to lose. Somehow, she’d find a way to tell him.

He bumped her shoulder. “Come on, bug. Spill the tea.”

She blinked before bursting out laughing. “Spill the tea?”

“What? That’s what you say when you want your friends to tell you some juicy secrets, right?”

“Ew. Please never call my secrets juicy. They’re more like… tangled up yarn, so knotted even I barely know what’s happening anymore.”

He winked. “I’m a cat. Playing with yarn is what I do best.”

She bit her lip. He’d opened up to her. By her own logic—that of no unnecessary secrets—she should return the favor. But could she really do that to him, knowing how long he’d pined after her?

It doesn’t matter. He’s in love with someone else now. Maybe even two someone elses.

The thought was still so bizarre, she could hardly comprehend it. Clearly he’d been serious about the yellow rose. He’d moved on, and she… well, she was still where she’d started. Chasing after Adrien, falling farther and farther behind.

“Maybe another night,” she said. A coward’s retreat.

He gave her a long look before nodding. “Alright.”

She let out a breath of relief. Another night. He was an outside perspective. She would tell him later, if only because he might give clearer advice.

She stood and dusted off her legs, even though there was no dirt there.

“Vacation’s over. We’ve got some cleaning up to do.”

XXX

“Hey. It’s okay.” She squeezed Chat’s hand when he paused in front of their statue. Or, well, what was left of it. Senti-Robostus had snapped the bronze Ladybug off, then tossed her into the front of a nearby convenience store. The statue of Chat Noir looked lonely without her perched on top.

“This isn’t one we can fix, is it.” His voice was sandpaper-rough.

“No. I don’t think so,” she admitted. “But it’s okay. I never really liked that statue anyway.”

It always reminded her of Copycat, who had turned out to be a total creep. The Ladyblog had had to ban Theo’s accounts from the discussion boards too many times for comfort.

“...We should get moving again, then,” Chat said, but neither of them did. They remained standing in place, still linked by their hands.

They’d been shifting rubble for hours, using their enhanced strength and even their powers. Each time Marinette fed Tikki and transformed, she felt more exhausted than the last. But Chat had to feel even worse. His Cataclysm was the most useful for clearing chunks of broken walls, while her Lucky Charm was less reliable when not facing a concrete enemy. The one score had been a bag of cement mix to fill in a busted sidewalk.

“We can’t fix everything in one night,” she said. “We can patrol again tomorrow. Or maybe the night after.” She had a feeling she’d be too sore to move in the morning, enhanced strength or not.

“Easy for you to say,” he muttered. “It’s not your fault that everything’s broken.”

She stared at him, stunned. “Chat. This is just as much my fault as it is yours.”

“But—”

“No buts.” She pressed a finger to his lips. “Paris is our city. Not yours. Not mine. Ours.”

He didn’t argue, but his gaze still remained fixed on the ground.

“I could have stayed. I could have downloaded an akuma alert app. There are so many things I could’ve done differently, it could eat me alive,” she admitted, her voice trembling. “I don’t want that to happen to you.”

“It’s so hard,” he whispered.

She dropped her hand from his lips. “I know. But we’ll get through it together.”

He was silent for a moment before nodding. “You’re right. You and me against the world… or in this case, you and me against a bunch of crushed buildings.”

She smiled. It might not be a glamorous part of the job, but they would do their part to make it up to their city.

She raised her fist, and he bumped her knuckles gently.

“I’ll let you know when I’m free for next patrol,” he said, a little more life returning to his voice. “Probably the day after tomorrow. My family’s been on edge lately, with… well, you know.”

He nodded towards the broken statue.

“Right. I’ll keep an eye on Plagg, then.”

Chat chuckled. “Plagg” was what she’d named the little cat toy that he had the remote for.

This time, she looked forward to hearing the toy’s tiny mew.

XXX

It turned out to be three days before they could meet for patrol again.

“Soooo.” Chat walked backwards in front of her, grinning in a way that was somehow both obnoxious and adorable. “It’s another night.”

Oh. She should’ve known he wouldn’t let that go so easily, especially now that he seemed to be in a better mood. Had he asked out the other girl he liked? Or did he patch things up with his girlfriend? Or maybe he did neither, and he just knew how to move on.

“Technically, it’s not night yet.” She pointed to the sun that sat low over the skyline. “Also, there’s a—”

He tripped over a crack in the sidewalk, then toppled backwards against a No Parking sign. The metal clanged like a gong where his head hit it.

“—pole behind you.” She giggled.

He pouted, rubbing the back of his head. “No Parking? Why would anyone even try to park here?”

They’d arrived at the worst scene of damage: in front of the Eiffel Tower. There wasn’t even a road left to park on. Most of the chasm had been filled in by now, but there were construction crews repairing the pipes and electrical wiring that had been uprooted.

Of course, the workers had gone home for the evening already. Marinette and Chat would have to be careful not to get in the way of their unfinished work. Luckily, there was still plenty of rubble to move, and they’d come prepared with their powerups tonight.

“I’ve got two sets of ears, my lady. That makes me twice as amazing of a listener.” He swiveled the leather ears on top of his hair. When had he learned how to control that?

“Why don’t you save the interrogation for after patrol?”

“It’s not an interrogation! You accepted my yellow rose, which means we are friends for time and all eternity. And friends can ask each other about important things in their lives. Like their crushes.”

“I regret ever bringing that up.” She pulled the purple macaron from her yo-yo and tossed it into her mouth. At least she couldn’t say anything incriminating while she was chewing.

The power shocked over her, leaving her magenta space suit in its wake. A grin tugged at her lips. She’d never get tired of that.

“It can’t be that bad.” Chat unzipped a pocket and dug out a purple slice of camembert. He made a face before chewing it. “Not as bad as this nasty cheese, anyway.”

He transformed too, plasma-like wings sprouting from his back.

“You know, I can make you the powerup macarons, too. That way you only have to use the cheese if you’re giving it to Plagg.”

“Wait, really?” His eyes widened. “Why didn’t you say that weeks ago?”

“Because it’s too fun to watch you make that face.” She smirked and flicked his glowing bell. “But I’m willing to pass up on that in exchange for you leaving my love life alone.”

He sighed. “If that’s really what you want.”

He looked surprisingly dejected. Was it just because she was keeping secrets?

“I’m surprised you want to know about… Him,” she said quietly. “I don’t want to make you feel worse.”

“You don’t have to worry about me, my lady. I haven’t figured out exactly what I feel for my friend yet, but your advice has helped me start. I just want to help you in return.”

He smiled behind his helmet. He meant it. Somehow, despite all the times she’d turned him down, he just wanted her to feel better.

“Alright,” she relented.

“I swear, I—wait, what?”

“I said alright.” She chuckled. “Though I’m a little curious how you planned to convince me.”

He blushed. “I was going to swear on my honor as your friend that I would take your not-juicy secrets to my grave.”

“Thanks for the thought. Now come help me with this chunk of cement, and I’ll ‘spill the tea.’”

XXX

It was surprisingly hard not to spill too much tea. As they flew pieces of rubble out to space, she told him everything she could without jeopardizing her identity. A few unspecific details, vague confession plans, even that there was another boy in love with her. Though that seemed less relevant now that she realized she couldn’t quench her feelings for Adrien.

“Wow. Can you imagine being dense enough not to realize Ladybug is in love with you?” He sighed wistfully. Maybe he hadn’t completely given up on her then.

“He’s not dense.” She grunted as she shoved the chunk of road with her shoulder, finally sending it floating off out of the atmosphere. “He’s sheltered. And I don’t always send the clearest signals.”

“I guess helping set him up with a different girl would be a mixed message.” He winced. Without giving names, she’d explained the whole double-date fiasco. He’d been polite enough to stifle his laughter.

“I told you my love life was tangled. I don’t know that there’s anything you can do to help, but thanks for listening anyway.”

She adjusted her wings, slowing the flare from her jet pack.

“Wait.” He grabbed her hand before she could begin her descent towards earth.

She stopped, barely daring to breathe. Had he changed his mind? Did he still want to be a thread in her knotted love life after all?

“You told me to be honest with myself,” he continued, his voice soft but sure. “It sounds like you’ve already done that—so be honest with him, too.”

Oh. She grimaced. Of course he’d use her own advice against her.

“It’s not that easy.”

“I know. But if you never tell him how you feel, you’re not giving him the chance to swoon at how amazing you are.”

He mimed falling backwards, literally head over heels. He turned a full 360 degrees in midair before grinning back at her.

“You’re such a dork.” She shook her head fondly. “You’re right, though. That’s what everyone else has told me too. I can’t keep backing down, not if I want anything to change between us.”

Despite imagining a thousand scenarios where they were married with three kids, Marinette found herself unable to picture herself actually asking Adrien out. It felt as far away as an alternate universe.

“I can help you out, if you want,” he said cheerily. “Just put your communicator in your ear, and I’ll feed you all the best pickup lines in real time.”

She laughed. “Thanks, but I think my awkward stuttering will still be better than that.”

“You’re right. You should give yourself some credit. You did call me a catch, after all.” He winked.

“Chat!” She punched his arm. “I was just trying to cheer you up!”

“Uh-huh. Suuure.”

He was just messing with her. He wouldn’t be trying to help her with Adrien if he still had a crush on her, would he? Even after all this time, it was still difficult to tell when he was actually flirting, and when he was just engaging in friendly banter.

...When she thought of it that way, it was less surprising that his ex-girlfriend had misjudged his actions too.

“What about you?” She asked as they floated back towards earth. “Do you have any updates on your love situation?”

“Sort of.” He sighed. “My girlfriend is clear about her feelings. She’s given me too many second chances already, and my uncertainty has hurt her. I can’t expect her to keep waiting while I try to figure out what I want.”

“That’s fair.” Marinette nodded. “I’m glad she can be so honest with you, even if it hurts. She must trust you a lot.”

If only she could have that kind of trust in Adrien. She… she could, couldn’t she? Their friendship wouldn’t be destroyed after one tiny declaration of love. Not after everything he’d said about her in New York.

Right?

“She’s never been afraid to speak her mind. It’s one thing I really admire about her.” Chat smiled wistfully. “I hope that she finds someone who’s better to her than I was.”

“Chat…”

“No, my lady. She deserves someone who’s as decisive as she is. Someone who can love her the way she loved me.”

That sounded almost familiar. Hadn’t Marinette had that same thought about Chat Noir?

“Yeah,” she murmured. “Yeah, I guess she does.”

XXX

“What’s on the agenda today?” Chat asked brightly when he arrived at their rooftop. “Restoring the Arc de Triumph? Planting more grass in the park?”

“No.” Marinette fidgeted with her hands. She’d rehearsed how to ask this a thousand times in the past few days, but she still felt stupid. “I actually, er… I wanted to take you up on that offer.”

His ears perked up. “You’re going to let me cut your hair?”

“No, not that offer.” She smacked her forehead. She’d forgotten he’d mentioned that when she’d complained about how her pigtails stuck out of her space helmet. “The one you said? About the communicators, and helping me, with um, Him…?”

Chat’s jaw dropped. It would have made a great photo, if she’d gotten out her bugphone in time.

“You’re actually going to use my pickup lines?”

“No! Those are still awful.” Except the one about her being the lady of his dreams, but he didn’t need to know how soft that had made her. “In fact, I don’t actually want us to use our communicators at all.”

He blinked. “So, you want to take me up on my offer, but you don’t want me to do a single thing I offered. Makes perfect sense.”

“Ugh. Sorry, I’m so bad at this.” She should just pretend she was explaining a plan to Alya. Or maybe that she was coming up with a solution to her Lucky Charm. That was never so awkward, right?

“I want you to use this,” she clarified, pulling the toy cat out of her yo-yo. “I always chicken out before I tell him how I feel. I was thinking, if I felt like you were there… I might be a little braver.”

He still looked stunned, but a smile slowly crept across his face.

“So I can be your wingman?”

“...Sort of, I guess? All you need to do is push the button when I inevitably start to panic.”

His head tilted. “But how will I know when you’re trying to talk to him? You need a Plagg, too.”

“You’re one step ahead, kitty. I was thinking we could go pick one up before patrol. Since you’ll be keeping it, you should get to choose what kind of buzzer you want.”

He beamed at that. “Brilliant as usual, my lady.”

Whew. She’d worried he would think it was stupid.

“Come on.” She unhooked her yo-yo from her waist. “The store I bought Plagg at was set to reopen today. If we’re quick, we can get there before they close for the night.”

He kept pace with her as they swung and leapt towards the west side of the city. The novelty shop had been in the path of destruction, but by now most of the buildings were functional again.

The repairs had restored Chat Noir’s good humor, too. Either that or he’d sorted out his own romances. Curious as she was, she found herself too nervous to ask.

I’m asking out Adrien. It doesn’t matter if Chat Noir gets a girlfriend. Him having a girlfriend hadn’t changed things between them before, after all. He’d always be her partner. Always.

She dropped down in front of the store—

—and felt her soul leave her body.

“Nooooo,” she groaned, gaping at the brand new, shiny, automatic doors.

Chat Noir landed beside her and strapped his staff to his back.

“What’s wrong, my lady? Are they all out of—” He blinked at the doors, too. “Oh.”

Oh? Was her fear of automatic doors that obvious? Okay, fear was a strong word, but there was no way she could get into the store with her dignity intact. She’d embarrassed herself in front of Chat plenty of times, but it was still light out, and too many civilians were on the street.

“I, just, uh—feel a draft coming out of this store! Maybe another place sells the same kind of toys?” She grinned uncomfortably.

It wasn’t likely. They were marketed towards people in long-distance relationships. She’d been lucky to notice the beeper toys when she was looking for design inspirations in this out-of-the-way shop.

“Maybe. Do you know where? Most stores will be closing pretty soon.”

She sighed. That had been such a flimsy excuse, she was surprised he’d even bought it.

“No, it’s fine. You just—might want to go in without me.” She tapped her fingers together. “They, um, have some toy spiders in there that are reeeeeally scary.”

“Oh, no!” He replied too dramatically. “I’m, uh, afraid of spiders too!”

“...Are you making fun of me?”

He grinned nervously. “Why would you think that?”

“Because I know you’re not afraid of spiders. You picked one up and moved it the other day because you didn’t want to kill it.” It had been really cute, even if she’d originally screamed for him to squish it.

“Crud, I forgot about that,” he said under his breath.

They were drawing stares by now, standing in the glow of the shop’s windows without stepping inside. One little kid waved at them, and Chat waved back.

“It doesn’t matter.” She shook her head. “We’re going in this shop, and we’re getting you a beeper toy, and we’re not going to be stopped by some stupid automatic doors.”

“Automatic—wait, you can’t get through automatic doors either?”

She didn’t answer. She was busy slamming into the glass.

“Ow,” she muttered with her nose squished against the door. Which still. Didn’t. Open.

Behind her, Chat Noir started to laugh.

“Shut up,” she said, but it probably didn’t have much effect when muffled by the glass.

“Sorry, sorry!” He rushed to help her as she peeled herself off. “It’s just, this happens all the time to me and my good friend. I thought I was going to be the one smushed like a bug on a windshield.”

“There’s only one bug here,” she said, brushing off the front of her suit. “And she’s going to get through those stupid doors if it’s the last thing she does.”

“My lady—”

Frustrated, she banged her fists against the glass—

—and shattered it into a million pieces.

Sirens blared. She yelped, jumping back towards Chat.

This was it. Her life was over. She was going to go to jail and lose her miraculous all because she’d used super-strength on a stupid door!

“Uh-oh.” Chat gulped.

“M-miraculous ladybug!” She yelled on reflex, though she didn’t have a Lucky Charm. Could a Lucky Charm even fix this? A villain hadn’t done the damage at all, unless she counted as a villain, because she’d just committed vandalism, and oh no the owner was coming towards them and—

“Ladybug! Chat Noir!” The man with the white mustache looked more concerned than angry. That was… that was good, right? “Did an akuma come through here? Do I need to evacuate? There’s no one else in the store right now. I don’t think anyone realized I’ve reopened.”

She blinked. Would it be alright to lie, just this once? To avoid being arrested, losing her miraculous, and letting Paris fall to Hawkmoth?

“No, no, there’s nothing to worry about,” Chat answered for her, holding up his hands.

Meanwhile, the shopkeeper pressed a button on the wall, turning off the alarm. If only her pounding heart could be quieted so easily.

“It was an accident,” Chat continued. “It’s my fault.”

...Wait, what?

“I was trying to hold open the door for my lady, as all good gentlecats do. But my powers of destruction and automatic doors don’t get along.” He smiled ruefully, then produced a wad of euros from his pocket. The shopkeeper looked as shocked as Marinette was. “I hope this will be enough to cover the damage. And I’m very sorry. You have a lovely shop.”

The shopkeeper’s glasses slid down his nose. He pushed them back up, still not moving to accept the money. “Chat Noir... this is far too much.”

“Consider it a tip.” He winked.

A tip of… she couldn’t count every bill in his palm, but she swore that was at least three hundred euros. Where did he get that kind of money? Did he have some kind of superhero donation drive she didn’t know about?

“Please, at least buy something,” the owner insisted. “If there’s no akuma, then I assume you were coming to make a purchase? Or was it a return? Was the item you purchased not to your liking, Ladybug?”

“N-no, it was perfect!” She said quickly. Her heart still hadn’t stopped pounding. He remembered her. What was his name again? She should be better at remembering citizens’ names. “I—we—um, wanted another one, actually.”

“A matched set.” Chat grinned. “Would that be alright?”

“Of course.” He looked relieved. “Right this way.”

Chat stepped through the broken door frame—which opened just in time to trip him. Marinette tried to catch him by his tail, but his weight dragged her down too. They both ended up sprawled among the broken glass.

“Oww…” He groaned against the tile floor.

She picked a shard out of her cheek. “Why does this keep happening to me?”

The shopkeeper blinked down at them. “On second thought, I’ll bring my options out to you.”

That was probably for the best. While he left, she and Chat untangled their limbs and helped each other up.

“Sorry.” He grimaced. “I didn’t mean for my bad luck to rub off on you.”

“Bad luck?” She tried to brush some glass out of her suit, but it just ended up sticking in her hand. “If anyone’s unlucky, it’s me. This kind of thing happens to me all the time.”

“My lady, you haven’t been this clumsy since the day we met. And I know for a fact that automatic doors hate me.”

“They hate me more. I couldn’t get through them once in New York.”

“Me either.”

She blinked up at him. Glass shards were still scattered in his hair, reflecting the shop’s bright lights. Yes, she could picture him being this unlucky—but could they really both be unlucky in the same exact way?

“I fell in a tangled mess with my crush, and then the doors kept smacking into us. I’m pretty sure my ribs are still bruised from it.” There was no way his luck was worse than that.

Pink flushed across his cheeks. “Uh… me too?”

She snorted. “It’s not a competition, Chat. You don’t have to make up stuff to prove you have worse luck than me.”

“I’m not making anything up.” He took a step forward and brushed a piece of glass from her bangs. “Did you say that happened to you and… and your crush?”

His voice came out as a squeak. But—if he was being serious—

How many French kids had been in New York last week? And more importantly, how many had been repeatedly squished between automatic doors?

No. There’s no way. She was the girl who couldn’t even get through automatic doors—she was not this lucky.

“No, you couldn’t be her.” His face fell. “She wouldn’t even sit next to me on the plane. There’s no way she has a crush on me.”

Her mouth hung open.

“Adrien?” Her shout was tinged with panic. She was lucky that the street had cleared out, probably because the citizens thought their heroes were investigating an akuma.

His wide eyes snapped back to hers.

“M-Marinette?”

“Oh my gosh. You’re—you’re really Adrien. Adrien Agreste.” The love of her life. Who couldn’t even believe she liked him!

She wanted to shatter like the automatic door. Maybe then she could avoid the horrible, soul-crushing embarrassment of admitting her feelings after committing accidental vandalism.

“And that’s… okay?” His voice was barely a whisper.

“Okay?” Her grin must have looked manic, which probably didn’t reassure him. She tried to force a normal expression.

...What was normal again?

He swallowed and rubbed the back of his neck—only to grimace and pull out another glass shard.

“Sorry. I—you didn’t want to know, and—” His expression turned to horror. “Do I have to give up my miraculous now?”

“What? No!” She clasped her hands over his before he could even think of removing his ring. “Adrien—you’re the only Chat Noir for me. I’m thrilled it’s you.”

“Really?” His ears perked up. “But I thought… I’m confused. You said you were stuck in the automatic doors with your crush… but that was…?”

She smiled as tears pricked her eyes.

“You.”

After all this time, it was him. Adrien was her partner.

And she could trust her partner.

She rested her hand on his cheek, careful not to press any pieces of glass deeper into his skin. “It’s always been you.”

The corners of his eyes crinkled, filling with water that spilled over onto his mask.

“Even when I thought I was moving on from you, I guess I was falling right back.” He chuckled and wiped his eyes. Then he rested his hand over hers. His ring was a spot of cold against her fingers.

“This would only happen to us.” She laughed too. “And here I wanted your help to confess to, well, you.”

“That would’ve been awkward.” He grinned. “If we didn’t realize each others’ identities now, we would’ve then.”

She snorted. “I wouldn’t give us that much credit. We’ve both been stupider than that before.”

“Fair enough. All this time, Ladybug was in love with me!”

“You do realize that means you called yourself dense, right?”

He smacked his forehead, then winced. “Ow. I’d like to contest that, but I think I just proved it.”

She held back a laugh. “As long as you don’t tease me for taking two years to confess to you, I’ll call it even.”

“Two years?” He blinked. “You’ve had a crush on me for that long?”

She shrugged sheepishly. “I did say it’s always been you.”

His expression melted into something so soft, she could hardly stand it. So it was a relief when he pulled her into an even softer—if glass-filled—hug.

“It was you, too. Marinette you,” he murmured by her ear. “It took me too long to realize it, but I always knew there was something special about you.”

Her heart soared at that, even higher than when they’d been dancing in the sky. It all made sense now. Alya had posted those photos on Instagram. Neither of them had known Adrien had a girlfriend—Kagami, probably. Hopefully she wouldn’t end her friendship with Marinette over this. They were supposed to have their weekly orange juice tomorrow; Marinette would make sure to be honest with her, too.

But right now, that could wait. All she wanted to do was feel the warmth of Adrien’s arms—Chat Noir’s arms.

“It was Chat Noir you, too,” she admitted. “I didn’t want to let you go. I think I took your love for granted, even when I was in love with ‘Adrien.’”

She felt his arms tighten when she said love.

“Considering you were torn between me and me, I think I can forgive that.” He chuckled. “Actually, I could do more than forgive you. I could kiss you right now.”

Tingles shot through her. Was she ready for that? She’d hardly been able to imagine this moment—and she’d definitely never imagined it like this. Covered in glass, Chat’s claws gently cupping her shoulderblade.

Somehow, it still blew all of her fantasies out of the water.

“I could let you,” she softly replied.

He pulled back just enough to rest his forehead against hers. “Really? I mean… I can still hardly believe this is happening. I can still hardly believe you’re Marinette.”

She frowned. “Why? Because I’m so clumsy?”

“No, because you’re so—” he waved a hand, searching for the word. “Perfect isn’t the right word. You’re endearing, and smart, and brave enough to stand up to my father. You can crush me at video games, and you can forgive me even when I don’t deserve it.”

“Adrien—”

“I left you.”

In that moment, something shifted in her mind. She knew he was Adrien, but finally, she could hear it in his voice.

“I left you twice. As Adrien and as Chat Noir. How can you still want me?”

She took his face in both hands. Never again, not for one second, would she let this boy feel like he wasn’t wanted.

“How could I not want you, Adrien?”

He broke, the tears flowing freely. They glimmered off the bits of glass still stuck to his face. She wished she could clear both of those away, that she could stop him from hurting.

“See? This is why I can hardly believe it. I’m not supposed to be this lucky.”

“Me either. But I’m tired of worrying about what we’re supposed to be.” She smiled. “I love you, kitty. And if you plan on collecting that kiss—”

He did. Somehow he was both clumsy and careful, probably because he was dodging the bits of glass still stuck to her face. Not that she minded. It was him, and it was her—Adrien and Marinette, Ladybug and Chat Noir.

Though it should’ve been the last thing on her mind, she couldn't help thinking that both of Alya’s ships had sailed tonight.

She was just about to deepen this kiss when Adrien pulled back.

“What?” she asked. Had she been that bad of a kisser?

But no, he was looking at the shopkeeper. Who had his arms full of animal toys, and a face red enough to blend in with her suit.

“Oh—ah—sorry to interrupt.” He cleared his throat. “Did you still want…?”

Her face flushed too. She didn’t think it was possible to be any more embarrassed after breaking the man’s doors, but she hadn’t thought it was possible to kiss Adrien without spontaneously combusting, either.

“I don’t suppose we need one now, do we?” She glanced at Adrien sheepishly.

“That doesn’t mean I don’t want one.” He inspected the boxes in the man’s arms.

“If afraid we’re out of Ladybug toys. They’re our hottest selling item right now. I even looked in the back to be sure none were hiding there.”

Adrien grinned, and she remembered why she never would’ve guessed his identity. That toothy smile was all Chat.

“That’s okay. I know the next best thing.”

XXX

“I hope you know that I’m never going to press the button,” Marinette said when they returned to their rooftop.

“What? And I thought you loved me.” Adrien put a hand over his chest in dramatic offense.

“You obviously don’t love me if you thought the best toy to represent me was a cow.”

“Cows are so cute though!” He held up the black-and-white cow beeper toy, which he’d already named Stompp. “And she has spots, just like you!”

Cows might not be cute, but Adrien certainly was. And he knew she couldn’t resist his pleading kitty eyes.

She sighed and pressed the button.

“Moo!” Chat mimicked the toy. “See? Moo and mew! They even sound alike. What noise would a ladybug have made, anyway?”

“It would probably just call you a dork.” She smirked.

“Or it might tell me it loves me.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

“Or,” she took his hand, “you could just be happy with your real girlfriend telling you she loves you.”

His smile was soft and warm, enfolding her like a blanket.

“I think I can live with that.”

#ml new york special #ml new york #miraculous ladybug #chat noir #ladybug #fic tag #tali writes #reveal #very happy with how this turned out #thanks to alyce and winter for all the help!!

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p-artsypants · 4 years

Text

Longest Night (45) Adjusting

Ao3 | FF.net

The few days they had spent at the Dupain-Cheng bakery so far were like a vacation. Not that their routines were much different…a lot of naps, video games, TV, reading…sometimes, Adrien would sit at the keyboard with headphones and tap out a tune. Whenever Marinette asked what he was playing, he’d just give her a little shrug and admit, “it’s not ready yet.”

The dinners with just Tom and Sabine were a lot more relaxed and warm, and they were usually followed with board games or a movie. At night, Adrien and Marinette would sit out on her balcony under a blanket, just enjoying the view of Paris.

Just in general, the bakery felt more like a home than whatever the mansion was. Marinette’s loft bed was cozy, and provided privacy and comfort. Like a cradle or a cocoon. Many nights, Marinette and Adrien would sit up late, talking about anything and everything, or sometimes nothing at all. Allowing the soothing presence of the other to fill the silence. Yes, the move proved to be for the best. Marinette’s room provided an environment that aided healing, and allowed the two to indulge in old hobbies. Marinette had yet to touch her sewing machine, but she had sketched a little in a sketchbook. It was the start that counted.

“You remember when you asked me to get that constipation medication for you from England?” Adrien asked one night, late.

Marinette had almost been asleep, but she groaned. “Ugh, yeah? Why did you have to remind me?”

“What was that about? I just assumed it was something we couldn’t get in France…but I wanted to do the friendly thing. But honestly, it’s been on my mind for a while now.”

She pushed up, propping up on one arm so she could look down at him. “First of all, that medicine wasn’t for me. It was for Master Fu.”

“Wait what? Why?”

“So here’s the story: He got really sick and asked me to deliver a love letter to his sweetheart. He wanted to connect with her in case it was the end. The doctor gave me the prescription. And because Master Fu was taking the leap to confess, I thought I would too, so I wrote you a letter. So I delivered a piece of paper to Master Fu’s girl, the pharmacist, and to you.”

“Oh no…”

“I gave Fu’s letter to the pharmacist, the prescription to you, and my letter to Fu’s girlfriend, which was so bad that it got her akumatized!”

“Oh my lady…I’m sure it was lovely, just out of context.”

“That was probably my worst attempt.” She groaned, rolling away from him.

“Worse attempt? There were others?”

“Good night, Adrien.”

He snuggled up behind her, whispering into her ear. “Please tell me your failures, my precious lady.”

She groaned again, kicking the blankets off of her legs so that she could sit up and face him. “Fine, you know what? Because of Alya, all of Paris already knows how hopelessly in love with you I was. And because of Lila, you know how much of a stalker I was.”

“A cute stalker.”

“Gee thanks.” She rolled her eyes. “God, where do I even start? Oh…you know that blue scarf that you got for your birthday one year?”

“Yeah?”

“It was actually from me. I don’t know how the mix up happened, but you thought it was from your father. It made you happy, so I let it be.”

Adrien leaned closer to her, his mouth opening in awe. “My lady…”

“That beret that Ladybug hand delivered was also from me. That was my closest attempt, but I had to erase my name on it…”

“Whatever for? I would have cherished it more! It’s collecting dust in my closet somewhere now.”

Marinette looked away, trying to find the words to explain. The beret brought up so many sour memories, and even more trauma that she didn’t need right now.

“My lady?”

“I shouldn’t have mentioned that one. It’s stupid.”

“Don’t shut me out,” he begged. “Please. I can’t stand it when you shut me out. I want to know everything about you, Marinette. You’re my best friend…and my wife. For better or for worse, right?”

She nodded, swallowing the thickness in her throat. “The first time I dropped it off at your house, I was shortly after stopped by Bunnyx. She said she needed my help because something had gone wrong in the future. So she took me into her burrow and dropped me off in Paris…” She shut her eyes, exhaling harshly. She had never gotten to tell anyone about this, and it weighed on her heavily, even after all this time.

“In Paris…?” Adrien urged her on.

“It was flooded. The Eiffel tower was toppled, and I could see the moon in the distance, completely shattered. You were there, all alone, and…akumatized.”

“Into Grimalkin?”

She shook her head. “Chat Blanc. All white suit, hair, even your skin was pale. And your eyes were piercing blue.”

He frowned, imagining that image.

“You knew my name, and you said it was our love that destroyed the world. We fought, and I fell in the water, where I found myself and Hawkmoth frozen in stone. I touched my statue and it turned to dust. I don’t know how long you’d been like that. But you were desperate to get my earrings. You said…you said a lot of terrible things. It was horrible to see you like that…so deranged, so lost and unhinged. A little like Grimalkin, to be honest.”

“I assume you won.”

“Yes, but you still knew my name afterwards. I realized that in that timeline, learning my identity led to you becoming an Akuma. And I figured, you, Adrien-you, must have seen me leaving your room when I left that beret for you. And somehow that led to my identity. So, I erased my name.”

“Why didn’t you tell me any of that earlier? That couldn’t have been fun to keep bottled up.”

“It wasn’t. But...I prevented it. So it never happened. It was just a bad dream.”

“But...it wasn’t. Your Miraculous Ladybug undoes all the damage akumas do. It’s like those never happened, but the memories remain. Why is it different if you’re the only one that remembers?”

Marinette shrugged. “I guess I just didn’t want to worry you. I’m sorry.”

Adrien leaned forward to bump his head with hers, affectionately. “As long as we’re being honest about erased timelines...there’s something I should have talked to you about too.”

“What’s that?”

“Aspik.”

“Oh…that’s right! You used the Snake and Second Chance for a while.”

“25,913 times.” He answered, his voice portraying the pain the number brought.

“How do you remember?”

“Every time I restarted, the number flashed in front of my eyes. It went up and up…every five minutes. Every time I lost you. Every time you turned to dust. Every time I failed.”

“You tried so hard…”

“You insisted that you needed the snake, and that you didn’t need Chat Noir. Several times.”

“But it was only when you passed the snake onto Luka that we won. I did need you. I always need you, and I’m sorry if I made you feel like I didn’t.”

“Plagg warned me. Over and over, he said I was making a mistake. And I kept shutting him down. I was being selfish. Every time I restarted, I got five more minutes with you, as Adrien, not as Chat Noir. I wanted to do so good you’d fall in love with me. But I just ended up hurting myself, because I kept letting you down. It was so painful…”

“I’m sorry for putting that burden on you. That wasn’t fair.”

“You couldn’t have known.” He sighed, feeling lighter than he had in a long time. There was still plenty of trauma to work through, but getting this out of the way paved the road for clearing his head. “I’m sorry for traumatizing you in another timeline too. I know I’m not at fault for that, but I hate that any version of me hurt you.”

Marinette held his face gently, letting her thumb roll over his cheek bones. Her mother’s cooking had done well to fill in his face, but there was still a sunken look to him. His cheeks and his eyes especially.

“You’re wonderful to me, Adrien. Always have been, in and out of the suit. And even with all the pain, trauma, and sadness…I’d still rather be with you than anyone else.”

“I feel the same. I feel connected to you. It might sound corny, but I feel it right down into my soul. When I was in solitary, there were moments where I would just hold my breath and see if I could feel you. If maybe I could somehow sense if you were still alive or not.” He looked away from her. “That sounds insane. I’m sorry.”

“No. No it doesn’t.” She urged. “I did the same thing. Sometimes during akuma fights, I can tell when something bad happened to you. I’m sure it’s because of the bond of our Miraculous, but I had hoped it had extended beyond that.”

Tikki’s sleepy voice spoke from the bedside table. “You really felt that way?”

“Oh, sorry Tikki, did we wake you?”

“A little. But it’s okay. Are you really able to tell when Chat’s harmed?”

“I…think so? Yeah…even when I don’t see him, I can feel a little pain.”

“That does happen, but not usually so early into a partnership. but…you both have gone through a lot together. It would make sense.”

“So...we are bonded?” Asked Adrien.

“Loosely. It’ll grow stronger the longer you’re together. A pair of holders in their 80’s were able to read each other’s minds!”

“Oh wow! That’s...that’s a little daunting.”

“I’m not crazy then,” Adrien stated, with a hand over his heart. “Pretending like we were connected was just about the only thing that kept me going through solitary. I thought that maybe…maybe as long as my heart was beating, yours was too.”

Marinette fell forward into him, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face into his chest.

That strong heartbeat beat for her in her ear. “I thought as long as I thought about how much I loved you, you’d feel it.”

“I did, My Lady. Every time you whispered it to yourself, I got a warm feeling inside. Even in my darkest moments, I knew you loved me. Thank you. Thank you for loving me.”

“It wasn’t hard.”

—

Interacting with Gabriel came sooner than they hoped.

Today was a ‘progress day’, as Dr. Zollar had noted. A day that would push boundaries, and challenge them emotionally and maybe physically.

They were going back to school. Just for the day, to find out graduation requirements, but even going on the property was going to hurt.

The last time they were here…well, Marinette was still a ‘perverted stalker’.

They were going in with their parents, while class was in session, so it wasn’t likely that they’d be cornered by anyone.

“You ready, kiddos?” Asked Sabine.

Marinette nodded and slipped her hand into Adrien’s. For the first time since capture, they were both wearing jeans. The wounds on the back of their legs had healed enough to allow it, though it still wasn’t very comfortable. Adrien wore a loose T-Shirt, since his skin graft on his shoulder blades was still healing.

Tom rested a hand on Adrien’s shoulder. “It’s okay son. We’ll be right there with you.”

So, they slowly made their way over to the school.

The Agreste’s silver sedan waited at the curb, and the Gorilla greeted them as they approached, opening the door for Emilie and Gabriel to exit.

“So this is your school?” Said Emilie, ever cheerful.

Adrien nodded. He had yet to resolve the tantrum he had over her, now that Gabriel had come clean. But the sting of betrayal still lingered, even if Emilie couldn’t have helped it.

Everything was just tense and no one was willing to talk it out.

For now, they had time, and Emilie was willing to give him space.

“It’s a really nice facility,” Sabine saved. “Adrien was on the fencing team!”

“Oh they have fencing? That’s wonderful! Not many public schools do!”

As the mothers led the group, talking, Marinette squeezed Adrien’s hand. “You doing alright, kitty?”

He tilted his head, and gave her a look, silently asking the same question.

“I’m nervous. I know I should probably…you know, at least see the class.”

“Don’t do anything you don’t want to.” Tom encouraged, patting her back patiently.

They had only been gone for about four months now, only a little longer than summer vacation, but the school just felt so small. It’s like that, when your world isn’t revolving around just one building anymore. In all of the nightmares Marinette had in solitude, the school was just so much bigger, and her classmates were even more vile, nasty, and cruel. Such is the poison of isolation.

Thankfully, class was in session, and no one was loitering in the halls as they made their way upstairs to Mr. Damocles office.

“Good afternoon and welcome back!” He greeted, too loudly.

“Thank you for meeting with us, Mr. Damocles,” Sabine shook his hand.

“Oh it’s a pleasure. I would like to do my part to make sure Adrien and Marinette are all set for whatever they have planned next in life. What are we thinking? College? Working with Mr. Agreste?”

Marinette hunched her shoulders while Adrien scuffed his shoe on the floor.

“Let’s just think about getting their GEDs for right now.” Said Gabriel. “This is my wife, Emilie. She’s recently returned from an extended sabbatical.”

Marinette held back a snort. That’s what they were going with?

Mr. Damocles looked skeptical, but managed to smile and shake her hand anyways. “Welcome back, madam.”

Adrien and Marinette found chairs in the back of the room, allowing the parents to lead the conversation.

“So, here we have Marinette and Adrien’s transcripts. Starting in College, they are basically identical, since they took the same classes together. Adrien’s fulfilled his foreign language credit, and Marinette’s completed her arts credit. It appears that this semester, Adrien was planning to take Visual Arts, Physics, Trigonometry, Written Rhetoric, and World History, then he had two free periods for studying, or taking college level courses. Marinette was planned to take Chinese, Anatomy, Economics, Written Rhetoric, World History, and Visual Arts.”

“Well,” began Sabine, “Adrien and I can certainly help Marinette complete her Chinese credit. You know, I’ve been trying to teach her forever, she’s just so stubborn.”

“I’m just not good at it.” Marinette defended. “I haven’t had the proper motivation.”

“I will sign off on Written Rhetoric for both of them. I think they’ve given plenty of speeches as superheroes to count. And I think Anatomy and Physics can be counted as well. So we will just need to get them homeschool work for World History, Trigonometry, and Economics. And Adrien will need a Visual Arts credit.”

“His modeling wouldn’t count?” Gabriel asked.

Mr. Damocles hummed and hawed over it, then finally asked. “Was he getting paid for it?”

“Yes.”

“Then I don’t think I can count it for a credit. However, if he was allowed to work behind the camera for a little while, learning how to use the camera and the lights and such, I could count that.”

Gabriel turned to look at Adrien. “That’s doable, right?”

Adrien nodded.

“Alright. Then I’ll get the paperwork ready. I will look through my contacts for tutors in those subjects.”

“I wouldn’t mind teaching Marinette Economics.” Gabriel volunteered. “It’s something I’m rather proficient in, as a businessman.”

“Can you handle that?” Sabine asked her daughter.

Marinette wanted to say no, but she didn’t really want to spit in Gabriel’s face. Especially since he was just volunteering for her, and not Adrien. “I think that would be fine.”

“You said you were still interested in fashion design right? Then I can tailor what I teach you based on the industry.”

That was a pretty sweet deal. And old Marinette would have leapt on the chance. But the new Marinette was frightened by change, by stress, by the threat of disappointment.

And with how high Gabriel’s expectations continued to be, failure almost seemed certain.

There must have been a big stamp on her forehead that said ‘I’m not sure’ because Emile came to her rescue. “Let’s just try it out for a little while. If you need something…less intense, we can switch to a tutor.”

“Excellent.” Mr. Damocles stated, not really paying that much attention to the conversation anyway. “Adrien, Marinette…the rest of this meeting is going to be boring for you. Why don’t you both go pop in and say hello to your classmates, hm?”

Neither of them replied right away, as Adrien waited for her lead, and Marinette debated the pros and cons.

“Alya and Nino will be there.” Sabine said calmly. “And your classmates were all very worried about you. It’ll be okay.”

Marinette wrapped an arm around her waist, squeezing the nausea away.

Adrien stood, holding his hand out to her. She took hold, and let him lead her out of the room.

After the door closed, he answered, “I thought I’d at least get you away from prying eyes. We don’t have to go.”

She gnawed at her lip, before finally deciding, “let’s go. Just for a little bit, to prove that we could.”

“We don’t need to prove anything to anyone. They’re the ones that failed us.”

“You’re right…but, I’m tired of being afraid of everything. I’m tired of being set off by every little thing. I shouldn’t let a bunch of stupid high school kids bother me anymore. We have Alya, Nino, and Chloe on our side.” She clenched her fist. “Do you want to say hi to everyone?”

“I don’t care about them.” He shrugged. “I know Alya and Nino said everyone changed their tune after we were revealed on TV, but they failed us when we needed them the most. They couldn’t save us from Salo, but they could have made the days before a lot less painful.”

Marinette clenched her eyes shut, feeling the sting of his words. It was as if he was a mind reader, since that was exactly how she was feeling. He didn’t even need to ask. “They could have made my time in isolation hurt less. I might have been optimistic. If only they had cared when it mattered. If only they trusted me when I was just Marinette.”

Adrien curled his fingers into her palm, brushing against the scar there that bore his name. “Do you think…we should say this to them? Would it help?”

“Dr. Zollar said we should let people apologize to us. That it’ll help more than we think.” She sighed. “But I’m afraid that they’ll sweep it under the rug, and pretend like it didn’t happen.”

“Then, we’ll sweep them under the rug. Cut our losses and forget them. We don’t need anyone anyway, right my lady?”

“You and me against the world,” she nodded. She took a shuddering breath. “Okay. I think…I think I can go. You’ll be right beside me?”

“Of course.”

He never let go of her hand as they made their way down the hall. The classroom appeared far too soon for Marinette’s liking, and they stood just outside, waiting. Adrien would let her take the initiative, whenever she was ready.

She had to prepare for every bad scenario, no matter how unlikely. If she had a plan for each one, she couldn’t be surprised. Right?

Finally, she nodded to Adrien and then knocked on the door.

“Come in!” Called Miss Bustier.

Marinette turned the knob, holding her breath, before pushing it open.

The class was silent, save for a few gasps.

“Well hello you two!” Miss Bustier greeted warmly, tears in her eyes. “I didn’t know you’d be coming back!”

“We’re not. We just…came to visit.” Marinette barely whispered, looking only at the teacher.

“That’s wonderful!”

“Are we interrupting anything? Do you want us to come back later?”

“No no, please come in, we’ll take a little break!”

And then she dared to cast her gaze to her old classmates, her old friends.

Every eye was on her, coupled with trembling lips, tense postures, and vainly restrained tears. It looked like everyone wanted to say something, but no one wanted to be first.

She didn’t know what to say either.

The front desk that her and Adrien had shared for one day was empty.

“What brings you both here?” Miss Bustier asked, rescuing them.

“We’re…we’re uh…looking at graduation requirements. We won’t be…coming back to class.”

“That’s understandable. Well, I’m sure any of your classmates would be willing to study with you anyways if you need help.”

“Alya and Nino have been coming around a lot…keeping us in the loop.”

“Oh that’s good! Well, don’t let me take all of your attention, I’m sure someone has a question for you--”

“Yeah, I have a question!” A voice called from the back of the classroom. She stood, crossing her arms. “How the hell are you allowed to be here?” Lila asked.

Marinette flinched at the sound of her voice.

“Lila, I think you better sit down and be quiet.” Miss Bustier warned. “You’re on probation, you should watch yourself.”

“I am! In fact, I have a restraining order on both of them. They are breaking the law by being here.”

“If them being here is a problem, then why don’t you just leave?” Asked Chloe, also standing.

“Because I belong here! I’m a student in this class and I have a right to be here! They, on the other hand, are monsters!”

Marinette clenched her fists as Adrien turned to hide his face in her shoulder.

“Lila, shut up!” Alya shouted, slamming her fist on the desk behind her. “Admit that you dug yourself into a hole and you’re too proud to apologize! I’m not buying this stupid restraining order fib, just like we haven’t bought a single story out of your mouth in the last three months!”

“I’m not lying about the restraining order!” Lila shouted right back, with real venom in her tone. Her sweet veneer was completely gone, and all that remained was the nasty, snarling beast that had been hiding the whole time. “They came to my house! They cut out my tongue! Ask my mother! Ask the hospital!”

“Oh yeah?” Asked Alix, “If they cut out your tongue, you seem to be talking really well without it.”

“Like they would bother with you…” Someone else muttered.

“It was when they were akumatized!”

“Just save your breath.” Chloe huffed. “You can’t tell the truth even if you wanted to.”

“She’s telling the truth this time.” Said Marinette, tone blank and devoid of emotion.

The class turned to look at her, seeing the look on her face. It spoke volumes of pure wrath, and Adrien’s matched.

“We cut out that bitch’s tongue.” She said, her voice calm, deep, and vacant of regret. “The last thing we did, we went to her house. I had a pair of clamps, and Grimalkin had his claws. We ripped it out. She cried the whole time. She cried and screamed…it was the happiest I felt in a long time. I’d do it again if I could. I’d rip out her tongue, I’d crush her throat…”

The body laid on the ground.

“I’d cut her in half…”

Organs spilling on the floor.

“Make her scream…”

Red hair sprawled across the bloody cement.

“Make her writhe…”

The screams of men and women echoing through the halls, their dying breaths capping them off into silence.

“Make her suffer…just as I suffered.”

“Go ahead, kill me. Let your God punish me.”

“He’ll get his turn…he’ll get his turn…burn in hell. Burn in hell!”

Salo’s body laid right in front of her, turning into dust from Grimalkin’s cataclysm. Marinette kicked in vain, trying to get it to disappear.

“Go away! Leave us alone!” She sobbed. “Die! Die! Die!”

By the time Marinette realized she wasn’t in the catacombs anymore, she was sitting on a bench in the school courtyard, head back with a wet washcloth on her face.

“That’s right, just breathe. You’re alright, Marinette.” Alya held her hand, rubbing comforting circles on the back of it.

A pair of strong hands gently massaged her shoulders, and opening her eyes, she found that they belonged to Kim.

“Hey girly. You back with us now?” He asked softly.

Marinette clenched her eyes shut. “Shit.”

“If I had known you were going to visit, I would have asked Miss Bustier to get rid of her for a while. I’m sorry, girl.”

Marinette sat up, glancing around. Alya, Kim, Alix, and Mylene were around her, just silently watching to make sure she was alright.

“Where is he? Where’s Adrien?” Was her next concern.

Alya simply pointed at the upstairs railing, where he was walking with Nino and Chloe. “He started crying when you started talking about...some violent stuff. We thought it best that we separate you until you calmed down.”

“I’m sorry...I don’t know what got into me...”

“Girl, you do not need to apologize. If Lila has a restraining order on you, she should have kept her mouth shut and left the room. She doesn’t deserve any rights.”

“Did I hear Miss Bustier say she was on Parole?”

“For ‘disrupting police activity’. She couldn’t get jail time just for Libel, but the judge slapped her with that, since what she did wasn’t just mean, it was dangerous.”

“So if she got jail time, why is she here at school?”

“She only got a week in jail,” responded Alix with an eye roll. “But her punishment isn’t over. She has to stay with our class until she graduates, and then she’ll be reevaluated based on performance.”

Alya continued, “The judge wanted her in an environment where everyone knew what she did, and no one would want to be her friend. He wants her to focus on school, and not have an audience. This is according to Miss Bustier, of course, who instructed us not to talk to her.”

“Wow. Go Miss Bustier.”

“Yeah.” Said Kim, “Except Lila makes sure we all know how awful we are and how this is as much our fault as hers. ’This never would have happened if you weren’t all so gullible! Marinette and Adrien wouldn’t be tortured if you weren’t so stupid!’”

“Oh my god, she said that?” Marinette sneered. “Our capture had nothing to do with her. Chat and I still would have fought against Edward Savauge and still made…her go out for revenge. Lila knows this. She was in that room. She saw my mouth—“ Marinette pressed her nails into her lip, feeling the sting of the needle.

Mylene grabbed her arm and pulled it away from her. “We’re not listening to Lila. She’s loud and demanding, but we know the facts. She’s just angry she’s not getting attention. Don’t think about her anymore.”

By this time, Adrien, Nino, and Chloe had reached the bottom of the stairs. He ran to her, scooping her up into a hug with a shudder.

“I’m sorry, Kitty. I’m sorry…”

“It’s all okay now,” Nino assured, patting Adrien on the back. “We calmed him down. I think he’s more concerned about you.”

“I’m…I think I’m okay. Just seeing her face and hearing her accusing me…I just snapped.”

“It was pretty badass,” Alix commented. “Yeah, it sucked, but it probably instilled the fear of Jesus in her for a little while. I think she needed that.”

“Oh my god, you didn’t hear the best part!” Said Chloe, “She got jail time! And now she’s on parole—“

“Yeah, we already told her all that.” Said Alix with a smirk.

“Well, did you mention the lawsuits? Gabriel and the city of Paris both sued her and her family for Libel. Her mother refused to pay it for her, so now as soon as Lila’s of age, she’ll be paying the city police department and both of you thousands of dollars. Most likely for the rest of her life!”

“I don’t want her money,” Marinette scoffed. “Especially if I have to interact with her.”

“You won’t.” Chloe assured her. “Gabriel will be taking care of it for you.”

“And you don’t have to accept her money,” suggested Alix. “You could put it in a fund or a grant. Give it to other people who have been slandered against! Or people that what’s-her-face hurt! The possibilities are endless!”

“I don’t know if I have the will to run a charity right now guys…” Marinette shrunk on herself.

“Then let someone else do it.”

“I volunteer!” Shouted Chloe. “After all, I’m the one with all the real contacts. You all can help, of course.”

Tom and Sabine hurried down from the Principal’s office. “There you are! Miss Bustier said you had an episode, Marinette. Are you alright?”

“I’m fine now, Maman. Just…had a run in with an old enemy.”

“Well, Gabriel’s wrapping everything up now. So let’s get you kiddos home, okay?”

“Can we come visit you?” Asked Mylene. “We, as a class, wanted to so many times, but we weren’t sure if you wanted to even see us. Alya, Nino, and Chloe said you’d might not be up to discuss it.”

Marinette breathed slowly, considering the question. She turned to Adrien, asking him silently. He gave a little nod.

“I suppose, that would be okay. Is that okay with you, maman?”

“Of course, baby. I’m always happy when you’re willing to have guests.”

“Awesome!” Said Alya with a little clap. “We’ll come over after school! We won’t stay too long, just long enough to say hi and bye!”

Marinette stood, holding out her hand to Adrien. “Can’t wait.”

—

After they returned home and closed the trap door to her room, Adrien embraced her, squeezing her tightly. “You worried me,” he whispered. “What happened?”

“I…don’t know. I just vividly remembered the night we cut out her tongue…and then I got lost. Salo was there, the last time we saw her. What did I do?”

“Just a lot of screaming. Over and over, you just shouted ‘die’ and ‘burn in hell’. It was…really scary.”

“I’m sorry, Kitty. You were right, we shouldn’t have gone.”

“Well…I don’t know about that. Chloe and Nino seemed to be really proud of us for stopping by. I like it when they say they’re proud of our decisions. Makes the pain worth it.”

“I suppose.”

There was a knock at the trap door before Gabriel opened it. “I’m sorry to interrupt. I just wanted to let you both know you’re all set to start homeschooling whenever you’re ready. Mr. Damocles said even if you don’t finish your credits in time, you can still walk with your class, if you’d like.”

“That’s nice,” Marinette said quietly.

“Are you alright? Your teacher said there was an…incident.”

She turned to look him right in the eye. “Why do we remember being akumatized? No one else ever has. Is it because we had Miraculous for so long?”

Gabriel shook his head. “I’m not completely sure, but I have a hunch. Since I made two akumas at the same time, I split the tether I had on you. That’s why you overpowered my control. Nooroo warned me it would happen, but I thought it would be worth the risk. I didn’t know you’d keep your memories of that, however. I never wanted to add to your trauma.”

“Well. If it wasn’t on purpose, I suppose we can’t be mad at you.”

Gabriel shrugged helplessly. “You can be as mad at me as you want. I’m expecting it.”

Adrien left Marinette’s arms and went over to lay down on the chaise.

“At any rate, thank you for the explanation.”

“Of course. Any answers you want, you deserve.” He swallowed. “Your outfits for the Mayor’s ball are coming around lovely. If it’s alright, let me know when I can bring them over for a fitting. It’s still several weeks away.”

“Thank you, Gabriel. Whenever my mother is free for her fitting should be fine.”

“Alright. I’ll leave you alone now.” He took a step down, partially closing the door. Then at the last second he added, “bye son, I love you.”

—

Only a few hours later, after Marinette and Adrien had changed into more comfortable clothes, there was another knock at the trap door.

“Come in,” said Marinette, as she spread cushions out on the floor.

“Um…” Said Rose from below. “Could you…open the door and then stand back?”

Curious, Marinette did as instructed.

A bunch of balloons floated up into the room, followed by a huge bouquet of flowers, and then a giant stuffed black cat.

Both Marinette and Adrien stared in shock.

“Too much or not enough?” Asked Rose, poking her head in.

“What is all this?” She asked, beckoning her classmates into the room.

“Offerings of apologies and gratitude, of course,” said Max. “Everyone in our class was akumatized at least once, and we all agreed we owed both of you a huge thank you for rescuing us. And of course, we all owe you an apology, Marinette.”

“O-oh…thank you.”

“We sort of thought you’d never want to see us again…but you took the initiative to come see us at school…the least we could do was follow up.” Said Nathaniel. He handed her a handmade card. “I hope you can forgive us for ever doubting you.”

Marinette took the card, admiring the artwork. The outside showed Ladybug and Chat Noir standing proudly over the city. Inside, a cartoon-ish Ladybug, bandaged up, was putting bandaids on an equally cartoony Chat Noir. The caption read, “you’re still Purr-Fect to us!”

It was enough to bring tears to her eyes. “I…I will forgive you. I have a lot of bad feelings, but my therapist is helping me work through them.”

“Do you do hugs?” Asked Kim.

“Gentle. Especially with Adrien, he still has some stitches on his shoulder blades.”

Getting hugged by each and every person who had doubted her did wonders. With each kiss to the cheek and pat on the head, she could feel some of the bitterness fading. It wouldn’t leave fully for a long time, but to see genuine remorse was like a soothing balm on an inflamed wound.

It felt nice to have friends again. Adrien had worked so hard to get them in the first place. Losing respect for everyone he had known had really solidified his decision to stop speaking.

But for them to come around and humble themselves and apologize really took the fight out of him. Maybe cutting them off wasn’t necessary. Maybe there was more to these traitors. Maybe people were capable of change.

Maybe it wasn’t just teenagers that changed either. Maybe adults too. Adults like his father and Salo.

“Oh Adrien,” asked Nino, sitting on the chaise lounge. “Is that the keyboard the Couffaine’s let you borrow?”

Adrien nodded.

“Are you practicing anything right now?”

“Adrien’s been working on something. A song he had in his head in the catacombs. It’s in the works.”

“Cool! Bro, you gotta let me hear!”

Adrien shook his head.

“Sorry Nino, I can’t get it out of him either. He says it’s not ready yet.”

“Aw bummer!” Nino groaned. “But let me hear it the moment it’s done, okay?”

Adrien gave a twitch of a smile.

The girls had already settled on the cushions on the floor, and beckoned the boys to join them.

“Now,” began Alya, as she took a binder out of her backpack, “we have some very important business to discuss.”

Marinette frowned at her. “Hey wait a minute…that’s my—“

“Your dream wedding planner? Yes, I held onto it when we hid all of your personal belongings when you were first captured.” She cracked it open and set it on the floor.

Adrien peered around, trying to get a look.

Marinette covered his eyes. “Alya, put that away! That’s private!”

“Is it not accurate anymore?”

“I mean…I still would like to use it…”

“Great! We’re going to start planning now! And don’t worry Sunshine, this book is tailored to you as the groom.”

Adrien smiled, despite Marinette’s hand over his eyes.

“Must you humiliate me this way?” Marinette asked, blushing.

The class shared giggles at that.

“Don’t even sweat it Marinette,” said Chloe, waving her hand around. “We’re going to make sure you and Adrikins have the bestest, most glamorous wedding since William and Kate!”

Still blushing, “well, I don’t want big and glamorous…I want small and intimate.”

“Small and glamorous it is!”

—

This chapter was fun because I had to recall the classes I took in my senior year of high school. I felt like I was leaving a subject out, but Adrien and Marinette have no reason to be taking Bible classes lol (I went to a pre-seminary Christian School)

A friend who wishes to stay anonymous wrote this for me. She said she was inspired, and in turn, she inspired me! This bonus scene is canon to the story:

A creaking moan gently woke him. His eyes opened—once, then twice. He took a moment to realize that the cloud caressing his body, which still stung with every pulse, was not a cloud, but a down-alternative comforter.

He was in Marinette’s—his bed, in their room, in their house. And there was sound coming from his left—warmth and sound. A whimper. A cry. And, again, a moan—quiet anguish. He rolled over to face the source.

“Marinette,” he whispered. “What’s wrong?”

The dark figure of his wife’s frail form didn’t stir. He asked again. “My lady? Are you awake?”

Still nothing.

He brought his face closer to hers. The light pollution filtering through the skylight served as the only source of illumination. As his eyes adjusted and focused on hers, his stomach churned. Her face was a scrunched display of pitiful agony, and her hands were at her throat. She whimpered once more—her lips pressed together in a hard line, unmoving as her sad cries escaped them. The light reflected from her cheeks in dribbles of tears.

He sat up, electrified. “My lady! My lady!” His voice cracked. He grabbed at the hold she had on her own neck.

Her eyes shot open as she gasped awake. She saw his silhouette and was instantly sitting up to meet his gaze.

“Adrien! Adrien! What’s wrong? Talk to me! It’s okay! I’m here! You’re not alone! You’re not locked in!” She was panting.

“Nothing is wrong. I’m okay. I am worried about you. You’re crying in your sleep.”

She wiped at her face with bony fingers. “Did I wake you? I am so sorry, mon chaton.”

“Don’t apologize. I was just worried. Are you alright?” He was whispering now.

“Yeah, I am okay. Just another nightmare. Happens all the time. Go back to sleep.”

“Nightmares?” It hit him as the words left his lips. She was back there. All the time. The burns at her neck, the blood and the thread at her lips. The sounds and the smells and the cold and the—he choked as he took a deep breath; there was seemingly no air to take in.

“Adrien, breathe,” Marinette pleaded. Everything is okay.

He tried again, more slowly, through his nose. It worked.

“Good kitty,” she praised.

Her sweet praise, like a narcotic through his veins, made his muscles relax and his pain momentarily vanish.

He reached out and brought her closer to him. They embraced in silence. He squinted his eyes tightly so that his tears would not betray his resolve to finally become strong once more.

Like a divine epiphany, the sight of her suffering in slumber awoke something in him that he thought was long dead. It growled past the shadows of his worst repressed instincts. It brought a burning feeling back to his core—his soul.

How could he continue to let himself drown in self pity, when she was so strong a life preserver to him? Was he so preoccupied with his own suffering that he didn’t think to ask if she, too, was drowning?

Why? Why did she swim so strongly when he was watching, only for her head to go under as soon as he turned away? The bravery she displayed for him was full of cracks he couldn’t see.

And she was dragged back to Hell, every night, alone.

Never again. He would get strong. No—he would become even stronger than he was before—his armor, bulletproof and fireproof; his claws, devastatingly destructive; his senses, heightened to an atmospheric level. He would grow powerful enough to protect her and capable enough to rescue her from any evil. His magic would evolve into a force strong enough to infiltrate her dreams and deliver her from suffering. Silent was this promise as he held his life preserver tighter to his chest.

He let out a low, menacing growl. “I’ve come back, My Lady.”

#ml #miraculous ladybug #longest night #ladybug #chat noir #fanfiction #adrinette #adrienette #adrien agreste #marinette dupain cheng #lila rossi is exposed #chat blanc

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galahadwilder · 4 years

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Part 3 of “Kagami Has Two Hands”

Chapter 1: Blanc

Kagami Has Two Hands Archive

Sponsored by @sweetmeatdale.

Kagami spends most of lunch quiet. Ladybug and Chat Noir have some catching up to do, after all—she’s still processing everything. She has both of them, and both of them have her, but she feels like she’s intruding on something sacred, something she’s not part of yet, something that hasn’t quite expanded to include her. Besides, she’s been practically floating off the ground since the kiss; she’s never been... she’s not... allowed to be this happy. It’s actually kind of unsettling, distressing. She feels light, like she’s going to float away into the atmosphere at any moment. It’s freeing and terrifying, all at once.

The entire conversation, Adrien is staring at Marinette like the sun rising over the mountains in Osaka. It’s a familiar feeling, what she can see coming off Adrien; she’s been feeling it about him since they met, about Marinette since that day with the orange juice. She’d be worried, jealous, but for Adrien’s hand in hers, soft and warm, and for Marinette’s shy glances, the other girl’s eyes full of stars. The lightness in Kagami’s chest expands with every breath, every sideways glance, and her fingers wrap under the seat of her chair, digging into the surface; if she lets go, she’ll float away, carried off into the sky.

Distracted as she is, she doesn’t notice at first. But she’s learned to pay attention to the way her muscles move, tense and relax, even if she has trouble reading other people’s faces or body language, and every second she spends here, her shoulder blades are shifting closer and closer together, tighter and tighter. It’s... uncomfortable. Something’s wrong.

Is she an intruder here? Despite everything, this isn’t just about Adrien and Marinette anymore. This is about Ladybug and Chat Noir, and their relationship with each other will always be more important than either of their relationships with her. Does she need to duck out? Does—does she need to leave them?

She doesn’t want to. She loves them both—she loves them both so much. She doesn’t want to lose either of them, no matter what masks they wear, and—

Then suddenly Adrien is looking to Kagami for help, his face raw, confused, and pleading, and—wait a second. Kagami isn’t the one who’s uncomfortable.

She zones back in, taking in the table, to find Marinette is picking at her food, quiet. All of the animation behind her face has gone dead, waxy; there’s nothing Ladybug behind her eyes at all. It’s a face Kagami hasn’t seen on her girlfriend (girlfriend!) since that day they’d met on the bridge, where they’d both expected the other to hate them.

She doesn’t know what Marinette’s thinking. There’s no way to. But she does know, thanks to Alya, how to calm her down.

Before Kagami can do anything, Adrien reaches out, touches Marinette’s hand, and she shrieks, practically bouncing away from him.

Adrien withdraws his hand. “My Lady?” he says, his voice gentle. “Is something wrong?”

Marinette stares at them, her eyes blown wide, and suddenly Kagami realizes—she’s shaking.

“Ohime?” she murmurs. “Hey. Look at me.”

Marinette does, fragile as a mouse, and Kagami tries to put as much reassurance as she can into her gaze. “Don’t look at anyone else,” she says. “Look at me.” The situation isn’t exactly the same, so she’s not sure how well Alya’s method will work—but mercifully, it does, as Mari’s breathing slows, her shaking begins to subside.

Kagami glances at Adrien, then reaches out, taking Marinette’s hand. “Tell me what’s wrong,” she says, softly.

Marinette swallows, her eyes falling to the ground, and her free hand clutches at her elbow. “I’m,” she croaks, retreating into herself. “I’m waiting for Bunnyx.”

Kagami blinks, confused. That is not at all the answer she was expecting—she doesn’t even know what it means.

“Oh—oh shit,” Adrien breathes, his voice stumbling, and Kagami realizes that whatever this Bunnyx is, it must be something very bad indeed as Adrien scrabbles for Marinette’s hand. “Princess, you—she’s not coming, okay? We didn’t mess up. Everything’s okay. We’re—”

“You don’t know that,” Marinette whispers, staring down at the table, tears streaking down her face. She lifts her head, meets Adrien’s eyes, and Kagami feels her veins freeze at the desolation in her girlfriend’s eyes. “Why do you think I erased my name from the beret?” she croaks. “Our love destroyed the world.”

There isn’t time left in lunch for Marinette to explain—not if she wants to compose herself before class, to not let on that anything is wrong, to keep hiding her identity. Adrien is panicking too, so Kagami is the only one level-headed enough to suggest: if anyone asks, Marinette is still broken up about Luka.

“Who is Bunnyx?” Kagami whispers to Adrien as they help Marinette back to class.

“One of us,” he responds, indicating his ring. “A good one.”

Kagami isn’t sure how she can be good if the mere thought of her brings out this reaction in her Marihime. But Adrien doesn’t have time to explain before he and Marinette have to get back to class, and Kagami shuffles off to Monsiuer Cantrell’s history lecture.

It’s always sort of difficult for Kagami to pay attention in class, no matter how much energy she expends on focusing. It’s never mattered, though—her brain has always been fast enough to catch up with whatever she’s missed. But right now all that speed is running in her head like a loose flywheel, thinking, thinking, thinking.

She can’t escape the feeling that she’s done something wrong. That Marinette’s breakdown is somehow Kagami’s punishment, for how she’s treated Luka. Aho, Kagami no baka, she’d been so selfish, thinking only of what she wanted, greedy enough to want two? Why couldn’t she be satisfied with what she had? Adrien is wonderful. She could have just been friends with Marinette, and everything would have been... would have been fine. There are a hundred considerations that she’s only now realizing haven’t crossed her mind—oh, Kami, Kagami realizes, gasping, what happens if her mother finds out she has two lovers? Or worse, Adrien’s father? And hadn’t Ladybug stressed, over and over, that she and Chat couldn’t know each other’s identities, that it was dangerous, and hadn’t Kagami been the one to—the one to...

She doesn’t realize she’s biting through her lip until blood bursts onto her tongue.

She jolts in her seat as salty copper explodes in her mouth, the pen that she didn’t even notice she was spinning launching itself out of her fingers, flinging itself backwards into Jean-Luc’s forehead. She slaps her hand over her mouth, gagging, trying to keep the blood in, but it’s too much—desperate, she presses her tie to her lips, spitting blood into silk.

“Kagami?” Wilhelm whispers, shocked. “Are you okay?”

Kagami looks up, sees the concern in her deskmate’s eyes, and is about to nod when she realizes: Monsieur Cantrell has stopped speaking. The entire class is looking at her.

“Madamoiselle Tsurugi?” Cantrell says.

Her ears grow hot. “Haha ni denwa shinaide!” she yelps, throwing herself backwards in her seat and trying to hide her face, before she realizes she’s lapsed into Japanese. She groans inwardly, staring at Monsieur Cantrell’s shoes, avoiding the eyes of her classmates. (Don’t look at anyone else, Alya’s voice says. Look at me.) “Please...” Kagami repeats, in French this time, “do not call my mother.”

Wordlessly, Wilhelm offers her a handkerchief, and she gratefully accepts it with only a minimal flash of embarrassment, silently pressing it to her lips.

Cantrell’s expression softens. “Of course not, Tsurugi-san,” he says. He gently slots the chalk down at the bottom of the board and hands her a box of tissues. “Would you like to go to the nurse?”

Kagami nods, Wilhelm’s handkerchief still pressed over her lips. Gently, she peels it away. “I’m sorry for ruining your handkerchief,” she says, handing it back to him.

“It’s okay,” he says. “Feel better?”

She takes the tissue box and nods. “I will try.”

The nurse’s office is dark, which is a little bit unusual. There’s a person-sized lump occupying the cot, shrouded in a heavy blanket, and the nurse urges Kagami to be quiet as he takes a look inside her mouth.

“That model from Caline’s class brought her in about ten minutes ago,” Monsieur Havard murmurs, shining a penlight into Kagami’s mouth. “She was having a panic episode, needed somewhere dark and quiet to calm down.”

Oh. The lump is Marinette. That explains... a great deal.

“Do you frequently chew on your lips when you’re stressed?” Havard says. “There’s a lot of scar tissue inside your cheeks.”

Kagami blinks. “Is that not normal?”

“Not to this degree, no,” he says, flicking off the penlight and placing it back in his shirt pocket. “When do you find yourself doing it most often?”

Kagami opens her mouth to tell him that she has no idea, but suddenly she realizes that’s not true. “When I...” She swallows. “When I think about... my mother.”

Havard’s face tightens. “Ah,” he says.

Behind him, the blanket bundle that is Marinette shifts, drawing a little closer in on itself. Shifting into what Kagami is certain is a fetal position. She hears a small whimper.

“I am all right, Marichan,” Kagami says, straightening her back. “There is no need to worry about me.”

Havard raises an eyebrow.

Marinette says nothing for a moment. “...worry about everybody,” she grumbles.

Havard sighs. “Madamoiselle Tsurugi,” he says, “I recommend you take some time to rest as well.” He hands her a cotton ball and waves his hand, indicating the other—empty—cot. “Put this in your mouth and think about things that relax you.”

Kagami swallows. She doesn’t really... do relaxing. “I—okay,” she says, climbing into the cot.

“I’ll leave you two be,” Havard says. “Get some rest.” He opens the door, quietly, and leaves the room, retreating to his main office.

The two girls lie together in the darkness, separated by less than a meter of space, for a few moments, letting the silence wash over them—until it’s broken by the sound of Marinette sniffling.

Kagami’s heart squeezes at the sound. Marinette—Ladybug—deserves better than to deal with this panic alone. She needs physical contact, she needs someone to hold her; Kagami has seen enough of how she interacts with Alya and Luka to know that cuddling is the best way to calm her down.

Kagami crawls out of her cot, kneels down next to the other one. “Marinette?” she says, stroking her girlfriend’s hair. “Would you like me to join you?”

“Yes please.”

Kagami takes a breath. Everything in her tells her to keep her distance, not to touch, but she fights that instinct and climbs into the cot, wrapping her arms around a shaking Marinette, holding her tight. “You will be all right,” she murmurs, suppressing a shiver. “I’m here.”

The shaking slows, then finally, finally, stops. Marinette breathes in. “I—thank you,” she says, rubbing her thumb against the back of Kagami’s hand.

“Of course,” Kagami says, pressing a kiss ot the back of Marinette’s neck. “Are you all right?

Marinette shivers at the press of Kagami’s lips, then sighs. “I—yeah,” she says. “I just—I saw Alix, and just... broke down.”

Kagami��s heart jolts. “Kubdel?” she says, holding Marinette just a little tighter, protective. “Did she hurt you?”

“What?” Marinette says, twisting her head to look at Kagami. “I—oh, no. No, she—it’s not her fault.” She shakes her head, gently, trying to avoid batting her girlfriend’s face with her pigtails. “I...” She sighs. “It’s about Adrien.” She turns her head. “You know that beret? The one from his Brazilian fan club?”

Kagami listens with increasing horror as Marinette tells her about Chat Blanc. She’s extraordinarily aware of the cotton in her mouth as her teeth tear against it, gnashing toward the insides of her cheeks, as she hears about the hole in the moon, the ash statues of Ladybug and Hawkmoth, the drowned city, the lonely white cat...

“Our love destroyed the world.”

Kagami clutches Marinette’s wrists. “Marinette-sama,” she says. “We will not let anything happen to him. Understand?

Marinette nods, whimpering. “I just—what if—what if I—”

“What if nothing,” Kagami says, grabbing Marinette’s chin and turning her face to meet her eyes. “We have no idea what happened the first time, so for all we know, it’s already been averted.” She shrugs. “And if it hasn’t? Waiting for Bunnyx won’t fix anything.”

Marinette bites her lip, her eyes shining.

“You should let yourself be happy,” Kagami says, caressing Marinette’s cheek.

“I...” Marinette closes her eyes. “Okay,” she murmurs, leaning forward.

Her lips taste like sugar, cinnamon, and cherry chapstick, and Kagami almost forgets to breathe.

Kagami’s “group project” excuse has started stretching believability, so she’s not really planning on spending any time with Adrien tonight (unless he wants to sneak through her window in a cat costume—Mm, she would not be opposed to that; the leather, the ears, the shrink-wrapped muscles...). She’s not much of one for public displays of affection, either; the thought of kissing him, or Marinette, in front of all of their friends and classmates sort of makes her skin crawl in a way that private kisses don’t. So she doesn’t do more than wave to Marinette and Adrien with a tight smile as she walks out the school door to where she’ll wait for her mother’s car to come pick her up.

She walks carefully off to the side, standing next to the steps where she’s not in anybody’s way and nobody will try to initiate a conversation. She has had a very long, very stressful day, and she’s not sure how long she can keep making the effort to appear normal; she needs to save some energy for being able to treat her mother with the proper respect. She stands there, fingering the strap of her backpack (Kagami, stop that, compose yourself, her mother’s voice tells her) and waiting for the black town car to arrive, when something big and orange and tacky enters her peripheral vision, and Kagami groans internally. Oh, wonderful. The girl who got her Akumatized.

“Hi, Kagami!” Rossi says with all the cheer of your eighth piece of candy past the point where the sugar has started turning to sores in your mouth. “How was your day?”

“Fine,” Kagami grunts, looking away from her, down the street. Rossi doesn’t deserve any of her energy, any of her politeness. She can deal with one-syllable answers.

“That’s good,” Rossi says, throwing her arm around Kagami’s shoulder.

Kagami tenses, her eyes narrowing. Her instincts are warring with themselves: one half of her is frozen, petrified, while the other half wants to rip Rossi’s arm from its socket and toss it across the courtyard.

“Hey, I’m, uh, sorry to have to tell you this,” Rossi murmurs, her breath hot and scratchy and wrong in Kagami’s ear, “but... I saw Marinette getting real cuddly with Adrien today.”

Kagami’s eyes slide sideways as she suppresses a shiver, taking in Rossi’s ridiculous bangs. “...And?”

Lila blinks, clearly confused about something, though Kagami has no idea what. “I, uh... aren’t you and Adrien, you know, a thing?”

Kagami snorts, throwing off Lila’s arm. “Yes,” she snaps. “We are, as you put it, ‘a thing.’ Which you are not part of.”

Lila backs up, her hands raised. “Chill, Tsurugi!” she says. “I’m just trying to look out for you.”

She knows she’s supposed to be scowling, snarling, here. But she doesn’t have the energy to be expressive here, Lila doesn’t deserve her energy, so her face remains impassive. “You and I are not, and have never been, friends.”

Lila makes an expression that’s half-smirk, half-grimace. “Course not,” she says, rolling her shoulders. “But you know how she is about him.” Her mouth slithers into a snide grin. “How long until they’ve gone from cuddling to kissing?”

Kagami narrows her eyebrows, confused. They’re already kissing? She’s put a lot of work into making sure they kiss? She is very lost; she doesn’t understand why Lila is telling her this.

Then her mother’s car pulls up. For the first time she can remember, the sight of that car fills Kagami with relief. The first time her mother has rescued her, instead of being the person she needed to be rescued from.

Kagami doesn’t even acknowledge Lila as she walks away, but that doesn’t stop Lila from calling after her. “Keep an eye on Marinette!” she cries. “I’m doing you a favor!”

Kagami says nothing as she climbs into the car, until her mother turns to her. “Hello, Musume,” she says.

“Okaasan,” Kagami responds, without inflection.

Kagami is busy conjugating Latin verbs alone in her bedroom that evening when her phone makes a familiar buzz from inside her blazer pocket. There are very few people who would be messaging her this late in the evening, so she has a moment of confusion before she reaches into the pocket and sees that she has a text from Marinette.

Marinette: I can’t do this

Kagami’s ribs crash in on her chest. Oh, Kami. Is Marinette breaking up with her? Is she going to demand Kagami break up with Adrien? She’s not sure she can handle either of those.

Kagami: Can’t do what?

Marinette: he deserves to know about Chat Blanc

Marinette: but i have no idea how I’m supposed to tell him

Marinette: what if he hates me for keeping it from him?

Kagami’s breath releases in a sigh of guilty relief—relief that this isn’t about her, that this isn’t hurting her, but guilt that she’s feeling happy over something that is causing her girlfriend such distress. She purses her lips, leaning back in her chair, and types.

Kagami: have you seen the way he looks at you?

Kagami: you could punch him in the face and he would thank you

Marinette: why would I punch him in the face?

Kagami: I don’t know

Kagami: It’s an expression

There’s a moment where Marinette says nothing, and Kagami worries that she’s offended her somehow. She’s never quite known how to interact with people her own age, never quite known how not to say things that make people hate her, and it’s only gotten worse since she moved to a country with an entirely different culture. Her breath begins to speed up—did she say something wrong?

Then her phone buzzes, and her heart flips in her chest as she reads the message.

Marinette: this would be so much easier with you here

A single tear wicks into the corner of Kagami’s eye as she realizes that no, she hasn’t pushed away Marinette, not yet. That she is wanted. That the most incredible human being she has ever met feels the same way about her.

Kagami: I can sneak out if you need me

Marinette is typing...

Marinette: you are the best girlfriend ever

This time, the tear actually does start to run down her face.

Ladybug is mid-panic attack when she shows up at Kagami’s house with the Dragon Miraculous, so Ryuuko tucks her protectively against her chest in a bridal carry and borrows the yo-yo, swinging the both of them across Paris to the spot Ladybug indicated was where her patrol with Chat Noir was supposed to begin. Ryuuko can’t help how her face matches both of their suits as Ladybug snuggles her face into Ryuuko’s shoulder, driving her heart rate up, up, up as she realizes, well and truly, that strong and clever Ladybug is also sweet and cute Marinette and she cannot deal.

She’s actually relieved when she sees the shining black of Chat Noir’s suit. She touches down as gently as she can—which, given how unpracticed she is with the yo-yo and the lopsided weight in her arms, is more than a little ungraceful.

“Evening, My Lad—” Chat begins, turning, a grin spreading across his face—then morphing to confusion as he realizes there’s one more person than he expected. “—ies?”

“Hello, Chat,” Ryuuko says, gently unhooking Ladybug’s arms from around her shoulder and placing her on her feet. “She... Erm...”

“I had a panic attack,” Ladybug says, nudging Ryuuko’s shoulder. “This is my emotional support dragon.”

Chat’s brows knit under his mask. “Why didn’t you call me?”

Ladybug’s face freezes, and Ryuuko can see how Chat’s comment—innocent as it was—bites. She quickly steps forward. “Because she needed the courage to share what she wanted to with you,” she says, squeezing Ladybug’s hand.

Chat blinks, all the hurt on his face clearing into understanding. “This is about today,” he says, his jaw set. “If you—” His voice breaks. “If you think we need to—to break up, I’ll... I’ll understand.”

Ryuuko blinks, glances at Ladybug, sees the look of horror dawning on her face.

“Adrien—Kitty, no,” she says. “No, why would—”

“I’ve always followed your lead,” he says, his eyes casting downward. “And if you think it’s—it’s safer, if we don’t—”

“Oh, no,” Ryuuko interrupts, stalking forward and snatching his bell in her fingers, yanking his eyes down to her level. “You are not throwing away all the work I put into this, you stupid cat.”

“The three of us against the world,” Ladybug says, softly. “I promise, Chaton.”

Chat looks at her, then at Ryuuko, his eyes shining, and Ryuuko realizes that her eyes are drifting downward, towards his lips. She glances back at Ladybug, apprehensive, questioning.

Ladybug snorts. .“I know it’s been bugging you all day,” she mumbles, jogging Ryuuko’s arm. “Just go kiss him already.”

Ryuuko looks at her, blinks. “Are you sure?”

Ladybug raises an eyebrow. “He was your boyfriend first.”

She doesn’t have to tell Ryuuko twice.

Kissing Chat is an entirely different experience from kissing Adrien. Adrien is stiff, reserved, gentle and sweet and restrained—his kisses make her feel included, sure, but... Chat. Chat kisses wilder, rougher, desperate and needy and wanting, little fangs against her lip, making her feel... claimed. This time she actually does feel sparks jump between her fingers as the warmth of Chat’s lips ravages her calm, pressing against her mouth, her chin, her neck, and she gasps, dragging talons into his hair.

She’s different, too. She could never do this as Kagami—never kiss him so flagrantly, so passionately, with such electricity. The mask is freeing, wanting, taking, and she and Chat devour each other with abandon.

And she wants more.

She reaches out, snatches Ladybug’s wrist. “Get in here,” she drawls, yanking their girlfriend toward them with a tiny yelp from Ladybug.

After they’ve all been thoroughly kissed (and Chat has retrieved Ladybug’s indestructible hair tie, and the electrostatic charge has finally settled out of Ryuuko’s hair), the three of them sit in a circle and Ladybug finally tells her partner about Chat Blanc, her fingers pressed in Ryuuko’s the whole time. Every time she falters, finds herself lost, Ryuuko gives her hand a quick squeeze, reminding her, I’m here. I’m here, and you’re safe.

“That is... wow,” Chat says, leaning against an air conditioner, pressing his palm to his forehead. “What the hell.”

Ladybug’s face turns away, chastened, and Ryuuko nods. “Indeed,” she says.

“That was... the night you called me over,” he says. “For no reason. And just...” His hand raises, unconsciously, to touch his shoulder. “Rested on me.”

“Mhm,” Ladybug says through pursed lips, with a quick nod and eyes squeezed shut.

“No wonder you’ve been so stressed lately,” he says. “What with... Blanc, and Lila, and the Guardian...”

The Guardian pings in Ryuuko’s attention momentarily as another secret she’ll have to ask them about, but for the moment, she’s just been reminded of something important. “Speaking of Lila,” she says, “she cornered me after school today.”

Ladybug and Chat stiffen simultaneously.

“It didn’t seem serious,” she says, hugging Ladybug’s shoulder. “She just seemed to want to tell me that you two were getting cuddly.” She shrugs. “I didn’t see why that was news, so—”

“Gami,” Chat says, his voice hoarse, “she was trying to imply that I’m cheating on you.”

Ryuuko blinks. “But... you’re not,” she says. “We’re all together.”

“She doesn’t know that,” Ladybug snarls. “Oh, that—that—”

“And she can’t be allowed to,” Chat interrupts. “My Lady—My Queen—Lila is spying on me for my father.” Ryuuko barely has a moment to register how casually he’s given her such a possessively reverent nickname before she notices how his cat fangs are digging into his lip, the same way hers do when she’s thinking about... well. “If he finds out I’m dating two people at once...”

“Oh,” Ladybug says. “He’ll never let you out of the house again.”

Chat nods, curtly.

“We should probably not tell my mother either,” Ryuuko says. “I doubt she will approve.”

Both of them look at Ladybug, who nervously wets her lips—then steel passes behind her eyes, and the fire is there again. “I guess my parents are adopting both of you, then.”

130 notes · View notes

coffeecomicsgalore · 4 years

Text

For the Love of a Chat

NOTES: Had to finish the story with a long winded chapter! Sorry guys. I hope you enjoy!

Ao3

Chapter 31 - Time travel

Ladybug and Chat Noir bounced out of Marinette’s bedroom, making their way to the area the akuma was last seen. Lost Time was hanging out at Lycée Carnot when he called out for the victim he wanted.

“Where are you, ma chère Marinette?

“Marinette?” Ladybug questioned quietly as they perched silently on the building nearest to their high school. “What does he want with me?”

“Are you sure it’s for you, milady? Maybe it’s for another Marinette.”

“Marinette Dupain-Cheng!” He drawled out. Ladybug stared at Chat with an eye roll and Chat pursed his lips in a bit of protective haste.

“Who is that and why is he calling for you?”

Ladybug stared at the akuma for a long moment to figure out who the akuma could have been. Trying to denote the features and build, she gasped as one person came to mind.

“Jules?”

Chat was about to question who this Jules-person was but Ladybug beat him to it. “He’s in my art program. He’s been flirting with me and I’ve been trying to stop it without being rude, never giving in to what he was saying because of being in love with you and all. He did ask me out once, but I turned him down as gently as I could.” She looked over to Chat and Chat’s eyes were narrowed and filled with a bit of jealousy. “Knock it off. I didn’t want to date him and as you can see, I’m with you.”

Chat’s ears drooped and he knew she was right. “Sorry.”

She placed a caring hand on his wrist. “Hey. It’s alright, Chat. Let’s focus on the akuma, okay?” When Chat smiled and nodded in agreement, she turned back to stare at the akuma. “But why? Why is he acting like this all of a sudden?”

“You rather hang out with a cat than spend time with me?” Lost Time laughed bitterly. “Why don’t you show your face to me. Then I can show you how to have a real good time.”

Both Ladybug and Chat smacked their foreheads and groaned.

“I’m surprised Alya didn’t say anything to me when we talked earlier.”

“Nino didn’t message me either to see if I had seen the photo. It must have happened over the last few hours or so when we were... you know” He waggled his brows.

Ladybug continued and ignored Chat’s false inuendo. “Either that, or someone placed it on social media before Alya found out about it and that’s how he found out.”

“But then that means people are going to think you’re dating Chat Noir.

“Even though I am....” She added with a wink and a flick to his bell. “Well, whatever the reasoning, we have a lot to figure out so we don’t expose you, Chat.”

“Yay...” He said sarcastically. “Alright, LB. What’s the plan?”

“Well, I’m going to need you to bring me there... as Marinette.”

“Ladybug, no. I can’t.

“It’s okay. I trust you to protect me, okay?”

Chat gave her a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I’ll protect you. I promise.”

Ladybug detransformed and Marinette stood in her place. “Okay, Chat. He’s going to be angry at you, so you’ll need to drop me down somewhere below and I’ll walk over to him. Keep close to me in the shadows and if something seems wrong, come get me. I won’t know where the akuma is hiding until I get closer. He doesn’t seem very irrational, at least, not right now. We’ll see in a bit.”

Chat dropped her down to the alleyway. When she felt okay enough to move forward, she nodded at Chat to hide. She meekly popped her head out of the alleyway and made her way to Lost Time.

“Jules?” Marinette called out, nervously.

“Marinette!” He announced, happily. Marinette walked closer to him; her hands were clutched to her heart to act like it was out of fear. “Please do not be scared. I won’t hurt you.”

Marinette finally reached him, her eyes constantly searching for an object that didn’t make sense to his wardrobe. She noticed he was wearing all black, numbers and empty clock ticks scattered all over his clothes in neon greens, purples, and yellows. His eyes were covered in translucent green shades, while his hands were covered with purple gloves. The only thing that stood out was a silver watch on his wrist.

“Jules? What happened. Why are you like this?”

His demeanor changed from happy to angry. “I’m not Jules. I’m Lost Time.” He started. “You. You broke my heart, Marinette. I have been flirting with you, talking with you, even asking you out, and yet you go out with that mangy tom cat? What does he have that I don’t?”

“Chat Noir took me out dancing because I was upset. But he is my best friend and he surprised me. Please, Jules. There’s nothing to be upset about.”

“Lies!” He screamed causing Marinette to take a step back. “I saw you dancing with him. I saw you holding him the way you did. I saw that you almost kissed him if it wasn’t for the fireworks scaring you apart. Don’t you dare lie to me with that nonsense. I. Saw. You! The pictures on Instagram don’t lie.”

Okay, so she was definitely going to have to wheedle her way out of this one somehow. But this also meant that she couldn’t date Adrien publicly right away until this entire mess is fixed.

“Okay, okay. Yes, we almost kissed. I won’t lie to you. I get why you’re upset, but please, I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“I lost my chance with you. Lost my time to be with you. Haven’t you ever felt like you lost time?” He said, his voice strained from the pain.

“I know how that feels, Jules. Please trust me. I lost so much time with someone because of my own fault. Because of my own insecurities. I get it.”

“Well, I don’t care how you feel because I’m hurt and the only way to fix this is if I give Hawkmoth Ladybug and Chat Noir’s miraculous.” The butterfly mask covered Lost Time’s eyes and as quickly as it came, it was gone. “Lucky for me, Hawkmoth gave me a great idea.”

Lost Time lunged at Marinette and she ran towards where she felt Chat would be hiding. Running quickly behind her, she could feel Lost Time gaining speed. Marinette looked over her shoulder and her eyes blew wide when he stuck out his arm and a ball of light started to form over his watch. Using his index and middle fingers, he pushed the beam out towards her.

Chat Noir jumped out just in time to leap her out of the way from a blast of light. Lost Time groaned out in anger as he watched Chat pick up Marinette bridal style off to an area where he could safely put her down.

A few more beams of light pounced towards them, one actually hitting them and engulfing them in a translucent light.

“Bye-bye kitty cat. I wonder how you’re Ladybug is going to do without her protector around.”

---

Marinette woke up splayed out on the roof of a building. Chat was already awake, rubbing his head as he overlooked his position.

“Chat?” Marinette groaned out as she sat herself up.

Chat ran over to Marinette and helped her up. “Hey are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. I feel woozy, but I’m okay.” She looked up at him and could see a bruise forming on his forehead. She pushed his hair away to look at the injury better. “You have a bump. Are you okay?”

“Besides that, yeah. I’m okay. We’re still in Paris, but it isn’t our timeline anymore.”

“What do you mean?” Marinette said, confused. Chat pointed to a billboard over on the other side of the rooftop where it showed an older Adrien Agreste wearing a fitted black suit, a black button down with the silver buttons with an “M” inscribed on each one, and a signature red tie. He gave the camera a smoldering look, a slight smirk pulling at the edge of his lips, while his thumb pulled his bottom lip down just a tiny bit.

“Damn, Adrien.” Marinette said, fanning herself. “You age amazingly.”

“That’s not all, Marinette. Look in the corner.”

Marinette looked and noticed a change in who Adrien was modeling for. “MDC? But that’s my symbol. That’s my signature.” She turned to him. “I- I made it?”

Chat gave her a tight squeeze. “I always knew you could do it.”

“I don’t mean to rain on your parade, but...”

Chat and Marinette turned around and noticed three figures standing on the rooftop.

“Hey Minibug, Kitty Noir!” Bunnyx waved at them, excitedly. “We were wondering when you were going to show up.”

“Bunnyx? Ladybug? Chat Noir?” Marinette called out, looking at each one.

“Hey you two.” The older Ladybug called out. Her hair was out of her signature pigtails and into a ponytail. Her suit had changed too. She wore a red and black spotted high collar jacket over a black skin tight suit and gloves with a pair of red and black spotted thigh-high boots. She looked to be about 25 if Marinette had to guess.

“Nice of you to beam in.” The older Chat Noir said making younger Chat laugh out in a fit of giggles. His suit looked exactly the same except his zipper went down a little to where his bell used to sit. His hair was a high fade with longer teased locks dripped over to one side. He had a more muscular build, but overall looked as good as the billboard they spotted him on.

“I can see that I don’t stop punning, huh?” Younger Chat Noir finally said.

“Not at all, mini-me. We actually get better with our puns.”

“Told you Marinette. You’ll have to live with this furrever!”

“He’s right you know.” Older Ladybug teased. She walked up to Marinette and placed a hand on her shoulder. She gave Marinette a confident smile. “I can at least tell you this much. It’s okay you know. I remember this whole akuma and I remember what I had told myself right before the alert came out.” She quickly looked over at the older Chat Noir who was chatting away with his younger self. She knew he was going to give the same speech but with an added pun or two to break the ice. “He’s not wrong in his pre-proposal, even though he couldn’t wait 5 seconds after revealing himself.”

Marinette looked over to Chat and he was positively beaming. Older Ladybug leaned down and whispered something to her ear. “Keep this between you and me, but Adrien is going to need something positive to keep his focus on. It’s going to be a big year for both of you in so many ways. I won’t give away too much because I don’t want the future to change over something I said, but remember to follow his lead on some things, give him all the love you know he deserves, and always keep working together, no matter how hard some moments become.”

Marinette looked up with a frown. “Okay. I promise you I will.”

“I know you will.” Ladybug stood back up and looked over to Chat to see if he had finished his part of their conversation. When older Chat Noir looked up, they nodded towards each other in silent communication over their next move.

“Alright. We are all here to bring these two back to their timeline. Marinette. You are going to be bait. Mini-kitty. You’re going to keep tabs on her and be by her side the entire time. You are going to lure him out and then capture the akuma. I’ll be on standby to help purify the akuma since Marinette can’t do it. Kitty, I want you to stand by in case something goes wrong. Bunnyx. You keep an eye out to make sure the akuma isn’t messing up the time line. Everyone got it?”

“Got it.” Everyone said in unison.

Ladybug called out for her Lucky Charm and a ring dropped into her hands. Ladybug winked at Marinette and older Chat Noir let out a happy chuckle as he crossed his arms and shook his head.

“I remember this. Mini-kitty. That one’s for you.”

Mini-kitty beamed again and Marinette looked over to him with a happy sigh. “Later kitty. Okay?”

“Okay!”

Chat took out his baton and helped bring the two of them back onto the ground. They called out for Lost Time.

“Jules!” Marinette yelled; her hands wrapped around her mouth like a megaphone. “Jules, come out. Can we talk?”

Chat followed her lead. “Jules? Lost Time? I wanted to apologize. You can have Marinette! I’m not in love with her! I just got caught up in the moment.” Marinette stopped for a second and stared at him.

“What?” He said with a shrug. “We have to lure him out somehow.”

Marinette went back to calling. “Jules? Please come ou-”

A bright light appeared and Lost Time dropped onto the street in front of them. “Well, well, well. You are giving up on her that easily? I told you Marinette, he’s not worth it.”

Marinette ran up to the akuma and grabbed onto his hands. “You’re right, Jules. I’m so sorry for never giving you a chance.” She lowered her hands until it rested on his forearms. “Could you ever forgive me for how I rejected you?”

Jules narrowed his eyes but a hint of a smile could be seen. He gazed into her bright blue eyes. “Do you- do you really mean that?”

“Yes. Jules. Secretly, I liked you. I was just too enamored with my old crush to see the truth.” Marinette placed one hand on his cheek as she continued to lower her other hand until it reached the watch. “So how about that date?”

“Da- date?” The akuma swallowed, still staring into her eyes.

“Of course.” She continued until she reached the watch, unclasping it from its spot and throwing it behind her.

“Chat!” She screamed out, throwing the watch in his direction.

Chat called out his cataclysm, grasping onto the watch as it disintegrated into ash. Ladybug and older Chat Noir dropped down beside their younger selves and Ladybug captured the akuma, purifying it into the white butterfly.

Bunnyx dropped down beside the older duo, and the three winked as they managed quick goodbyes.

Ladybug called out for her Miraculous Ladybug and as quickly as they arrived, they were back to their original timeline.

“Time travel is weird.” Marinette said to Chat as he nodded to agree.

After Chat made sure the akuma victim was alright and Marinette talked over the problem with Jules, Chat Noir helped Marinette onto his back, bouncing over the rooftops until they reached her balcony.

“So that was a wild ride, huh Marinette?”

Chat detransformed and Adrien wrapped his arms around Marinette’s waist.

“You’re telling me.” Marinette nuzzled her nose into his neck. “So, Ladybug told me something today.”

“And what’s that bug?”

“That I should follow my heart.”

Adrien pulled away from her for a second and scrunched his nose. “Well, what is your heart telling you?”

“That you’re right and if you still want an answer to your question, I can give you an answer.”

Adrien waited with bated breath. “If you really don’t want to wait to propose to me, then I won’t make you wait. When you’re ready, ask me. I already know my answer.”

He smiled brightly, his pearly white teeth beaming in the moonlight. “Well don’t make me wait bug. What’s your answer?”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down into a long, but gentle, kiss. When she pulled away to take a breath, she leaned her forehead against his and peered into his glossy green eyes.

“Yes.”

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

I wanted to say thank you all for all the kudos and comments. I never planned on writing this story, but my Marichat heart could not hold out from writing it.

Thank you for hanging out with me these last 31 days and I hope you enjoyed the final chapter.

#marichatmay2020 #miraculous ladybug fanfic #marichat

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ecofinisher · 4 years

Text

The Adventures of Super Nathan 3 - Chap 26

Chapter 26

https://archiveofourown.org/works/23301076/chapters/59166679

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13531960/26/The-Adventures-of-Super-Nathan-3

https://www.wattpad.com/896880149-the-adventures-of-super-nathan-3-chapter-26-the

At night Kagami sat in the bedroom on the bed dressed in her pajamas reading on her smartphone the chat history between her and Lila.

„Just give it a try, if he confessed to you how he feels about becoming a father in the future it is easier for you to talk about it“

„Okay“ Kagami typed down to the Italian girl, then she placed the smartphone down on the commode next to the bed and pulled the cover over her and listened to the door of the bedroom getting closed, then behind the corner Adrien came and got under the bedcover and glanced at the woman.

„I‘ve read Hope the first chapter of Enchanted Forest. In case you will read it to her tomorrow, I started that book“ Adrien mentioned earning a nod from the woman.

„Alright thank you“ Kagami answered lying down on the bed, then Adrien placed his hand over Kagami‘s stomach, then looked up at the girlfriend.

„How are you feeling?“ Adrien asked earning a nod from the girlfriend. „Are you sure?“ The man asked starting to caress the belly of the girlfriend making her smile and the blonde copied her expression seeing that she liked it and he lied his head next to her shoulder and she placed her hand over his head to fondle with her fingers on his hair locks making him groan in enjoyment. „Oh yeah“

Kagami chuckled, then she looked at the globe on their night table, where her smartphone lied, then Kagami rolled her eyes down at the blonde and sat up with her back against the wall, and Adrien looked up at the girlfriend and waited for her to speak.

„Adrien, I have to tell you something really important“ Kagami mentioned earning a nod from the blonde.

„Go on, “ Adrien said, then Kagami held Adrien‘s hand and as Kagami opened her mouth a portal in the middle of their bedroom opened and Bunnyx got into their room, making Kagami groan at the next interruption.

„Cat Noir, I need your help“ Bunnyx announced. „The next generation superheroes need your help“

„Oh okay“ Adrien answered getting up from the bed leaving Kagami alone, then from the trophy shelf, Plagg appeared and floated beside his miraculous owner.

„I‘m not in the mood“ Complained the kwami of destruction earning a nod from the blonde.

„Neither am I, but we have to“

„Don‘t worry, Super Nathan is also there“ Bunnys assured making the blonde nod.

„I‘ll be back soon“ Adrien said earning a nod from the blue-haired girl.

„Be careful“ Kagami warned the blonde, which transformed into Cat Noir after saying his catchphrase.

„Don‘t worry, he‘ll be fine“ Bunnyx assured holding her fist up for him to bump with his. „Come, let‘s go“

Somewhere in the future in a suburb outside from Paris stood the three superheroes gazing around the place. Bunnyx tapped with her left on the ground while the other two superheroes observed her wondering, why they were standing there doing nothing.

„Bunnies are good at multiplicating, “ A voice said causing Super Nathan to snicker, then he covered his mouth and Cat Noir raised his eyebrows in confusion.

„And foxes at dividing,“ Bunnyx said out and from behind the bushes a pre-teenage girl walked out with a short bob haircut colored in a chest brown tune and she wore a long black dress with vectored images of a cat over the skirt.

„Oh who‘s that?“ Super Nathan asked curiously noticing something familiar on the face of the tan-skinned girl.

„I can‘t tell you her name Super, sorry, “ Bunnyx said earning a nod from the purple-skinned man. „I brought you the two best men, Super Nathan and Cat Noir. If necessary I can always call out on Viperion or get in, when there‘s no chance for them“

„Why can she know our names?“

„Because you two are from the past and we‘re here in the future“ The light-blue colored superheroine answered making Super Nathan frown. "Like I said the less you know, the better"

„I admit I love science fiction movies with parallel universes, but in reality I hate it“

„Yes, this is why I have you two covered in the burrow“

„I was just curious about my first child“ Super Nathan complained.

„That wasn‘t even yours, that was from your friend“

„Which one?“

„You‘ll see it in the future, “ Bunnyx said. „And for both sides, I can‘t tell you who Super Nathan and Cat Noir are, because they don‘t know you yet“

„Okay, “ The girl said. „Are you coming?“

„Sure and Super, you brought the fox miraculous, right?“ Bunnyx asked, then he took it out from under his beret and held it out to the bunny-themed superheroine, which pointed at the girl and Super Nathan gave the girl the miraculous meeting her ice-blue eyes resembling his own eyes, then the girl placed it around her neck, followed by the kwami Trixx appear and see a new face along with Bunnyx.

„Oh hello“ Trixx greeted the young girl. „We‘re in the future again?“

„Yes“ Bunnyx answered. „She‘s Miss Vixen‘s next successor, her name is Swift“

„Oh just like Lu…..“ Super Nathan said but is interrupted by Bunnyx, which covered his mouth.

„Sorry, just to be on the safe side“

„Trixx, Fangs out!“ The girl shouted transforming into a creme-colored superheroine with a white belly and around her nose the mask was black and behind it was a darker brown tune with a black fur-like pattern.

„Oh she‘s a different type of fox“ Super Nathan mentioned earning a nod from the pre-teen.

„Okay, where are your friends?“ Bunnyx asked, then the superheroine walked forward and the adults followed her along the quiet roads and she walked through a grass field behind the yard of a foreign house leaving that part of the neighborhood soon getting closer to an old building, which had at the entrance a broken neon plate announcing the name of the place.

„Isn‘t that the créche?“ Cat Noir asked making the redhead shrug his shoulders.

„I haven‘t been on this part of Paris yet“ Super Nathan confessed, then Bunnyx went down on her four and moved forwards at the building along with Swift, leaving the two past superheroes back.

„Come on man“ Cat Noir asked getting down on the four to follow the others like an obedient cat and Super Nathan went behind his friend and the four leaned against the wall and Bunnyx looked at Super Nathan and had an idea.

„Super, can you erase that door for us?“ Bunnyx asked earning a nod from the superhero, which held his tablet from the side at the door and erased it on his device making it disappear in real life.

„Okay, what‘s next?“ The redhead asked, then Swift passed next to the art-themed superhero and crawled carefully into the building followed by the adult. Swift stopped the man in the middle and approached the corner of the short corridor and looked carefully into the next room, which was the wardrobe for the children of the créche. Swift waved at the man, which followed the girl and crossed together the wardrobe and the two hide on the side of the entrance to the room of the créche and waited for Cat Noir to came along with Bunnyx and they joined behind the two blue-eyed superheroes.

„Psst can someone of you open the restroom door there, so we can check through the mirror, what‘s in there?“ Cat Noir asked, then Super Nathan held his tablet in front of the door of the restroom to draw a mirror on there to reflect themselves on it. Super Nathan shook his head and edited the mirror and lifted it out of the door a bit so he could look into the room to see a bee-themed blonde superhero, a raven-haired cat superhero, a turtle-themed raven-haired and the only superheroine, themed after a ladybug. All the heroes were tied on small chairs, then from another room came a woman in a gray fox-themed suit and she carried on her right hand a flute and glared at the superheroes, that are seated in the room.

„Well, I‘m impressed by how perfectly the suit fits me“ The woman in the suit said.

„Miss Damon, you can‘t just take the miraculous away from us. They‘re an important inheritance, that only specific persons are allowed to use“ The cat-themed superhero mentioned.

„Kids shouldn‘t be playing with these things. You could cause harm to other people“ The woman warned.

„Hey but not all kids are the same. We were chosen because we were meant for it and so were the other heroes before us. We use it for the good of the people, we would never reveal the miraculouses to anyone else nor sell them“ „That‘s not my problem. Do you even know how worth these things are?“ The villain asked.

„Who cares, let us go or I will cataclysm you out of your supersuit!“ The cat miraculous holder shouted making the woman laugh.

„Are you serious?“ The woman taunted the kids. „How are you going to do it?“ The woman asked making the superhero angry and activate his special power.

„Cataclysm!“ The cat-superhero shouted and the woman pushed the boy's hand down at the chair destroying the chair of the black-themed superhero making him fall on the top of the chair‘s ashes.

„Well done Captain Feline, “ The bee-themed superhero said making the cat-themed superhero roll his eyes at the blonde‘s sarcasm.

„Shut up Sonnyboy!“

„Your temperamental behavior makes me think on a certain somebody“ The woman mentioned. „You‘re the friend of the older brother of…..“ The woman began, then got hit with a red wooden baton and she looked at the entrance to see Super Nathan stay there with Cat Noir.

„Meow“ Cat Noir greeted the woman.

„It‘s Cat Noir and Super Nathan!“ The turtle-themed superhero announced making the group cheer.

„Wow your dad is handsome, L, “ The Ladybug-themed superheroine said looking at the two superheroes next to him.

„Oh I wonder about who she‘s talking about“ Cat Noir mentioned earning a nod from the redhead.

„You obviously“ Super Nathan answered.

„Hey your superhero-face is great. Look at the girls, that had a crush on you“

„Where?“

„At the superhero blog. Haven‘t you seen the comments?“ Cat Noir asked, then the two saw the fox-themed supervillain ran towards them with her flute and Cat Noir held his staff ready and blocked the super villain‘s attack, then Cat Noir threw her away from him at the ground and Super Nathan hides behind the table to watch the woman look up at the redhead and kick Cat Noir between his legs, making him fall down on his knees.

„Ouch!“ Cat Noir complained. „You‘re nuts!“

„He even makes puns when he‘s feeling pain. Man, being a Cat miraculous holder is so great“ Captain Feline said looking at the blonde, which frowned at the friend‘s comment.

„Hey wait I don‘t have a flute!“ Super Nathan warned jumping away from the woman, then encountered behind him a few instruments behind him and he picked a maraca and blocked the woman with the instrument. „I could use a little help“ Super Nathan warned, then got pushed away towards a box filled with toys, then the woman pressed the man with her flute against the chest.

„So there‘s no way, you‘re getting out of here“ The woman threatened the man and at Cat Noir Swift helped the superhero up and pointed at Super Nathan.

„She will steal dad's….his miraculous“ Swift warned earning a nod from the adult cat superhero.

„Don‘t worry, his miraculous unreachable for her“ Cat Noir assured the young heroine placing his hand on her shoulder, then he had an idea and whispered into her ear.

„Sure“ Swift answered, then Cat Noir began to untie the turtle-themed superhero from behind while Swift did the same on the red-dressed superheroine, then the freed superheroes freed the rest of the group and Cat Noir approached the villain and took his baton out and pushed her under her legs down at the floor freeing Super Nathan from her flute.

„Thanks my friend“ Super Nathan said, then held the woman down on the back and Super Nathan removed the necklace of the woman making her transform back into a regular dressed woman.

„Oh gosh it really is Miss Damon, “ The bee-themed superhero said, then Super Nathan drew on his tablet a pair of handcuffs to arrest the woman.

„Okay, “ Cat Noir said clapping his hands together looking at the group“ You all will need to contact the police so they can bring her away“

„How did a simple person like her get close to the miraculous?“ Super Nathan asked, then Swift dropped her cover to give the past miraculous necklace back to the purple-skinned man.

„Na…..Swift and I were caught transforming into our superhero identity by the cameras of this créche a long while ago and she had seen the recording of us“ The bee-themed superhero said. „It was an accident, it wasn‘t meant to happen“

„And how did she manage to tie you all here?“ Super Nathan asked making the two shrug their shoulders.

„I just remember waking up here. Before I had soccer training and went to the toilet and…..then I only remember seeing everything blank afterward“ The Cat-themed superhero said.

„I don‘t know if this is what exactly happened, but I remember seeing Swift‘s alter ego being hit by a person with a hoodie and a clown mask being packed from behind and getting unconscious after the person held a white tissue in front of her mouth,“ The Ladybug-themed heroine explained. „I ran away, but got blocked in the restrooms and…..she did the same to me“

„That‘s awful“ Cat Noir mentioned. „This teacher should get suspended,“

„And I thought Mrs. Mendeleiev and Mr. Bachelor were bad“ Super Nathan mentioned making a few of the heroes giggle. „Yes we also have bad teachers at the school“

„But now everything is okay, thanks to Cat Noir and Super Nathan“ Captain Feline said, then Bunnyx entered into the room to join the group.

„And thanks to me, “ Alix said. „Without me, I wouldn‘t be able to call them in the first place“

„Yeah“ Swift agreed, then Bunnyx held her fist in the middle and all the superheroes did a group fist bump.

„Very nice“ Cat Noir replied, then Bunnyx opened for the two past superheroes the portal and stepped into it.

„Oh we gotta go, “ Super Nathan said, then used his tablet to restore two salad bowls back and gave one to Cat Noir.

„I don‘t know, what to say but keep fighting for justice and what‘s good for, always when possible work out in teams, when you have a bigger threat in front of you and be careful, where you transform back or not. You were chosen for a good reason. You all seem like good people with great hearts, just like the heroes before you“

„Thanks Cat Noir,“ The superheroes said in chorus, then Super Nathan helped Swift‘s alter ego put her necklace back and held his hand out, then got hugged by the girl.

„Woah“

„I love you, “ The girl said making Super Nathan pucker his eyebrows in confusion.

„Uhm…..I‘m married“ Super Nathan answered making the girl giggle. Cat Noir smirked and looked at the other‘s of the group, then he noticed the bee miraculous over the boy‘s head and chuckled at how different the hero was from the others.

„I really like your style boy, what‘s your name?“ Cat Noir asked.

„I can‘t tell it to you according to Bunnyx“ The boy answered making the cat-themed superhero cackle.

„No, your superhero name“

„Buzz“

„Buzz?“ Cat Noir asked. „Why Buzz?“

„I wanted Bumblebee or Camaro, but their rights were trademarked“ The blonde explained.

„Well it‘s a nice name anyway“ Cat Noir confirmed. „There are times you don‘t like your name for some reason, but with the time you grow into it and you prefer to keep that name than change it with another one in the world. This is how I felt with my second, third, and fifth first name!“

„Hehe“ Buzz chuckled at the man‘s comment. „You‘re really cool,“

„Thank you“ Cat Noir responded. „Your parents would be so proud of you to know you‘re one of the heroes of Paris“ „Yeah, the thing is, they‘re very busy lately. I don‘t spend so much time with them, now with the superhero responsibility“

„Oh“ Cat Noir answered. „Why don‘t you tell your parents about it? They need to know, you‘re feeling lonely“ „I don‘t know if it works“

„Come on, just give it a try“ Hinted the blonde adult. „Or more times, they will have to take at some point of the day or the week time for you too“

„I will try, thanks“ Buzz answered making Cat Noir smile and open his arms at the boy, then he hugged the tall cat-themed superhero tight making him smile and caress the boy on his back.

„Come on guys, let‘s go“ Bunnyx ordered earning a nod from Super Nathan, then Cat Noir got up and smiled down at the blonde boy and patted his head.

„Bye Champ“ Cat Noir said, then set the bowl over his head and entered into the portal, then was guided by Bunnyx across the large space to their portal back and they stopped at the house of the Kurtzberg‘s where Lila sat watching a movie, then Super Nathan got into the living room and was greeted by the wife, which gave the man a hug and shared a lovely kiss with him making Cat Noir smile at their bond, then he looked at Bunnyx, which glared at Cat Noir disobeying her at that moment, then he put the bowl down and was guided to the next portal and Bunnyx widened her eyes in confusion as she looked into the bedroom of Adrien.

Cat Noir removed his bowl and glanced into the previous portal, which showed his friend Jin holding someone‘s hand, which he recognized and Bunnyx pressed the bowl of Cat Noir down making him whine.

„Hey!“

„Hey show your wife some privacy“

„Wife?“ Cat Noir asked.

„Erm girlfriend, sorry I forgot you weren‘t married yet, “ Bunnyx said and Cat Noir took his bowl up again to see Jin again holding a hand close to his face, which he recognized as Kagami‘s, then Bunnyx blocked the sight to the blonde again and she pushed him out of the portal on the floor landing in front of the master bed.

„Ouch!“

„I‘ve told you to not look at it“

„But I need to know, what‘s going on there“ Cat Noir complained.

„The less you know about the future, the better and I already told you guys that a few times“ Bunnyx warned, then disappeared along with the portal, and he was shocked about the minor things he saw in the portal. „Plagg, claws in“

„What was so interesting on that portal with her?“ Plagg asked.

„Did you recognize the part behind them?“ Adrien asked making the kwami shake his head. „That was this bed here and Jin was there with her“

„So what, that could be the same bed too“ Plagg countered. „What are you thinking? That she‘s having an affair with that guy? He‘s married and he‘s got a child. Why would he want to have anything to do with Kagami?“

„I don‘t know, it looked weird“

„Ugh come on, she loves you and she proved it to you more than once and so did you“ Plagg vouched. „That must be a specific reason behind that. None of you two would ever be brave enough for betrayal“

„Sorry it‘s just…..it looked so strange, “ Adrien said looking back at the bed, where Kagami was sleeping all covered with the bedsheet. „I haven‘t loved anyone so much as Kagami…. I couldn‘t stand losing her“

„Listen, boy, forget everything you saw on the other side, including the portals. This just distracts you,“

„Yes, “ Adrien said getting into his bed. „I‘m being an idiot Plagg. She would never do something like that. I…..just can‘t see her doing that“

„Neither I“ Plagg added, then flew up at the trophy corner and lied down next to the dragon kwami, closing his eyes „Good night“

„Goodnight Plagg, “ Adrien said lying down next to his girlfriend, which was deep in the sleep, then he placed his right arm around her going slowly into the spoon position, then he felt Kagami turn her back away from him and have her face on his side, then he smiled angelic at seeing her sleep and he leaned his chin over her head and patted the woman gently on her back slowly closing his eyes falling into the sleep.

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