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The defeat of Monarch had been a difficult thing. One by one, they had gotten half of the miraculous back. And it was a well thought out plan that had been destroyed during battle that had left Ladybug and Chat Noir alone with Monarch. Despite having gathered a team for the miraculous they did have. Chat had been off since the formulation of the plan, she could tell. He was more reckless than ever, going for Monarch who wielded the miraculous like toys. His words still echoed in her mind.
“How could you do this to your family? Your son? He thought his mother dead, the whole world did!” Chat demanded as he used his baton as a saber, while Monarch used his cane to block him. Together they were locked in a battle and Ladybug was attempting to figure out how to use her Lucky Charm.
“I am doing this for my family!” Monarch cursed as he slipped up on his footing and Chat managed a well timed swipe at his legs. Flat on his back Ladybug thought Monarch was down and out. But he used a power that even she didn’t know about, and morphed his cane into a blade. So when Chat descended on him, he stabbed him straight through the shoulder.
Her scream echoed off the walls as Chat hit his knees. But still, she would never forget what Chat said in that moment. “You truly are a monster… To be able to do this to your own son.” As he coughed blood came from his mouth, splattering across Monarch’s shocked expression.
Descending upon them in that moment Ladybug attacked with her yo-yo, and her fists. Fighting akumas, and the innocent people behind them, was completely different. She was going to destroy Gabriel Agreste. Her fist connected with his face moments before he kicked her off of him.
“Adrien… Adrien…” Crawling to Chat Noir’s limp body the super villain turned him over onto his back so he could see his face. He wasn’t losing blood as fast as he could be, seeing as how the weapon was still within the wound. “Adrien, no. Don’t be him. All this time.”
“Don’t you dare touch him.” Her yo-yo flew out before she could think twice, and wrapped around the man. Dragging him back the two were locked in a battle, Monarch attempting to use every miraculous he had while Ladybug had nothing but her fury and her Lucky Charm which she had finally figured out the reason for. It was to wrap his wound. Chat’s wound.
She wasn’t sure how she got the rings off of his fingers, but she sure as hell did. And she left the broken Gabriel Agreste dangling from the walk-way with her yo-yo as she ran to Chat’s side. Only at this point, rubble surrounded them. She and Gabriel had destroyed the mansion in their battle. “Chat… Oh my gosh, fuck. Chat!” The blade stuck clear through his shoulder, and she desperately pressed the cloth to his leather clad shoulder.
That was the moment that he detransformed, and she was left staring at the face of the boy she loved. Well, he was a young man now. So much time had passed. Plagg landed on his blood soaked chest and Ladybug gently scooped him up. “Oh Plagg, I am so sorry. But I have to take you away from him. The police will be here any minute. And no one can know that he’s Chat Noir. There can’t be any proof.” Reaching for his finger as the police came in with the help of their friends she took his ring, and hated herself for it.
Plagg disappeared, and Ladybug called for help as she hid the ring. “Help! I have a civilian here who has been stabbed! We need an ambulance.” She called her hands going back to press against his wound with the cloth.
“Oh my god, LB!” Rena Rouge came running up to them, her eyes wide. “You have to try your miraculous cure. It should heal him, won’t it?” She knelt beside the heroine, pressing her hands atop Ladybug’s.
“No, I don’t think it will. This is a serious wound, and if we remove the cane he’ll bleed out. If I use the cure… It might not work. I can’t risk it.” Not until he was in the hands of professionals at least. Stone faced she held out, everything else becoming white noise around her. Even Rena’s words didn’t reach her as she watched the blood seep between her fingers. This was the boy she had loved, the partner who fought beside her so diligently. The man who had lost everything.
“Ladybug… Ladybug? Ladybug!” Hands on her shoulders Carapace was the one to gently pull her back, and she nearly decked him for his efforts. “The paramedics are here.”
“Oh, oh… Carapace, I am so sorry.” She was quick to apologize, only to turn when she heard a groan come from Adrien as he was lifted onto a stretcher. Lunging for him she was held back by both Carapace and Rena.
“You have to let the paramedics take him.” Carapace said firmly, his gaze moving over her face as he held her arm and waist. Rena stood in front of her, blocking her view.
“There is nothing we can do for him now. He has friends. They know.” Rena promised, of course she knew Ladybug knew that. But it seemed she needed a reminder. Hands on her dear friend’s shoulders she frowned, her head tilting. “Are you going to be okay?”
“I have to address the press, meet with everyone and get their miraculous back.” Monarch had figured out a way to remove the timers on their miraculous. So, at least they didn’t have to worry about that.
“I think we need to get the blood off of you first.” Rena frowned, looking Ladybug over. She was covered in blood from holding Adrien. And she could not address the press like that. As a reporter she knew that the news would run wild with the story. Ladybug covered in blood? The photo would be on every news outlet there was.
“I have no choice. It’s not like I can wash up. And they took my Lucky Charm with Adrien. There is no reversing the damage done to the mansion. There is no reversing the damage done to us.” Because there were too many unknowns, and losing Adrien was not an option. She didn’t care about the mansion or anything else. “Let’s go somewhere private. Carapace, gather everyone and meet me in our usual spot in fifteen minutes. Rena, you’re with me.”
With that she turned back to face the police who were waiting by Monarch. The man still dangling from her yo-yo. He seemed defeated if the slump of his shoulders was anything to go by. Like he had lost his fighting spirit. Nearly killing one’s son could do that to you. Pulling him up from where he dangled, she one by one removed his miraculous, watching as he went through different transformations. Finally, there was only one left. The poor butterfly who had been with him for far too long.
Removing it she was left staring into the cold eyes of Gabriel Agreste. Without any thought behind it, her fist drew back and she punched him, square in the nose. “That was for Adrien.” She hissed as he reared back into the arms of officers. Pulling her yo-yo off of him she allowed Gabriel to be taken away by police, her head shaking. “Alright Rena, let’s get somewhere private.” With that she swung her yo-yo, trusting her friend to follow.
Taking them to a private rooftop she told her friend to detransform, her hands going to her hips. With the miraculous back in her possession she dropped it into her yo-yo, back into the miracle box where it belonged. “Okay, Alya. You are going to get an exclusive interview with Ladybug. That way I don’t have any questions about where is Chat Noir.”
“But where -” Ladybug held up her hand. “Alright, no questions about Chat Noir. Let’s do this.” Pushing her shortened hair out of her face Alya pulled her phone out of her pocket, giving a tight lipped smile. “Are you sure you don’t want to wash up?”
“I want this to be real. And I want it now.” She was a woman on a mission, she was going to destroy Gabriel’s life more than he already had. What she had witnessed today was a tragedy, and she would not let him get away with it.
When Alya lifted her phone she straightened her spine and stiffened her shoulders, she had to be someone bold for the people. After all they had been through together, they needed a hero. And she’d be that hero. Alya gave her the thumbs up to indicate that they were live and she nodded.
“Hello people of Paris. I am coming on to address what has happened today at the Agreste mansion. I am sure you have all heard whispers and rumors, heard the explosions and seen the chaos. Well, Monarch, Hawk Moth, Shadow Moth, whatever he likes to call himself, is none other than Gabriel Agreste. He is the man who has been terrorizing Paris for years. I will not go into details about what I have seen today, to protect Adrien Agreste, the young man who was stabbed today by his own father and has had nothing to do with any of this.” She had to at least attempt to protect Chat. Adrien. She still couldn’t rationalize that in her mind.
“Adrien Agreste is in critical condition and is being taken to the hospital as we speak. I ask of you, beg of you, to please give him the privacy and time he needs to heal and be well. He has seen a lot today. Faced a lot today. And it would not be fair to him to have all of Paris asking him questions when he has already lost so much. I will be doing interviews once I have cleaned up this mess to address any concerns the public may have. This is Ladybug, signing off.”
When Alya gave her the thumbs up that they were clear and lowered her phone Ladybug let herself collapse and detransform. Hands on her face she gave herself a moment to cry, a moment to mourn. Because in knowing her partner's identity, she felt as if she had lost something. But more than anything, she mourned for Adrien. He actually had lost something this day, a long list of somethings. And it wasn’t over.
Alya was quick to rush to Marinette’s side, her arms wrapping around her tightly. “I have you, girl. Don’t worry. I have you.” She whispered softly, hugging her tightly. Marinette cried into her shoulder, her arms curling around her waist to seek comfort.
~
They had stayed like that for only a short time before Marinette had to return to her duty as Ladybug. Gathering the miraculous, she had Rena wait for her at home, knowing she’d need some support later on. She was desperately trying not to do the whole suffer-in-silence bit.
Once she had returned home Marinette detransformed and collapsed onto her bed, face down in her pillows so she didn’t have to look at the pictures on her wall. Alya was waiting down below, peering up at her friend.
“Nino is at the hospital with Adrien. They’ve contacted his Aunt Amelie, but she’s off somewhere with Felix. So she designated Nino next of kin.” Throwing her hair up into a ponytail she grabbed the first-aid supplies and made her way up the ladder to her friend’s side. “Are you wounded?” First she’d address the most glaring concerns, then talk to her about visiting Adrien.
“Nothing first-aid can take care of.” Marinette groaned as she flipped over to stare up at Alya. “It’s Adrien. This whole time it’s been Adrien. And I can’t even focus on that, because he’s hurt. And… I took Plagg. He’s going to be devastated.” She whispered softly. “I’ll have to visit him as Ladybug.”
“Or you could visit him as his dear friend Marinette, who has been his friend since we were fourteen.” Alya couldn’t help but remind her, lifting the bottom of her shirt to try and spy any bruises. “Nino was asking if we’d come to visit. He’s in surgery right now.”
“Ladybug has been a better friend to Chat Noir for just as long. And he deserves an explanation as to why I took Plagg.”
“Why did you take his kwami?” She found herself asking as she placed an ice pack on her stomach where a bruise was forming.
“Because if Gabriel claims he is Chat Noir, no one can prove it if he doesn’t have the ring. And Plagg would have brought the ring to me in either case when they removed his belongings for his surgery.” Hissing slightly she sat up suddenly, almost sending Alya tumbling back. “Tikki! I need to check on Tikki.”
“I’m right here Marinette.” Came the soft, obviously tired, voice of her kwami. Floating down from the little dollhouse that was hers Tikki looked a little less red than usual, but other than being tired appeared no worse for wear.
“Oh Tikki.” Seeing that her dear little friend was as tired as she was, tears sprang into her eyes once again, but she instantly reached into the purse at her side for the cookies she always had on her. Providing Tikki with as many as she had, which was only three, she leaned back into the pillows of her bed, the kwami on her chest. “That was a hard battle, wasn’t it?”
“You sure did punch him in the face like we all wanted to.” Alya grumbled, desperately wanting to better check her friend for wounds. After seeing Adrien, she was in a little state of shock. Perhaps Marinette was too.
“He deserved it! He stabbed Adrien! I mean Chat! I mean… they’re the same.” Sighing heavily she pulled the ring out of her pocket and slid it on, she hadn’t been able to put Plagg away in the miracle box. “Plagg, come on out.” She encouraged gently.
But this kwami, oh he was tired. Appearing out of the ring he instantly dropped down next to Tikki, leaning into her side. He had been stabbed too, in a roundabout sort of way.
“Alya, can you go get some cheese from the fridge? At this point anything will do.” Marinette easily moved to command, taking charge of the situation because she was not going to have another go at being a bad guardian.
“Of course.” Sliding from the bed she disappeared downstairs, said a brief hello to her parents who were too absorbed in the news, and sneakily took as much cheese as she could for the kwami. Making her way back upstairs she was holding it in her shirt as she climbed back up to the bed. Dumping it onto the blanket she sighed. “I dug for anything you all had.”
“Plagg, you need to eat.” Tikki attempted to encourage, but the cat god hissed tiredly, his head in her lap. “Plagg. Just a little bit of cheese to get your strength up.”
Marinette was already busy opening packages to see what he might like. They didn’t have camembert, but they had cheeses. Waving her hand towards him to get the scents in his direction she smiled when he lifted his head. Watching as he toddled his way over she gave a sigh of relief when he bit into some cheese. He definitely needed it.
“Marinette, as much as I want to stay with you, I have to go to Nino. And I think you should come too.” Alya finally spoke up after a few moments of watching the kwami of destruction eat.
“Alya, I have to take care of the kwamis. I…” Staring at her friend, those blasted tears gathered in her eyes again and she had to look away from her expectant face. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I can.”
“Marinette, he’s your friend and your partner. You have to be there for him.” She attempted again as she started to climb from the bed. “I am going to go take care of my distraught boyfriend. We’re a foursome. You should be there.”
“You know when you say things like that, people have questions.” The formerly pigtailed heroine grumbled, but pulled the ring off her finger and scooped up Plagg as well as the cheese. “In my purse, both of you.” Once she had the kwamis settled she climbed down after Alya. “Fine, I’ll come for a while. But then I have other responsibilities.”
“As long as you come.” Taking her hands Alya kissed her cheek before leading the way down. They took a brief moment to explain that they were going to wait with Nino at the hospital for Adrien to her parents, and of course the two loaded them up with goodies before sending them off.
~
Marinette wound up staying at the hospital for much longer than she had planned. Her worry for her friends was paramount over all the other things she felt she needed to take care of. Holding Nino’s hand as his foot bounced nervously she looked up every time the doors to the waiting room opened and someone walked in.
It was roughly four hours into their wait when it was a doctor who came through the doors and Nino stood up, almost dumping the box of treats at his feet. The two women rose up with him, Alya with her hand still in his.
“Is Adrien alright? It’s been so long, dude, uh, sir. Doctor dude.” Stumbling over himself as he tried to find the words he was comforted by the squeeze of Alya’s hand on his shoulder.
“Adrien appears to be doing fine. He hasn’t woken up yet, but we finally have him settled in a room after a very long set of surgeries.” The doctor explained, reaching out to set a hand on Nino’s shoulder as well. “This is going to be a difficult recovery process. But he will recover. At least physically.”
“We’ll handle everything. Can we see him now?” He found himself asking, his body practically shaking with the need to see his friend whole and alive. After what he had seen, he’d never unsee it. But he knew he was going to be there for Adrien every step of the way. They were brothers.
“Yes, these ladies as well, I am assuming?” Doctor Hoffman asked, inclining his head towards Alya and Marinette.
“Yes, we’re his family.” Nino explained, and Hoffman said no more as he turned to lead them to Adrien’s private room. A police officer was posted outside, and checked their IDs before allowing them into the room.
Adrien was still asleep in his hospital bed, bandages peeking out from under the gown he was wearing for modesty. He was paler than normal with bags under his eyes. The poor hero of Paris looked terrible if Marinette were honest with herself. She wanted to rush to his side. But all that happened was a gasp, and she looked away.
“Come on Marinette, it’s alright. He’s alive at least.” Nino encouraged as he took her by the arm and led them all forward. Moving a chair he took a seat directly by Adrien’s side, then looked up at Doctor Hoffman. “When should we expect him to wake up?”
“He should wake up anytime now. The anesthetic should have worn off, so it’s up to Adrien at this point. I’ll have a nurse come check every twenty minutes until he does fully wake up.” Bowing his head to the lot of them, Doctor Hoffman took his leave.
Moving to Nino’s side Alya laid a hand on his shoulder, silently offering support. But Nino was finally in the mood to talk. “If Ladybug ever gives me back Wayzz I’m going to get my hands on that asshole father of his and show him what I can really do.”
“Nino, you know that’s not what the kwamis are for. Ladybug and Chat Noir wouldn’t want that.” Marinette spoke softly, moving to stand at Adrien’s other side.
“How would you know?” He shot in anger, but Alya squeezed his shoulder and he took a breath. “Sorry, sorry. I’m just so mad! How could Gabriel do this to him? How could this have happened?” He didn’t know that Marinette was Ladybug, he didn’t know exactly what he could and couldn’t say.
Perhaps it was time she spoke to her friends.
Gingerly, Marinette reached out a hand and laid it over Adrien’s arm. “You’ll be alright Adrien. We are here for you.” She whispered softly, only to jump when his arm moved. “Fuck!”
“Wow, Marinette.” The blond coughed out her name. “I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“Well look at you! With a sense of humor too!” Nino had tears in his eyes as he addressed his friend while Alya moved to hit the call nurse button and get him some ice chips.
Handing the chips over to Marinette she watched until the raven haired woman used the little spoon to gently get Adrien some such needed water. “Sorry to baby you Adrien.” Marinette whispered to him.
“He needs some babying!” Nino exclaimed just as the nurse came in.
“I see someone is awake. Good, good. We figured you just needed the rest and your friends. Do you remember what happened, Monsieur Agreste?” The woman found herself asking as she stepped around the lot of them to check his vitals.
“I… I don’t.” He lied, looking rather doe-eyed. He had been lying for so long at this point it was second nature. “Should I remember?”
“What is the last thing you remember?” The nurse asked, shining a pen light in his eyes.
“Ladybug.” Came the blurted answer that made him flush. “I remember Ladybug. And… Not much else.”
“It’s fairly common with trauma to not remember things. It should come back to you. Especially since this isn’t a head wound.” Giving a little smile she lowered her light, pat his good shoulder and stepped back. “Your vitals all appear normal. We can set you up with a psychologist once you’re more prepared.”
“Um, that …” Adrien looked around at his friends and Nino stood up.
“I’ve been appointed your next of kin dude. Your Aunt couldn’t make it. And remembered we were close. So yes, once you’re more settled you’ll see a psychologist.” Nino took his hand with a little smile. “Thank you mademoiselle.”
“We’ll be back to check on him soon.” She promised before taking her leave as well so the friends were left all alone.
“So… What happened?” Adrien asked the moment they were alone, and Alya pulled out her phone to play the video from Ladybug that she had already posted to the Ladyblog. It had been a hell of a day.
~
That night, they all stayed with Adrien. The next day, Marinette had to leave with the promise that she’d be back with treats. But the reality was, she needed to check on the kwamis. And find a way to visit Adrien as Ladybug. She needed to return Plagg to him, and explain everything that had happened.
Nino wanted to stay, but Alya reminded him of the need for a shower. As well as the need for food and some decent sleep. So, with a promise to return, they left that night once visiting hours were over. What Nino didn’t know is that Alya sent a sly message to Marinette, who had been waiting all day to sneak into Adrien’s room.
Tapping onto the window lightly Ladybug dangled from her yo-yo, the lights of Paris illuminated behind her. Nearly jumping out of his skin, Adrien's heart monitor gave a beep but he forced himself to calm down so a nurse wouldn’t come in and ruin this. He had been waiting for Ladybug.
Slipping inside his hospital room the bug themed hero touched down lightly onto the ground. “Hi minou.” She whispered softly, cautiously as she came closer to him. Standing at the foot of his hospital bed she clasped her hands behind her back. “I am glad to see you with some color.”
“Ladybug.” Adrien breathed, his fingers flexing and unflexing in his sheets. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.” He admitted ever so softly.
“Never see me again? Why would you think that? You’re a hero and my best friend.”
Holding her yo-yo in her hands anxiously her ponytail swayed as she tilted her head. “Knowing who you are doesn’t change that.” Her smile was soft as she looked down at him, warming him from the inside.
If she could still look at him like that, then perhaps things really wouldn’t be too bad. Giving a soft sigh of relief he lifted his hand to show her the ring mark. “Waking up without my ring… I thought you had taken it because of who I am.” He whispered. “Because of who Monarch is.”
“Chat… Adrien… “ She couldn’t think of the proper thing to call him. So, she stepped around the edge of the bed to stand at its side, the better to see him. “I didn’t take Plagg because of you. I took Plagg to protect you. Monarch saw who you were. And he could tell everyone. There couldn’t be any evidence as to who you really are.”
Opening her yo-yo she reached inside and pulled out the ring, attached to it was an unhappy Plagg. He had refused to go back into the ring, and she hadn’t even known he could refuse such a thing. But here they were.
Plagg flew off, going straight into Adrien’s neck where he burrowed close on his right side. “Kid, I almost cataclysmed everything.” He whispered in that gravel voice of his.
“Oh Plagg, I was so worried about you.” Adrien hugged him close, his hands clasped around his small form. And Ladybug had to look away from the two of them due to her own guilt. She had separated the two of them, no matter if it was for the greater good or not, she had done it. “Thank you for taking care of him, Bug.”
“It’s sort of my job.” Ladybug shrugged, finally turning to look back at him and Adrien was sitting up despite his wounds, so she rushed to his side. “You need to be resting. Relax. I’m sure your friends will be back soon.” She attempted to reassure him, her gloved hands going to his shoulders. Though she was hesitant to touch his left side.
“So… What now? Do you take Plagg away forever?” He asked, refusing to settle back down. But his body had other ideas and soon he was leaning back against the pillows.
“I’m here to give him back. I doubt anyone will believe what Gabriel Agreste has to say now. And you deserve to have your kwami. You two are the best of partners.” Ladybug finally held out the ring, giving a little smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Really?” Though he wanted to take his ring, he didn’t reach for it. Not yet. Not when he was so unsure. “Because you don’t look so sure.”
“It’s less about you and more about me.” She admitted, taking a seat on the edge of his bed she set the ring down between them, leaving it for him to take. “Knowing who you are… while it doesn’t change the fact that you will always be my partner. It changes things for me in my civilian life.” Looking away from him for a moment she frowned.
“You know me in your civilian life?” Adrien guessed, a scoff leaving him. “Not a whole lot of people know the real me.” He shifted his weight as Plagg started making biscuits against his neck to comfort himself.
“That’s the thing! I do know you. And knowing that you’re Chat makes me realize how little I actually knew you. Which makes me a touch sad.” Ladybug pushed the ring towards him slightly, giving a sad little smile. “Because you always said that you felt more like yourself as Chat, and knowing that you’re Adrien… As someone who knows you considerably well, I’d like to think, just… makes me realize how little I ever really knew you.”
Staring at her for a long moment the blond had a look of consideration on his face, as if trying to puzzle together just who she was. There were very little people who he was close to that would be the right age for Ladybug. Everyone he could think of just didn’t make any sense. He would know if it was Alya or Marinette, wouldn’t he? And Nathalie had been on the other side. Not that she was of the right age. Chloe was Queen Bee… Who could Ladybug possibly be?
“You’re thinking a little too hard. Steam is coming out of your ears.” The bug themed hero teased, reaching out a hand to brush his hair out of his eyes. It was a familiar gesture, something that had been done by her a thousand times over. But the look in her eyes, that was new. It was teasing and light, with a touch of something else that Adrien just couldn’t quite put his finger on.
“I’ll take the ring back.” He finally said as he pulled away from her. “But only because I don’t want to be separated from Plagg.” Sliding the ring onto his finger he gave a little smile when the kwami finally seemed to settle. “Bug… who are you?”
“I’m someone who cares about you very much, minou.” It wasn’t a direct answer, but it was one that soothed him just a bit. “Adrien… just know, that I will always be here for you. Even if you don’t always see me, I’m here.” With a little smile she rose up from his bed and he grabbed her wrist.
“You’re going so soon?”
“Yes, you have other people that will be here to see you. It’s not all about me.” She teased, reaching out a finger to push him back by the nose as she often did. It was enough to make him laugh.
“Alright, alright. Nino probably will be back any minute. Will… Will I see you soon?” Adrien found himself asking and she smiled.
“Sooner than you think.” Ladybug gave a wink before making her way to the window once again. Using her yo-yo she threw it out and hopped onto the ledge. “Take care, Adrien.” With that final parting she was gone and he was left with his kwami once again.
~
Nino appeared not much later than Ladybug had left, with Plagg in hiding his friend was none the wiser. He simply thought he was in a good mood. Which lifted Nino’s spirits immensely. He wanted nothing but good things for his friend.
The next day both Alya and Marinette returned to see him, Nino having spent the night. With food in hand the ladies made their way into the room, closing the door behind them quickly. “Alright you two, we have a bunch of goodies here.” Alya beamed as she took a tray and set the food down on it.
“We brought food that our mothers made.” Marinette offered gently as she started opening containers. “I hope you’re hungry.”
“Yeah, sunshine. I hope you’re hungry. My mom made plenty for you. Cajun food for the win.” Alya grinned as she took the lids from Marinette.
“I know your mom is a chef, but my maman’s cooking is delicious.” She teased, bumping her friend. Though she felt eyes on her. Adrien was staring, as if trying to puzzle something out. And she kept her back to him. Just so she didn’t have to meet his eyes.
“Wow guys, this is… so much.” Adrien finally said, his gaze turning to the food and away from the back of Marinette’s head. “Thank you. I’m starving.”
“He’s been grumbling about being hungry for hours. And how he’s so tired of pudding.” Nino teased, moving aside so they could wheel the tray over to Adrien. “Our dude also has good news.”
“Oh um, I get to leave in a few days.” The blond gave a little smile, his hand reaching up to rub the back of his neck where his kwami was hiding. Plagg nipped at his fingers, so he lowered his hand.
“Oh Adrien! That’s amazing!” Marinette turned to face him finally, her bluebell eyes wide with excitement. “Do you need somewhere to stay? My parents offered our home to you.”
That was possibly the most coherent sentence Marinette had ever said to him, and it was to offer him a home. Was he wrong about his initial dismissal? He knew it couldn’t be Alya, she would never do that to Nino, and Nino wouldn’t be able to keep the secret from him. But Marinette… He wasn’t so sure.
“That’s very sweet Marinette. But I already have a room in the hotel booked. Chloe offered it.” Adrien gave a little smile, reaching for the chopsticks he was presented by Nino. “I truly appreciate the offer though. I couldn’t impose like that.”
“For the record Adrien, you are not an imposition.” The raven haired woman was quick and fierce in her words, her gaze firm as she laid a hand on his knee. The gesture left him feeling warm, and he smiled at her. “But we should eat. Come on.” She smiled back at him, and together they enjoyed their meal.
~
A few days later Adrien was let out of the hospital with Nino, Alya and Marinette at his side. There was press waiting for them as they exited the hospital, Alya had already warned her friend not to say a word, and they simply guided him to Nino’s waiting car. After they loaded up Nino drove off quickly, uncaring if he ran over toes in the process. No one needed to get so close to Adrien.
In the backseat with him now Marinette kept sneaking glances his way, though what she didn’t know was that every time she looked away, Adrien snuck a glance her way. Nino watched all of this happen through the rearview mirror and cast a look towards his girlfriend who simply shrugged. The two had always had this sort of dance around one another.
When they arrived at the hotel Chloe had security waiting, and was there herself to greet them. Since her father was the mayor for however many years running, he had placed her in charge of the hotel. It was something she took quite seriously. Press was waiting for them there as well, with Nadia at the forefront as she always was. But Chloe was quick to send security to the car to guide Adrien inside, leaving the other’s to fend for themselves.
“Now, Adrikins, I reserved the second best room in the hotel for you. You’ll have nothing to worry about while you’re here.” Chloe said as she led the group towards the elevator.
“Thank you Chloe, I don’t know how to repay you.” Adrien found himself saying because truly he didn’t. His accounts were all locked due to his father’s actions. As of this very moment, he had no home and no money to call his own. All because he had trusted his father to take care of him. How stupid on his part.
“You’re my best friend, Adrien. And while your choice in best friend leaves much to be desired, I would never abandon you.” Handing him a keycard she held the doors to the elevator open for the foursome, watching as they entered. Once they were all inside she hit the button for the fifth floor. Since her family resided on the sixth. “Call the front desk if you need anything.”
“Thank you, Chloe.” Nino offered, giving her a smile and a thumbs up. Despite their differences, they cared for Adrien. And that made her alright in his book.
The doors closed and the four were left alone once again, and they all shared a moment of tense silence. “Adrien - “ “Guys - “ “Dude - “ “Listen - “ They all attempted to speak at once and all went quiet upon hearing the other.
“Can I speak?” Adrien asked softly. When he received nods he went on to say, “I appreciate all of you. I wouldn’t have made it this far without you. But… I really think I need to be alone for a little while. Have some time to settle. To just… breathe for a little while.”
Nino went to protest, but Alya laid a hand on his shoulder. “Nino, he’s entitled to that much. He’s been through a lot and deserves a chance to settle.” She reasoned just as the doors opened.
“Alright, fine. But dude, call me for anything. And here’s your bag. We’re having dinner tomorrow at someone's house. Okay?” Nino fretted, handing the bag over as Adrien stepped out of the elevator.
“Thanks for understanding guys. I’ll call if I need anything.” He promised, waving as the doors closed on them. “See you!” He called, and went to find his room.
~
That night Adrien struggled. He struggled to transform, he struggled with his anxiety, he struggled with his tears. And it wasn’t until there was a light, tap, tap, tap, on his window that he was able to lift himself off the ground and go open it up for the bug outside.
“Should I even be surprised that you know I’m here?” He asked as he tried to wipe his face clean on his shirt.
“You’re sort of all over the news, minou.” Ladybug landed lightly on the ground, wrapping her yo-yo around her waist. “I wanted to come check on you, on your first night alone.”
“That’s what this was meant to be. Me alone.” Adrien snapped at her, expecting her to leave at his outburst. But Ladybug simply gave him a sad smile, her nose giving a little crinkle as if she were trying to puzzle him out.
“Adrien, I’ll leave you alone if that’s what you really want. But, I thought you might be… struggling.” Ladybug took a small step forward, pleased that he didn’t back away from her. But Plagg most certainly flew forward and got in her face.
“You don’t get to come in here and be the hero.” Plagg huffed, his arms folded over his chest. “You either be yourself or don’t be here at all.”
“Plagg, it’s not that easy.” The heroine attempted to reason with him but he lifted a paw in warning and Adrien scooped him out of the air.
“Enough, Plagg. Thank you for being my friend. But if bug doesn’t want to show me who she is, I can’t make her.” Adrien grumbled, taking a seat on the sofa that was in his room. Though he watched with wide eyes as Ladybug sat on the coffee table in front of him. “What?”
“Why do you assume I want to give up on you?” She found herself asking softly. “Or that I don’t want to show you who I am?” Her hand reached out and she touched his knee gently. “Adrien… You’re one of my very best friends. Chat… He’s everything to me. And so are you. You’re important and amazing and kind. I’m just… stupidly scared.”
“You’re allowed to be scared.” Adrien whispered, laying a hand over hers as it rested on his knee. “But the villain is gone. So should be our reason for hiding.”
“It’s not that easy - “
“- But it is that easy. If you wanted me to know who you are, then I’d already know. But I don’t. So you don’t want me to know. See? Easy.” He knew he wasn’t being as understanding as he could be in this moment. He knew that Ladybug likely had her own reasons for not wanting him to know, or for being frightened. But he was also frightened and alone. He may have his friends, but he felt as if he had no one without her.
Staring at him for a long moment Ladybug tucked her hair behind her ear as she finally looked away. And he knew that look of resignation. He wouldn’t be finding out who she is tonight.
“I think you should go. I’d rather be alone.” Adrien rose up, motioning towards the window. He watched as she slowly rose up to follow his dismissal.
“Adrien… Minou, my dear sweet minou, don’t push your friends away. Alright?” With that she grabbed her yo-yo, flung it out, and pulled herself through the window. If Adrien didn’t want her around, then she’d give him space. Everyone deserved space.
~
The next night Adrien avoided his friends offer for dinner, and the night after that. This went on for a week until Chloe decided it was time to take matters into her own hands.
Storming into his room with her master key card she caught him lounging on the foot of his bed with his head hanging off the edge and his feet in the air. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Trying to find a better way to think.” He grumbled, “What the hell are you doing?”
“I’m here to check on your sorry ass. Listen, I get it. Like, your father is a total monster. But that doesn’t mean you get to push everyone in your life away. You have those peasants calling me, and I’ll not have it.” Sighing she made her way forward, sitting beside his head on the bed. “I’m worried about you.”
“This is about far more than my father.” Adrien began as he shifted himself to sit up properly beside her. He was shirtless, leaving his bandaged wound exposed. He felt her gaze on it, but said nothing as he tried to explain the best he could. “There’s this girl -” He was speaking so quickly he barely heard her words.
“Ladybug.”
“And she is keeping something from me.”
“Her identity, because you’re Chat Noir.”
“And I don’t think it’s fair that she’s keeping this secret because I no longer have the same secret to keep.”
“Because your father stabbed you I’m guessing.”
“It’s all just such a mess. She tried to talk to me a few days ago and I was terrible to her - wait.” Her words finally hit him like a ton of bricks and he turned to face his oldest friend. “You know?”
“Adrien, of course I know. I know everything about you.” Chloe waved a dismissive hand. “Plus it’s not that hard to figure out. You’re lucky no one else has.” Wrapping an arm around him she gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek to soothe him before letting him go. “Now, about Ladybug not wanting to reveal who she is. Don’t you think she should be allowed time to process this? Just like you want time to process this?”
“What do you mean?” Adrien found himself asking, his blond brow drawn together in confusion.
“Adrikins, don’t be dull. Everyone deserves their time to process their trauma. She held you while you bled out is what I’m guessing. And sources have told me that she broke your father’s nose for his trouble. She cares. But you two have had this secret for years. What if she’s just scared?”
Taking a moment to really look at his friend Adrien smiled, “When did you become so wise?”
“I always have been. You’ve just been too much of an idiot to see it. You may have missed your chance with me, but if I had to lose to anyone, I’m glad it’s her.” With that she rose up, kissed his blond head, then wrinkled her nose. “First take a shower, then call your friends. The DJ is worried.”
“You can just call him Nino!” He called after her. Laughing for the first time in a long time as she slammed the door behind her.
Now that he was alone he got to work. Using the hotel stationary he sat at the desk in his room and called for his kwami.
“If this is about Ladybug I can’t help you.” Plagg drawled lazily as he dropped down onto the desk.
“Yes you can, I just have to ask the right questions.” Adrien gave a rather manic grin, this was going to be a long day of puzzle solving.
~
Marinette stood on her balcony, wrapped in a blanket to fight off the chill of the night. Arms folded on the railing she looked up at the night sky pensively, dried tears on her cheeks.
“Marinette, it’s cold. Why don’t you come inside?” Tikki asked as she came out of the bedroom, floating up to her friend and holder.
“Not right now, Tikki. Everyone is enjoying being free and I just want some quiet.” The raven haired young woman kept her voice soft as she spoke, her smile frail when Tikki used the blanket to wipe at her face gently.
“Well, I’ll be right down there if you need me. I know alone time is important.” Hesitantly the kwami left her friend alone, going back to the other kwamis who were celebrating their freedom.
“Little princess on the balcony, all alone without her stray cat.” The sing-song voice nearly had her jumping out of her skin, grabbing the nearest potted plant Marinette turned to face the intruder. “After all of our time together, you’re going to throw a plant at me?” Chat asked as he touched down onto her balcony.
“Chat?” The plant fell from her fingers in shock and thanks to his quick reflexes she wasn’t about to lose her daisies. “Oh shit, oh gosh. What are you doing here?” She had a bedroom full of kwamis, she hadn’t seen Adrien in days, and last time he spoke to Ladybug he hadn’t exactly been in the best headspace.
“Are you afraid of me too?” He found himself asking as he sat the plant down back on it’s stand. “I would hate it if you were.”
“Afraid of you? No, I’ve been so worried.” As Marinette she could say things that she would never be able to say as Ladybug. “No one has seen you since the great battle with Monarch. Ladybug made that statement that you were injured and nothing else has popped up on the Ladyblog.” Her hands reached for him, and before he could think better of it Chat pulled her close.
Her head rested just underneath his bell; had he really grown so tall? But what he did note was that she took great care not to apply pressure near his heart and left shoulder. Just how did she know that? Chat had the greatest feeling that Marinette knew a lot more than she ever let on. “How have you been?” He asked into her hair as he kissed her head.
“Apparently better than you.” Came the teasing reply, her head finally lifting to stare up at him. “How have you been?”
“I’ll ask the questions here, since you’ve been crying.” His clawed hand lifted to gently touch her face, wiping at the tear stains that marred her face. “Has someone done something that I need to beat them up for?”
“No, nothing like that. I just got into an argument with a friend of mine.” She admitted softly.
“Oh, are things better now?” His head tilted as he kept a hold of her face.
“I don’t really know.” Though her eyes never left his he knew he had to catch her off guard in his line of questioning.
“I’m sorry you had a fight with your friend. They likely aren’t worth crying over.” Chat huffed out, only to feel a piece of him melt into place when she said:
“He means everything to me.” He couldn’t be for sure that she meant him, but he had the most sneaking suspicion that she did. And he had just the way to prove it.
“So it wasn’t your reporter friend breaking your heart?”
“No, Alya and I are fine. We’re actually both worried about this one friend. Nino is the most worried though. It’s been days since we’ve heard from him.” There was a slight edge in Marinette’s voice that made him all the more suspicious.
“Oh, and how’s Tikki?” He asked gently, his thumb stroking lightly over her cheek bone to soothe her.
“Tikki’s fine. She’s just happy to have the - Fuck.” The word left her mouth before she could stop it, her cheeks going red as she pulled away from him. “I’m sorry, I didn’t - I don’t… You should go.”
“Go? You really think I’m going to go now? Things are just getting good.” Chat’s tone was a touch harsh as he spoke to her, making her flinch back from him. “I figure the easiest way to find you, was to follow the clues you left for me. And you’ve left plenty over the years. You nearly had me fooled with Multi-Mouse, I got caught up on that for a while. But it’s you Marinette. And it’s always been you!”
“What’s been me, Chat? I’m just Marinette.” She attempted one last time, but the look on his face told her the jig was up. And she either needed to come clean, or she might lose him forever. “Minou please… I’m scared.”
“What is there to be afraid of? You’ve faced Monarch, you broke his nose. You got every single miraculous back. You’re the bravest person I’ve ever known. But you’re scared of me?” He had to ask, had to question. Because how could the girl he loved be so afraid of telling him the truth?
“It’s not about that! It’s not about you! It’s this damn secret. It has been the one thing keeping us safe for all these years and now you’re telling me that I suddenly don’t need it any more? Change is a frightening thing! And I’ve faced so much of it. I nearly lost you. I held you in my hands as you bled to death. Rena and Carapace had to pull me off of you so the medics would get to you. And I’m hurting so damn much. I was beaten and bruised. I never got to use the miraculous cure. Everything is still in shambles. The world was never healed. We were never healed.”
“But you did everything you could for me. You got me help. You held me. I felt you, in that moment. I knew it was you. And now that I know it’s you. I couldn’t be happier.” Chat admitted, his hands going to her face once again. “Please don’t pull away from me. If you don’t want to admit who you are, then I’ll tell you who I am.” He attempted to reason.
The way she stared at him nearly broke him. He had never seen his lady look so frightened, but then, her look shifted into one of determination. “But I already know who you are. And well… Perhaps it is time you know me.” She was nearly breathless as she said it, her bluebell eyes staring into his iridescent green orbs.
The smile he gave was bright, and warm, like the sun she often equated him to in her mind. And something in her heart sort of fell into place. Like the missing puzzle piece had been locked in.
“Adrien… There’s no need for masks here.” She smiled back at him, watching as he called off his transformation. When Adrien Agreste stood before her, she rushed into his arms, and yanked him down for the kiss that she had been nearly dying to give him.
Well… Perhaps that was a poor choice of words.
The End