Chapter Text
“Paris, are you ready?”
The crowd screamed back unintelligibly as Jagged started to strum a few chords on his guitar. Behind him, the music interns were finishing tuning their instruments as the dancers waited in the wings.
“I have a special surprise tonight,” Jagged said, leaning closer to the microphone, “but you’re going to have to wait until the end to find out what it is!” The crowd screamed more. Jagged waited until they’d quieted to go on. “As you know, this is our last stop for this tour. Big thank you to everyone who came along for the ride, and let’s make this last show our best one yet, yeah?” This time, the screaming came from both the crowd and the staff.
Everyone took their cue and the stage burst to life as the screams from the crowd only grew louder.
Marinette looked out over the audience, spotting her friends in the front row. Alya, Nino, Ivan, Mylène, Juleka, and Rose had been planning to go to Jagged’s concert anyways, along with Marinette, to see Luka perform. Since Marinette had gone on tour with Jagged, they’d given her ticket to Tom instead. All of them wore giant grins as they cheered along to Jagged’s lyrics.
Tearing her gaze away from her friends, Marinette looked at the performers. Jagged was rocking out like the rockstar he was, while the dance interns were putting on quite a show behind him. Fang was placed in a position of prominence as usual, and it seemed that the dance interns had come a long way from being scared of him as they were during their first show. Further back, the music interns were playing along with Jagged, easily keeping time with the music. As Marinette watched, Adrien looked up from the keys to shoot her a smile.
When Adrien had returned from the music intern meeting, he hadn’t told her who won - apparently Jagged had sworn them all to secrecy about the winning composition. He had, however, told her that his song wasn’t the one Jagged had chose. He hadn’t seemed too upset about it, though, as Jagged had still given him some good feedback on the song.
Marinette was a little disappointed to hear he hadn’t won, but wondered who could have put together a song better than Adrien’s. They’d spent the rest of the day just hanging out and talking with each other - about the times they’d had on tour, about their plans for when they got back to Paris, and about whether they’d like to return to touring with Jagged the following year.
“I think I might like to become a musician,” Adrien had told her. “Of course, Father would never approve, and I doubt Nathalie would help me sneak around under his nose. But Plagg says he could volunteer as my piano tutor.”
“Plagg can play the piano?!”
Adrien had laughed at the incredulous look on her face. “When he’s not busy eating cheese? Yeah, he’s pretty good. He used to tour as a musician for Jagged - Plagg’s the one who taught him to play the keytar. But anyways, if Plagg gets the job tutoring me in piano, he says he can set me up with a few connections.”
“Wow, that’s great, Adrien!"
“Yeah, I hope it all works out. I wouldn’t be debuting as myself, though - I’ve got a pen name picked out already. Chat Noir!” He struck a pose, swiping his fingers through the air in an imitation of cat claws. “What do you think?”
“Sounds impressive,” Marinette giggled, “and I’m sure everyone will love you.”
“Thanks, I sure hope so,” Adrien smiled back. “Hey, maybe you could do it, too - you sounded amazing on my track.”
“Sure,” Marinette smiled, humouring him, “would I get a cool pen name, too?”
“Hmm,” Adrien hummed, tapping his finger to his chin, “you’d be … Ladybug!” He pointed to one such an insect flying around them. “You’re like a lucky charm, after all.”
“I wouldn’t exactly say that,” Marinette told him, but Adrien shook his head.
“It’s true,” he insisted, “you’ve brought me friendship, and happiness - and what more could I ask for?” He beamed at her, like her own personal ray of sunshine.
She’d wanted to tell him, right then and there - the words had been on the tip of her tongue, begging to be set free. I love you.
But what use were they if he didn’t feel the same? No use in ruining a perfectly good friendship, she reasoned with herself, and so she swallowed them back down and turned the conversation towards safer ground - friends from back home, and plans for the upcoming school year.
Now, standing in the wings as she watched Adrien beam at her from under the stage lights, she wanted to run out there and scream it at him - I love you .
But there was a show going on, so she just smiled back and waved.
“Alright, everybody,” Jagged said, and a hush fell over the stadium. “Our time together is coming to a close. It’s been a wonderful tour, three months spent with the best people - and so to finish it off, I have a very special performance for you.” The dance interns filed offstage as the lights started to change to something moodier. Jagged continued, “My music interns were tasked with a very important and secret project a while back. You see, there’s something I’ve been wanting to say for a while, but I was having trouble finding the words. And who better to ask for help than these kids?” He gestured behind him, and the crowd cheered for the music interns, who waved.
“I’ve selected a winner,” Jagged said once the cheering had died down, “and I’d like you all to give Luka a nice, big round of applause.” The crowd started cheering again as Luka stepped forward. “Luka’s going to be featured on my next single,” Jagged called out over the noise, and the crowd cheered louder. Once they’d quieted again, Jagged looked into the wings. “Now, Penny? Could you come out here, please?”
Penny stepped onstage, looking the most nervous Marinette had ever seen her. Using one hand to shield her eyes from the glare of the stage lights, she made her way over to Jagged as the crowd burst into applause once more. “Jagged?”
“Everyone, give it up for Penny!” Jagged wrapped his arm around her shoulder and kissed her cheek as the crowd roared some more.
As the cheering died down, the music interns slowly started playing before Luka started singing. It was a gentle sort of rock ballad, and Jagged started leading Penny into a dance around the stage. She swayed with him, smiling suspiciously at him.
Next to Marinette, Tikki and Duusu were holding hands and cooing as Nooroo and Plagg discreetly wiped tears from their eyes.
Marinette looked over at Adrien again as Luka started on the chorus. She was slightly surprised to find that he was already looking at her. As they stared at each other, he mouthed along to what Luka was singing. I love you.
Marinette’s jaw dropped, but she was already mouthing back to him, I love you, too.
He smiled at her, and she smiled back as Luka finished his song. He went back to leave the stage with the other music interns as Jagged led Penny towards the front of the stage. She was shaking her head at him fondly, a look of exasperation on her face. Jagged gave her another kiss on the cheek over taking hold of the mic again. Marinette could have been mistaken, but - was Penny blushing?
“Thanks again for coming out, everyone,” Jagged said, keeping Penny next to him by wrapping an arm around her waist. He finished the show with some closing remarks, but Marinette wasn’t listening - Adrien was there.
“Marinette.” He reached for her hand before pausing. Marinette reached out and took his hands in hers.
“Adrien.” She stared into his eyes. He stared back, and then he was kissing her.
They broke apart after a moment, and Adrien turned to glare at Plagg. “Really? Was that necessary?”
“You weren’t making any moves,” Plagg said, raising his hands defensively, “we don’t have all night. And besides, now I get to say this: I told you so.”
Adrien rolled his eyes as Marinette took his face in her hands and kissed him again.
Later, after the stadium had cleared out, the interns took their bags off their bus and said their goodbyes. Jagged’s tour was officially over, and they would all be heading home. They’d already said goodbye to the mentors earlier. Promises to keep in touch were exchanged, and everyone hugged before heading towards the front entrance.
“Well,” Marinette said, turning to Adrien, “I’ll text you later.”
“Yeah,” he said, turning back to her, “maybe I can come by and visit the bakery someday.”
“Adrien!” They turned to see Gabriel’s assistant, Nathalie, glaring at them sternly. She was holding open the door of a fancy car. “Your father is waiting.”
“Bye, Marinette,” Adrien said, looking at her sadly. She kissed his cheek before letting his fingers slip through hers. He looked over his shoulder at her as he got into the car, waving. She waved back as Nathalie got in after him and slammed the door shut, the car taking off not a moment later.
Looking around, Marinette noticed Vivica also getting into a car, waving goodbye to Luka. Other than the two of them, many of the others had already left, either opting to walk home or having already been picked up.
Luka hesitated before waving at her, and Marinette waved back. They started walking towards each other, meeting in the middle at a speed limit sign.
“Congratulations on winning Jagged’s concert, Luka,” she told him.
“Thanks, Marinette,” Luka said, giving her a look of surprise that he tried to cover. “Um, how did you enjoy the tour?”
“It was … memorable,” Marinette told him, “how about you?”
“Good, thanks,” he nodded. A beat passed, and then, “So, uh - um ...”
“What is it?"
“I’m - I’m just, well -” He let out a sigh. “I’m sorry about what happened at the beginning of the summer, Marinette. I thought we were on the same page, but that wasn’t true. I hurt your feelings, and I -”
“It’s okay,” Marinette told him, “I forgive you, and I’m sorry, too - I’m sorry I doubted your feelings and tried to follow you on the tour.”
“It’s okay,” Luka said, “I forgive you, too.” They smiled at each other, an easy understanding between them.
“Marinette! Luka!” They turned to see their friends and family racing towards them.
Marinette opened her arms, exchanging hugs and bisou with her loved ones after not seeing them for so long.
“It’s so good to see you!”
“We missed you!”
“I’m so glad you’re back!”
As she headed home that night, Marinette felt truly happy for the first time in a long while.
“Bonjour, class,” their new teacher said as they all settled into their seats.
It was the first day of school again, and with Mme. Bustier out on leave for her baby, the class had been assigned a substitute. He wore a blue-ish, purple-ish button-down, and a pair of pink headphones hung around his neck, which Nino seemed excited about.
“I am M. G,” the teacher said, scrawling M. G across the board as he spoke, “welcome to a new school year! I am sorry that your teacher could not be here today, but I hope we can spend our next few months together in harmony.” A slight American accent hung around his words, and he smiled at them after he’d finished speaking.
The class politely returned the greetings before he started the lesson.
“Okay, let me begin by assigning seats.” M. G cleared his throat. “So, why don't we all gath -”
The classroom door opened, and everyone turned to look as Nathalie and Adrien stepped into the room, along with the headmaster. Nathalie glared around the room as Adrien caught Chloé’s eye, and then Marinette’s. He started smiling radiantly as M. Damocles conversed quietly with the teacher before turning to face the class.
“Everyone, this is Adrien Agreste,” M. Damocles told them, “he will be joining your class this year, please treat him kindly.”
“Welcome, Adrien,” chorused the class, and Adrien waved at them all.
“Hello,” he greeted, and M. G directed him to sit in an empty seat next to Sabrina, across the aisle from Marinette.
“Alright, class,” M. G said as M. Damocles escorted Nathalie out of the room, “as I was saying - new seats! In alphabetical order. This will just be until I can learn all of your names, and then you can sit wherever you’d like.” He kept talking about new beginnings and fresh starts as the class grumbled and groaned, but Marinette couldn’t help but feel that it truly would be a new start for her.
She’d gone through quite a few changes over the past three months, but they weren’t as bad as she’d initially thought they’d be. As she took her new seat next to Juleka, Marinette felt she’d be ready to face whatever other changes might come her way. And if she wasn’t, well, at least she had good friends to face them with.