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Marinette sat at the bar, leaning her back against it as she watched the party quietly and contently. It was a long day for her, but seeing the look on her best friend’s face as she danced with her new husband, looking radiant in white, was all worth it. Being maid of honour certainly wasn’t easy, but Alya promised to return the favour… someday. And an open bar. Marinette definitely made sure to take her up on that one now. Nothing like a steady flow of strawberry daiquiris to reward her for all the running around, fixing the wardrobe malfunctions and making sure the event went smoothly. Not to mention all the work she had to do to avoid…
“It’s been a while, huh?”
She jumped. She hadn’t even realized that she zoned out so much that she didn’t even notice Adrien freaking Agreste of all people sit down next to her. Oh boy. All day, she had been able to use her maid of honour duties as an excuse to slip away any time she sensed him getting too close, but she had none now. She was hoping that he left early, since she hadn’t seen him since the speeches. But there he was, right next to her and she was completely unprepared. She had spent many a night over the last few years imagining what she might say or do if she ever came face-to-face with him again. Would she yell at him? Cry? Give him a piece of her mind or tell him that she still loved him? Every one of those scenarios she would go through in detail, but none of them included her being frozen in place, unable to form a single word. It was like she was fourteen again, the clumsy, awkward teenager with a stupid crush. Except it was more than that this time. They were both grown up, and things were done that couldn't be taken back.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” His hand went to the back of his neck in typical Adrien fashion. He’s grown up and changed a lot since Marinette saw him last, but some things, she supposed, would always remain the same. “I know I saw you earlier, but… well, it’s been a long day, hasn’t it?”
Marinette cleared her throat and nodded carefully. “Yeah…”
For a while, neither of them spoke. People came and went around them to order drinks and some curious glances from old friends who knew enough to know that Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Adrien Agreste hadn’t spoken in years were given. But neither of them reacted. Marinette dared herself to steal a glance. It’s been years since his face graced a magazine cover with its presence, but it certainly hadn’t lost its right to be there in the slightest. He looked more mature, not the boy she remembered but a young man with a chiselled jawline and defined features. The last time she saw him, his hair was still past his ears but he’s since cut it and she had to admit, it looked good on him. She blushed. Why was she still thinking like that? She hated that she couldn’t just get over him, despite the time, despite his last words to her before she left the country to pursue her dreams.
Her chest heaved. She thought she was over it. She thought the passage of time had healed her wounds. But having him right next to her, looking over at her with those same eyes that stared at her through the mask on that cold November evening, she realized that no matter how hard she tried to convince herself that she was over it, all it took was one look to send her spiralling back. The huge, two-story ballroom that Alya and Nino have chosen as the venue for their wedding ceremony and reception suddenly felt too small for her. She looked away as tears stung her eyes.
“Marinette, I-“
Stay away from me!
“Excuse me,” she mumbled as her lungs screamed. She got off the bar stool abruptly, almost tripping over her dress, but regaining her balance quickly enough even despite wearing heels and having a few cocktails in her. She may have gotten less and less clumsy as time went on, but that trait of hers wouldn’t disappear completely. She stumbled through the crowd on the dance floor, nearly running into the happy couple and muttering scattered apologies. Alya and Nino glanced at her, then at one another, before Alya noticed the blond rushing past behind Nino’s back and understood. Reassuring her husband that everything was fine, she spun him around as the song continued.
Marinette reached the doors to the balcony and spilled outside, panting slightly. Luckily, it was empty so she could fall apart in peace.
I don’t need you!
She gripped the edge as the warm June evening breeze hit her face. She tried her best to get her breathing under control as the first tear spilled over.
Do me a favour and don’t look back.
“Marinette! Wait! Please,” his voice called from behind her. She gripped the railing harder as her eyes snapped to the scenery sprawled out below her.
“Why, Adrien?” She hated how weak and watery her voice sounded. “Why?” She whipped around to face him as the hurt bubbled over into anger. “Why couldn’t you just mind your business tonight? I spent weeks preparing myself for today, knowing that I’d have to see your face again. But what I didn’t prepare for was having to talk to you like nothing! Because if I remember correctly, last time we spoke, you told me in no uncertain terms that you wanted nothing to do with me!” The tears flowed freely now as the painful memory surfaced. She had never seen him as broken but also as angry as she had that night.
“I know!” The look in his eyes was an intense one. The green was almost glowing. The ring on his finger glinted silver, not black, yet Marinette swore that she was looking at Chat Noir instead of Adrien Agreste. “I know what I told you. And guess what? I lied.” He dared to step closer.
“That was the worst lie I’ve ever told.” He looked away. “After my-Shadowmoth was arrested, my life fell apart. Everywhere I turned, all I could see were people talking, staring, judging. I had nowhere to go. Being Chat Noir was the only piece of sanity I got to hold on to. Besides you. Even if we had a lot of messes of our own to untangle between us, you were the only person I wanted by my side.” He turned back to her. “Then you told me you got accepted to that school in London. Don’t get me wrong, I was happy for you.” Adrien paused, taking a breath. Marinette softened a little. She could see that this was not easy for him to say, and there would never be a day when she wouldn’t care for him.
“So happy,” he whispered. “But then the trial started. And I was reminded that once you left, I would be all alone again. But I saw his face again on the stand and I wondered just how far the apple really fell from the tree.” His gaze almost knocked Marinette off her feet. “He was willing to let the city crumble for her. And I realized that if I was him and you were her…” Adrien’s eyes glistened with the beginnings of tears in the soft moonlight. “I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything different,” he whispered.
“Maybe I was better off alone after all.”
Nothing but crickets filled the stunned silence as Marinette stared at the boy who broke her heart so long ago. He was broken beyond anything she could have possibly comprehended, and she was too hurt to see it properly for herself. Whatever she thought she knew shattered in that instant and her eyes filled with tears all over again as she realized that she never even tried to understand.
“You know, it was Luka who eventually snapped me out of it,” Adrien chuckled. “He was the only one who saw through my crap. You know how he is.” Marinette nodded slowly. “But if it wasn’t for him…” Adrien winced. “Look. I was a complete dick to you. I know this, and I’m not expecting you to ever forgive me for how I acted. But I want you to know that I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Marinette. Pushing you away like I did will always be my biggest regret. You didn’t deserve any of it.” He looked back into her eyes to make sure his words reached her properly. “And when I told you I didn’t need you, I lied.”
They looked at each other for a long moment. Both were afraid of what the other would do next.
“Adrien…”
However Marinette expected her night to go, hugging Adrien Agreste was certainly not on her list of predictions. But there she was, holding him, catching him off guard as she began to cry.
“I’m sorry. You needed me and I let you push me away. I’m so sorry,” she mumbled into his shirt.
“Hey.” He gently tilted her chin to get her to look him in the eyes. “Listen to me. You had every right to walk away with the way I treated you. It was horrible and there was no excuse for it. I don’t blame you, so please don’t blame yourself either.” He hugged her back and the two held each other for a long while, making up for lost time and misunderstandings.
“I’m glad you didn’t let yourself get treated like that,” he whispered into her hair. “You deserve so much better.”
Marinette held him tighter. She didn’t trust herself to speak so she didn’t dare to.
Neither of them wanted to let go of the other. They weren’t sure how long they stood there, but eventually they pulled apart. Looking up at him, Marinette was struck by how much the desire to kiss him really hadn’t changed with time.
Adrien cleared his throat. “A-anyway.” He leaned against the railing, turning his attention to the sky above them. “I’m doing better now. It took a lot of time… and therapy. But I’ve kinda been able to make peace with everything. And myself.” He looked at Marinette, who leaned up next to him. “I’m starting to figure my life out. Slowly.”
Marinette smiled at him. “I’m glad to hear that. I know you’ve always had a hard time with that and it’s not your fault. You deserve to be happy.”
Adrien smiled back. “I hope so. But what about you? What has the book of Marinette Dupain-Cheng looked like since the Ladybug chapter closed?”
Marinette sighed. “Well, it’s been a long one for sure.” She looked back at him with a teasing smirk. “And hey. Who said it was closed forever? I have a feeling there will be quite a few more pages to write.”
Adrien chuckled. “If you say so, m’lady, then I’m inclined to believe you.” She laughed.
Marinette had forgotten how right it felt to just be next to him, black suit or not. Maybe that’s why they spent the next hour on that balcony, just talking, catching up on where life took them after it ripped them apart. She mentioned how she moved back to Paris recently. He took the hint. They were getting dinner next week. And she knew that Alya would never let the I-told-you-so’s and this-all-happened-because-I-got-married’s die for as long as she lived, but she didn’t mind in the slightest. Anything was worth having her kitty back by her side.