Chapter Text
When he was younger, Adrien loved fairytales.
There were the classic books, of course, but just as much as he loved hearing them before bed, some of the best were made up between him and his mother. Sometimes, he was the prince, others he was the faithful companion that helped save the day. There were always the constants: a prince, a princess, and an evil that split the two apart. And each time, no matter how much fate tried to pull them apart, love was always the answer.
When his mother first disappeared, he still believed that to be true. In fairytales, mothers always seemed absent but he knew she loved him more than anything else that she would come back. She would fight whatever dragons and break whatever spell. She had to.
When his father became controlling and distant soon after, he grew to hate how fairytales always followed the same formula. He hoped and prayed for something to change in his strictly scheduled life but nothing came to break him free. No one knew he was trapped in the tower. He was no longer in control of the story.
And then his fairy godmother came in the form of a small, black cat with a ring and a strange hunger for cheese. He looked in the mirror at his new form, amazed at how his formerly masked emotions leaked out of his body through his ears and tail – how this worked he didn't understand but he absolutely didn’t care.
This gift came with a curse – magic would always come undone when the clock struck. But there was still time, and the entire city was his ball to attend. The lights glittered like stars and he truly felt like he was among them looking down at the city he’s only had glimpses of as he took in the amazing sight from above the rooftops.
He didn’t need real music to dance.
His heart was guiding the way as he leaped over restaurants with their live bands and the screaming laughter of a group of friends heading home made a wide smile crack over his face. His pulse raced as he made the brave vault to the Eifel Tower, and every inch of the city he could see and reach and experience he hungrily drank in.
So when the time came for the warning before the clock metaphorically struck midnight, he made it back through his window safely and mourned the way his vision dulled and his power lessened as the light fell away. But there was a promise – the ring on his finger was not the delicate and fragile magic glass slipper but instead it was a promise that this wasn’t all just a dream. More than that, it was not a pair separated and left behind but something that made him complete.
Adrien considered himself much more fortunate than many storybook characters but didn’t find the dreary mood of his tower fortunate at all. He was born into the lucky chance of a rich life and lucky enough that the one friend he had also held the ticket to his first glimpse of freedom. Chloe was more than happy to arrange for Adrien to be registered at her school and in her class behind his father’s back. Freedom was in sight. He was bound to the rules ingrained in the covers holding his pages but he had the pen once again.
…But now? It felt like he skipped to the last book in the series of tales that made up his life.
His glass slippers were gone, but the queen of the castle returned. His father was much different – kinder, closer, actually present in their dinner conversation the evening before. His house felt faintly like the home he remembered it was long ago. A voice in his head dulled his current worries as it kept whispering over and over like a magic spell: ‘You’re free.’ All previous transgressions and bans from his friends and himself seemed like they never existed in the first place. Anything he could have asked for within reason was right here in reach.
Adrien was just starting to wake, but exhaustion and the soft warmth in his bed whispered in his ear to let his eyes stay shut. He nuzzled further into the pillow.
A weight dragged across his hip as he turned. His cheek met something soft that smelled sweet. He opened his eyes in confusion.
And then he died. He must be dead because he’s looking at heaven.
Or at least, this is what he imagined heaven to be like, minus trays of pastries everywhere and maybe a couple of dark haired, green eyed children he may or may not have already named in his head.
But when the love of your life is sleeping peacefully facing you, hair loose and fanning out over the pillow in between and with an arm draped over your waist, your first thought would arguably be, ‘I must have died and gone to heaven.” Adrien honestly couldn’t think of any other sight that would be better besides this sight with her unmasked.
Speaking of Adrien thinking, his body stiffened. His mind fizzled out, unable to comprehend how the hell this situation came to be. Nor could he do or say anything besides emitting a high-pitched noise in the back of his throat that probably was a few pegs away from a scream.
Adrien Agreste isn’t responding right now; please leave a message after the beep.
Beeeeeeeeeeep.
(The beep was the sound of Chat Noir in his head flat-lining from overexcitement. Bury him with all his Ladybug merchandise on a bed of roses, please.)
His arm was shaking as he dragged it to touch the raven hair pressed against his face, realizing that this was the first time he’s ever felt anything about her with his bare hands.
She was tangible. She was real. He gulped, now reaching cautiously for her face. This had to be a dream. He was going to wake up right before he feels her and-
His index finger flinched back at the first contact, then slowly came back to let his palm ghost over a rosy cheek. He shivered as her head turned just slightly to lean into his touch. She was soft, warm, and brimming with the effortless life and energy she always had. Adrien was pretty sure his heart was going to burst from how fast it was beating.
“Mmmmmm…” the heroine blinked slowly at him and turned her head into the pillow as she yawned – he could not handle how cute she was, this was the stuff only of his bravest daydreams – before she smiled softly – that smile – at him.
“Hmm… ’morning, pretty boy. Looks like you’re doing well.” One gloved hand reached up to toy with his bangs, moving them back into place, the other covered his own on her cheek. It stayed for a moment, sharing the warmth before pulling his hand away as Ladybug sat up to stretch her arms.
Adrien realized he was ogling and quickly sat up too, flattening the blanket around his lap. Right. Focus. Questions – he had questions for her but this wake-up call just piled on even more.
“What are you doing in my bed?” he blurted out without thinking.
She was tying her hair up again into pigtails. His eyes met hers through the crook of her arm, eyebrow under her mask raised. “What are you talking about? I always crash in your room when I’m too tired to make it home after a patrol. You even left your window open for me and everything.”
“Okay, sure, but my bed?” He didn’t remember leaving his bathroom window open, but there are a number of things that held more priority here.
The heroine got up from the bed, glancing at the clock. “Oh shoot, I need to be back in 15 minutes…I gotta fly!”
Ladybug started for the bathroom door. He panicked. “Wait! There’s something important I need to talk to you abo-uuaaaAAAT!” Adrien reached out to her with a start, instantly tumbling out of his bed onto the floor in a mess of blankets.
Great. Great first impression in bed with the future wife, Agreste. He fumbled around to find the way out of the sheets, only to have it lifted for him. Amused blue eyes peeked down at him.
“You look like a kitten tangled in a ball of yarn.”
“That’s because I’m Chat Noir.”
It wasn’t exactly how he wanted to reveal himself. He hoped the mood would be romantic and just right, that they saved the world and the timers rang out without a care as they embraced. He wanted to be looking down into her eyes and holding her close, or at the very least looking somewhat dignified. His pride could be picked back up off the floor when they figured this all out.
She smirked at him before dropping the sheet corner back on his head. His heart dropped.
“Yeah, and I’m- oh wait, I’m actually Ladybug, that doesn’t work here.” Ladybug laughed at herself and the slightest hint of a blush ran across of her cheeks. She entered the bathroom door, Adrien rushing to his feet to catch up to her again.
“My Lady - please!” He pulled her arm to face him. “I mean it! I’m Chat Noir and something is really wrong with my Miraculous! I-I…I know you didn’t want to find out like this, but I can’t even find my kwami or anything! I can prove it to you, just ask me anything!”
His gaze wavered between her eyes, trying to gage her reaction. Something, anything that she believed him – recognized him!
Ladybug snorted, now looking at him incredulously.
“Very funny, Adrien. You two may look alike and I may not know who he is, but you can’t pull that on me.” She grinned at him before leaping up on the windowsill. His arm still hovered in the air, reaching for her. “I left the battle that day with Chat and I was on patrol with him yesterday. I know for sure you were occupied with recovering both times, so you’ve got an alibi.”
She turned her head back to look outside for a ledge, missing the shock on his face as his arm went slack. Her yoyo was cast and while tugging it to check, she turned back to Adrien to blow a kiss before leaping out the window.
Adrien stuttered backwards until he hit the shower wall, sliding against it to the floor as he continued to stare ahead.
He could hear the text tone of his phone going off in the other room. Right, Nino was meeting him at the park in a couple hours.
Reaching above his head, Adrien grabbed the knob and stood up, twisting it only when he was out of the shower head’s range. He perched on the bathtub’s rim next to it.
He needed to think, and the silence in his room without Plagg was deafening.
“Are you sure you’re up for this, dude? We can just go in and get food or just leave this for another day when you’re better.”
Nino’s hand gripped onto Adrien’s shoulder as they stood across the street from Marinette’s house. Adrien wrung his hands for a moment, considering taking the offer. He was a little shaken from this morning, but he had his civilian life to figure out before he could begin to solve his alter ego’s. His mind was preoccupied by what Ladybug said earlier, but those worries had to be pushed back for now.
“No. They’re expecting me, and I need to know what happened. If anything, just to be prepared for tomorrow when I come back to school.” He led the way as they crossed the street. He could do this. If he was going to figure out what the hell was going on since the akuma attack, then he needed every source of information he could get.
A “back in an hour” sign was taped up against the window, giving him a little more courage that he can’t back out just now.
Nino’s hand reached out to the handle of the shop door and began to turn it. At the sound of the click, Adrien’s hand shot out to grab Nino’s wrist still at his side in between them. The door stayed closed and Nino looked to his best friend in surprise.
Adrien muttered a quick apology before letting go. Nino just smiled back and slung his arm around the blond’s shoulder, bringing him into a one armed hug.
“It’s okay, I know you’re scared. I’m here for you. But one more time: are you sure you want to do this right now?”
Adrien took a breath and nodded. “Yeah. I trust you to bail me out if I can’t handle it but I need to know. I don’t think I can get any better if I don’t.”
Nino squeezed his shoulder once more before twisting the handle and bringing them both inside the shop.
The bell rang softly as they stepped inside the bakery, the room lit only by the light filtering in through the blinds.
The place felt…colder than it should have. The familiar scent Adrien smelled last time he was here during the Animan attack was gone. He couldn’t quite place it - it smelled like bread and vanilla and almonds, everything it should - but there was something still missing.
“Hello? Mr. and Mrs. Dupain-Cheng?” Nino called out, stepping closer to the doorway to their living space.
There were footsteps above for a moment before Sabine came down the stairs, appearing surprised when her eyes landed on Adrien. Her gaze softened, and she came down quickly to hug him close before pulling back to look at him again.
“Have you been doing alright? Are you sleeping and eating well?” A hand traced over the bruises on his cheek in concern.
He nodded back. She gave him a look. “Well I’ll be sure of that – you two are having a good lunch before you go.” Sabine then turned to smile at the other boy.
“Thank you for coming by, Nino. I’m glad to see you’re doing well too.” The mother hugged Nino with just as much force; Adrien snickered at the sight of his friend being lovingly crushed.
They were soon ushered upstairs to the living room onto the couch, where Tom brought out a plate of cookies. Two stools were brought up closer to the couches and the two adults settled down.
A pause settled in the air, stretching onwards. Adrien didn’t know how to start. He didn’t think Marinette’s parents knew how to either. They glanced at each other, visibly tightening their grip on each other’s hands.
The words slipped out of him. “I’m sorry.”
Both adults looked shocked at him, quickly coming forward from their seats to hug him tight. Nino scooted down to give them space, throwing a thumbs up back at Adrien in support. He was shocked at the sudden sign of comfort and his arms were pinned up against his chest by the father’s giant arm. A little unsure, he let his chin rest against the embrace.
“My boy, there’s nothing for you to be sorry for. You did your best. We’re sorry we couldn’t be there to protect the both of you.“ Tom reassured gently.
“No- I…there must have been something more I could have-“ Adrien started, fists tightening against the shoulder pressed against him. The guilt that had been eating away at him all morning since watching the vlog was forcing its way up his throat, pushing out thoughts into the open.
If he was strong enough, if he was agile enough to avoid whatever caused him to lose his powers – and even then he knew he was a hero with or without the mask. He should have known what to do to protect anyone in harms way.
But he was here and Marinette wasn’t. Something went wrong. He’s the hero of destruction and he doesn’t know how to fix it. He didn’t know if he could.
A small hand rubbed against his back. It wasn’t until he was being shushed gently that he felt the pinpricks of tears leaving his eyes.
“No. We know you did absolutely everything you could. And we are so, so thankful to you for being there and for helping our daughter. “ Sabine spoke softly as she cradled his head close. “We don’t blame you. We don’t blame Ladybug. Just the monsters that caused all this.”
Adrien wanted to scream and yell that it was his fault until his voice went raw. It’s his duty, his destiny to protect the citizens of Paris. But he also wanted to accept their forgiveness and thanks. And so he did, with a nod and silent tears. He felt Nino joining the hug from his side, gripping tight to his shoulder.
Love. That’s what this was, he realized. He wanted to accept their love over his own guilt. They held him close, sharing the burden that tensed every muscle in his shaking shoulders.
Everyone settled back on their seats after he calmed down. Tom held Sabine close to his side with an arm, the other covering hers in her lap.
“When we came in, we were only able to see the both of you for a moment. Nino got there before us since we were coming back from a delivery across town.”
Adrien turned his head to look at his friend, Nino suddenly looking very sheepish and unsure.
“Alya called me as soon as she called Mari’s parents. I knew you needed me there since your dad might not be able to make it. It was scary, dude. Any time they tried to move you away from her, you would get messed up. You weren’t even awake so no one knew how you knew. You just did.”
“It…it was as if you couldn’t leave her side without knowing she was in safe hands. The nurses fought to calm you down when they had to do tests on her.” Sabine murmured.
“Wait, Nino…what has Alya been up to? Is she okay?” He felt guilty that the blogger slipped his mind until now. Nino shifted uncomfortably, looking away.
“She…needed time to cool off too. For the last two days it was just me and three empty seats in class, but she came back today. She’s still not up to talking very much. Like she’s still in shock over the whole thing.” He rubbed his arm, still looking around the room anywhere but at Adrien.
An ugly feeling curled in his stomach.
“…and Marinette?” he asked, voice soft and afraid.
“She wasn’t badly hurt from the attack but she hasn’t woken up yet.” Tom said.
Nino interjected before Adrien could get a word in. “Ladybug didn’t use her Lucky Charm during the battle, so the damage was never undone. Whatever hurt her wasn’t healed.”
Sabine smiled gently. "Alya said that they didn't catch the villain. There's still plenty of hope for when Ladybug and Chat Noir finally do. Everything will be alright." Tom nodded, his somber face picking up again.
The phrase didn't settle nicely in his ears, but Adrien accepted it. Marinette was alive, and there was a chance still to fix everything. He could figure things out from here.
He let this process and breathed in. "Then, is it alright if...If I could...?" the sentence stuttered awkwardly out of his mouth, but the loving pair understood his feelings just the same.
"Of course you can see her. We'll let the hospital know as soon as you're settled at the table." Both parents stood up at this. Sabine motioned for them to follow, smiling brightly.
"Now come on, lunch is already ready, just sit at the table while we get everything set up! Both of you are so thin, I swear Marinette could lift you both with an arm each!"
He couldn't wait another moment. As soon as he checked in at home, Adrien was easily able to convince his father to let Gorilla drive him to the hospital. It was a nervous thought to be there by himself, but there were just some things he had to get off his chest that no one else should know yet.
There were presents of all kinds decorating the larger table against the wall near the door when he entered. He smiled, easily able to tell which were from which classmates. A bouquet of pink and lavender daisies, a mini figure of her main bot from UMS III, a giant colorful card with notes from the entire class – Adrien laughed as he recognized the fancy get-well card that Chloe always sent to anyone, no matter who it was.
“They better be grateful I’m so caring and considerate for them.” He remembers her reasoning with him once. Half the time she doesn’t even sign the card, but this time she did.
He picks up a pile of papers folded into a booklet, raising a brow at the cover. Marinette was drawn as he assumed she was on the bed behind the curtain, but above that on the page was a thought bubble, depicting Marinette in a superhero outfit brandishing an IV pole as a weapon against the encroaching darkness shaded in with smudged pencil. Her eyes were fire staring up at him from the page – he recognized that look when she was focused on a design or the time she figured out how to free themselves from the box the Evillustrator penned them into.
Always thinking, always moving. Even if she was scared or talked down on…
He wished he could see that more, first hand as Adrien. Chat got to see a teasing side, her parents insisted on her stubborn nature, the class got to see her brave and strong, Alya and Nino got to see her relaxed and worked up, but his only glances of her around him alone were tense and nervous. They weren’t bad sides to know about Marinette, but there were moments like when he came over to her house and she gave him her lucky bracelet – he met her kindness and empathy. He just wanted to learn more about her.
Adrien wondered how she would respond to his saving her…when she woke up. He emphasized the word in his head. When. She’s going to wake up.
She has to. She will.
He flips through the next few pages, seeing many of them were still vague sketches except for a panel of her holding an incomplete map and one where she finds a polka-dotted shield – he glances up again at the table and smiles, looking again at the collection of gifts.
If everyone was going to lend their strength to her, he needed to bring something too.
He put the booklet back down and surveyed the rest of the balloons and cards crammed on the table. There were a lot of people waiting for her. The sheer number of gifts amazed him – it wasn’t often you could see the proof of all the lives you’ve affected, and Marinette seemed to have touched so many so effortlessly. He wondered if he should tell her how much their first encounter as friends meant to him.
Adrien wasn't sure if he was ready to face her just yet. Being this close brought him more than enough comfort, but his mind drew a line that he wasn't sure if he should cross yet right between him and the closed curtain.
He was about to leave, glancing at the time with a hand on the doorknob when a shifting sound picked up in his ears. Adrien looked around the room confused, before finally looking up at a now missing ceiling tile almost hidden by the curtain rod followed by a soft thud.
His heart started to race uncontrollably and a pain prickled underneath his forehead. But he inched quietly closer to the curtain, eyes widening at the faint green glow coming from behind it. Not even taking a breath, he leaned in to listen to whatever was happening behind the curtain. The beat of the heart monitor slowed the slightest bit until he leaned closer, then picking up again a little faster than it was before.
He ripped the curtain open.
Green met green.
Chat Noir was standing on the opposite side of Marinette’s bed, a hand bubbling deep green instead of cataclysmic black hovering over her chest.
Adrien fell backwards, catching himself on a chair.
The hero stared back at him with pinprick irises, tail wavering in a warning and teeth bared. The hand did not move from its spot.
Adrien tried to step closer, and Chat immediately pulled out his staff and pointed it at him, thumb over the extension button. His mouth set in a snarl as his tail flickered in agitation.
It was another minute before Chat’s hand stopped glowing and he withdrew it, still holding the baton out in the air.
“Who-“ Adrien reached out with his right hand and hissed as a ringing noise screamed in his ears. He gripped his head, narrowing but not closing his eyes, seeing his alter ego crumble in the same way, kneeling on the floor. Clawed gloves covered his fake ears.
The pain in his head struck deep, chipping away like a chisel at the top of his brain. He tried to step forward once again, reaching out through the way his head screamed to not. Chat’s eyes shot open, staring at his hand then at him. He looked conflicted for a moment before muttering something under his breath and leaping back into the open ceiling with a single bound.
Adrien knew he couldn’t catch him like this. He was left with a throbbing headache and tried to catch his breath, falling back into the chair.
Well, that explains what Ladybug said this morning.
But what explains everything that just happened? He stared at his ring again in confusion. He was Chat Noir - he was always, will always be Chat Noir, with or without the costume and powers.
So why did this Chat Noir exist on their own?
…and why couldn’t he remember what he looked like?
Adrien pulled at his hair in frustration, curling up in the seat to try and think. Did they look like him? Did they not? All he knew was that the instant he pulled back the curtain, he just knew. He blew out a breath and got up.
Looks like he has some things to mull over in class tomorrow. Right after braving whatever his classmates’ reactions were to his return. Nino promised to stick by him all day to ward off anyone probing too much, but he knew Alya would be his best bet for more information. If she wanted to even talk at him, that is. He had a feeling she wouldn't if he brought up the things that have been bugging him lately.
The heart monitor was calm now. Adrien took one last look at Marinette underneath the tubes, bandages, and wires. She was pale and the veins under her skin made an ugly, almost bruised contrast against it. The purple hue of the walls cast a blue shade on her bed. He decided that pink was a better color on her.
Adrien knelt next to her bedside, getting as close as he dared possible. He didn’t touch her. Nails dug into his palms as he forced his arms to stay by his sides. He wanted so badly to share the warmth of his hands with her, wanting it to be the catalyst to bring her back.
He wanted. He begged. He prayed.
He was too afraid to close that distance when she looked like she could shatter at a single touch.
“Princess, please-“ his voice cracked. “Your knight couldn’t save you. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…please, find your way back home safe.”
The tears wouldn’t fall this time. He had to leave before he let this negative energy affect her. Miraculous or not, he was always followed by misfortune.
He paused outside the door staring at the handle. The door was still open by just a couple inches. His eyes wavered, but he knew he couldn’t be here. His lips set in a frown.
Resolutely, he pulled the door closed and ran down the hallway.