Chapter Text
Ladybug stood silently in the place where it all went down.
She wasn’t sure why she had come back, I mean, it was over now right?
The worst was over.
She had defeated her boyfriend's dad in the biggest fight she had ever fought since becoming ladybug, flew all the way to London to
rescue and tell said boyfriend that his father wouldn’t be coming home tonight and never would again, and lied through her teeth to the entirety of Paris.
I’m mean, could it get any worse?
She had to watch her boyfriend as he wailed having lost yet another parent and the painful sight of having another comfort him was just unbearable.
She was right there and she couldn’t even hold him.
She couldn’t hold the one she loved while he cried and yes, it was mostly because she couldn’t let on to her secret identity but also the sheer guilt of lying straight to his face had her completely frozen on the spot.
It was almost like she wasn’t there, like she was just a simple bystander watching it all go down from afar, just completely discontented from
the current reality.
Maybe she just didn’t want to face the fact that she had just completely gone against all her morals she’d been taught throughout her childhood.
Never tell a lie.
Ha! What a joke, she had just told the biggest, most burdening guttural lie of her life to the person she was supposed to love.
She was a bad person, that was it now, her once honest and pure heart had been tarnished, everything she once stood for and preached gone just like that.
Silent tears ran down her face as she stared at her reflection in the still waters below, she was disgusted in herself, hell, she couldn’t even recognize the face staring back at her.
Ladybug raised one arm to her eyes, swiping at her tears as she looked at the surrounding scenery.
She had cataclysmed it of course, but she could still see it clear as day.
What was now a wasteland of dust and rubble and a random chunk of earth beneath her boyfriend’s home was still filled with the trauma of
Having to watch as she lost the battle to a fight she had been tirelessly fighting for over a year now.
She almost wanted to laugh at just how sad it all was, although she knew that even if she were to attempt to make a sound at that moment it would quite possibly just come out in a strangled sob.
So she stood silent.
Ladybug sniffled as she brought a hand up to her forehead, right that was it now brave face on Paris wasn’t going to save itself after all.
With a deep breath, she took out her yo-yo and threw it to the nearest platform projecting herself up and out of what was left of the Agreste basement.
There wasn’t much time Adrien would be home soon she had to close it back up, there was nothing left down there now anyway.
Ladybug stomped the groundbreaking off a large corner that collapsed underneath her weight to close up what was left of this hellhole.
She swung her yo-yo to the porch of the Agreste mansion, peering into the window.
It was like nothing had ever happened, no evidence of anything sinister or any remainder of just what went down there early today.
But that was the point, wasn’t it? The lucky charm fixed anything affected in the process of the fight, repairing what had been broken and erasing all memory of the victim's mind.
But what about her?
What lucky charm was there to make her forget?
What about the damages she now had internally?
Why did everyone else get to forget and move on, but she didn’t?
Why was she left to suffer while everyone else just so blissfully forgot?
It wasn’t fair, none of this was fair.
—
Adrien was quiet, he hadn’t said much since leaving the station, he was happy he got to see Marinette of course, but that hadn’t even begun
to heal the raging storm inside his mind.
Nathalie hadn't spoken a word either, perhaps she didn’t know what to say though nothing she could say would even begin to make things better.
Adrien watched as the streetlamps whizzed past the car window in a blur as they made their way back home, the lights glow distorted with the unshed tears still glistening in his eyes.
He felt a soft pressure on his knee as Nathalie placed a hand upon him giving it a gentle squeeze in an attempt to comfort.
Adrien looked up offering a small but broken smile at the only person he had left to potentially parent him, though he supposed there wasn’t much difference there anyway, it wasn’t like his father took much part in the art of parenting.
The car slowed as it pulled up to the large mansion turning into the driveway.
Adrien sighed as the car came to a halt and both him and Nathalie got out of the back seat.
He stared up at his home, it had always been big, but he didn’t remember feeling this small when he left.
There was nothing, no sign of life, no lights on, nobody inside just an empty cold building.
“Thank you Placide” Nathalie nodded in appreciation of the tall man.
“Come along Adrien.”
The sound of footsteps filling the air as their feet climbed the steps up to the entrance of the large mansion.
Nathalie unlocked the large door, a cold breeze hitting Adrien in the face in the process.
Adrien walked slowly inside glancing around at the now empty habitation.
That familiar pressure he had experienced multiple times today raging inside his chest and rising up his throat had returned.
Adrien sucked in as much oxygen as he could possibly fit inside his lungs in an attempt to fight against his body.
He didn’t want to cry anymore, he’d cried all the way home on the train into Kagami’s shoulder, he didn’t have the energy to cry anymore.
But I guess his body disagreed.
His body wracked with sobs as yet another waterfall of tears fell from his eyes clutching at his arms in a feeble attempt to ground himself.
“Oh Adrien…don’t-” Nathalie started but decided there was no point finishing that sentence,
His reaction was inevitable and there was nothing she could do.
Adrien couldn’t move nor communicate, taken over by the grief that had come back to break him once again.
The sounds of walking came up behind him, and he felt the feeling of arms behind him, wrapping around his small frame.
Nathalie's arms.
“I’m sorry” Nathalie spoke, her voice almost cracking.
Adrien heaved, burying his head into the woman’s chest, soaking her blazer with his tears.
The taller woman held him as tight as she possibly could, with her own tears streaming down her cheeks as she tried her best to console the adolescent boy.
So small, so fragile, so young, and the poor boy had faced a lifetimes worth of grief in just the space of a year.
It hurt so much, and not just because she was once in love with Gabriel but seeing Adrien so broken again.
He was just a kid after all, as a teen you think you’re so grown and so wise when really you haven’t even begun life.
Silent tears ran down her face as she swayed a very distressed Adrien side to side as if he were an infant.
He was indeed a fourteen-year-old boy, but Nathalie swore she’d gone back in time, comforting a teary Adrien who just fell and grazed his knee on the turf.
“It’s okay we’ll get you a band-aid, one of those really cool ones with the dinosaurs” she would say to the toddler as he wailed in pain.
But this was a different kind of pain, a pain that no band-aid in the world would fix, and Nathalie loathed it.
You’d think the Agreste Mansion was that big that you wouldn’t hear a sound if someone were to shout from one side of the building to the other, but that night, regardless of where you stood in the mansion, you could hear Adrien’s cries echoing throughout.
—
Ladybug jumped down from her trapdoor into her bedroom, “spots off.”
There was a flash of pink light as Tikki appeared in front of her, her expression matching her holders.
Marinette sighed, reaching into her bag to retrieve a small pink polka dot macaroon for her tiny friend.
Tikki gave a sad smile and began to nibble the treat slowly.
“I can’t do this Tikki, I didn’t- I didn’t sign up for this” Marinette buried her face in her hands.
The Kwami frowned and flew over to hug Marinettes hands.
“No you didn’t, but when you became ladybug you knew you were going to face challenges”
“Yeah challenges, like akumatised villains, not keeping secrets, telling lies, having to fight my boyfriends father to the death” Tears fell onto her duvet below.
Tikki didn’t know what to say, she was always good at giving advice, but this time she couldn’t think of any.
Just then Marinette sprung her head up grabbing one of her old Gabriel brand magazines screaming as she violently scribbled and stabbed at the page with the sinister man’s face on it throwing it across the room.
She ducked her head in her knees and cried.
—
An emotionally drained Nathalie closed the door to Adrien’s bedroom, having managed to settle him after nearly an hour.
Now she had all the complications that came with death to sort out.
Death certificate, funeral, the will, oh how she was going to hate going through that will.
Knowing Gabriel he was bound to have skeletons inside his closet.
Nathalie picked up a small cup of herbal tea she made herself and headed off to bed.
—
It was so quiet, too quiet, not like the internal screaming inside Marinette’s head preventing her from falling asleep.
Marinette tossed and turned amongst her bed covers completely restless.
Eventually, she gave up, sighing in defeat as she moved herself to an upright position, picking up her phone In the process as she began to type out a letter.
Marinette Today at 12:00am:
Hey,
I hope you’re doing ok.
Sorry I guess that’s a stupid thing for me to say
I don’t really know what to say, I don’t think I ever will,
I’m just so sorry, and I know that sounds-
Adrien is typing…
He was awake?
I mean of course he was, he just lost his father after all anyone would have trouble sleeping in his situation.
Marinette intently watched as the three dots bounced.
Adrien Today at 12:03am:
It’s ok, I know
Thanks for coming to the station btw, I really needed that hug.
Marinette’s heart swelled.
Marinette Today at 12:04am:
Of course I came, I love you Adrien.
Adrien Today at 12:08am:
I love you too Mari,
Sorry I left you on read for a couple minutes there my stomach is kinda messed up.
Marinette frowned, she knew that feeling all too well.
Marinette Today at 12:09am:
Oh Adrien I understand please don’t apologise I can’t imagine how you must be feeling and the anxiety you went through inside that horrible prison place.
Adrien Today at 12:10am:
Well yeah, there’s that but also we wasn’t actually fed properly or allowed to leave our room to go to the bathroom that much so that doesn’t help.
A wave of rage took over Marinette like a storm.
Marinette Today at 12:11am:
WHAT?! THATS INHUMANE!
YOU NEED TO TELL NATHALIE
GO AFTER TOMOE
LIKE SUE HER OR SOMETHING
Adrien Today at 12:12am:
I mean, the truth is I wouldn’t know what to do in terms of legal stuff, that was always my father’s expertise.
Plus I’d much rather just forget about the whole thing if I’m honest.
Honestly it’s not that deep Mari I’m fine, well not fine but you get what I mean.
Marinette Today at 12:13am:
You’ve been treated unfairly your whole life, it’s not fair.
Sorry if I’m stressing you out.
Is there anything you can do to feel a bit better?
Adrien Today at 12:14am:
Uh I don’t think so Mari.
Cry I guess? That’s all I’ve done since getting back home.
Marinette Today at 12:14am:
Then just do that for now, just know that I’m here ok?
Whatever you need.
I’m here.
—
Adrien exhaled sharply, ducking his head in his knees.
The bed shook with his heavy sobs.
A sleepy Plagg stirred with the sudden sensation of what felt like an earthquake to his tiny body.
“Alright Kid” Plagg yawned softly, floating over to Adrien and sleepily patting his chosen’s head, half asleep.
—
Tikki awoke to the sound of tinkering.
“Mm-Marinette” the little bug spoke rubbing her eyes awake.
“Tikki hi! I need you to fuel up, I’ve nearly finished reconstructing the miraculous back to normal” the bubbly girl exclaimed, tossing a small macaroon over to her little friend.
“Marinette” Tikki floated over chewing her Macaroon.
“It’s like three in the morning, do you really think this is a good idea? You just saved the universe from ending, have barely got any sleep after the fact, and now you wanna go out delivering miraculous?” Tikki asked questioning her holders mindset.
“Exactly Tikki, the new butterfly miraculous holder!”
Marinette replied enthusiastically while tweeking the bee miraculous with her tool.
Tikki looked confused, and tired.
“Look, the new butterfly miraculous holder has already struck once so they’re bound to strike again at any moment and I have to be ready!”
“And that means no miraculous’ should be in my possession any longer!
Apart from you of course.”
“Of course?” Tikki replied.
“I’m not making the same mistakes I made last time, no siree!” Marinette gestured wildly in her signature style creating an X shape with her arms.
“Alya was right about having the miraculous under one roof and today it’s gonna change, you know since I got the miraculous back.” Marinette beamed at the little big with bags under her eyes.
“Ookay… I really think that maybe it’s best if you go to sleep, the miraculous will still be here come tomorrow morning when you’re all rested up and have had time to process everything from the last couple days-“
“Nooo Tikki, every second the Miraculous remains here is another second the new butterfly holder could be locating where the other miraculous’ are and if they find out their location then they’ll find out I’m Ladybug! And if they find out I’m Ladybug then they’ll turn time all over again! And if they turn time all over again then it’ll be the end of the world! And if the world ends then I’ll never see Adrien againnn!” Marinette howled flopping onto her chez lounge in her usual dramatic fashion.
Tikki sighed in defeat.
“Okay, well we better go give them out then.” Tikki smiled.
“Yep! But first I’m gonna fill Chat Noir in with everything that happened.” Marinette exclaimed triumphantly.
“Okay-wa“
“Tikki spots on!”
“Wait, what? Marinette!” Tikki tried, before she was swallowed up by the Miraculous.
—
Ladybug Zipped through the sky confidently.
She swung from roof to roof, chimney to chimney until she landed in their special spot, where they always sat.
Opening her bug phone, she typed out a message to her feline friend.
—
Adrien lay face down flat on his bed, letting out the occasional whimper every now and again while Plagg stuffed his face with cheese.
Just then Adrien sprung up from his slump, startled with the ring on his finger glowing and vibrating.
“That’s new” Adrien pondered examining his glowing ring.
Plagg stuffed the last chunk of Camembert in his mouth.
“But it’s the middle of the night-” he spoke with a mouth full of cheese.
“Plagg claws out!”
—
Ladybug carelessly swung her feet on the ledge of the building, patiently waiting for Chat to come bouncing over the roof tops.
after a while she heard it.
Chat noir landed on the roof next to her.
“You called M’lady?” He spoke in his usual flirty tone.
Were his eyes red?
It was faint for sure but his usual bright green eyes had a slight reddish tint?
“Is everything ok Chat Noir?” Ladybug asked, concern evident on her face.
Chat looked nervous for a moment but soon brushed it under the rug pretty quickly.
“Uh yeah why wouldn’t it be?” He asked, swinging his tail.
“Chat you don’t have to pretend to me” Ladybug put a gentle hand on his leg.
A wave of panic washed over him.
What?
Did she know?
“I’m not mad at you for not being there for the fight”
Oh thank god.
“I’m sure you had a good reason and I had everything under control anyway”
If by “under control” she ment severely injured?
Chat sighed, resting an arm on his knees.
“No, I should have been there and I’m so sorry” his ears drooped.
Ladybug moved her hand to his shoulder.
“No don’t apologise everything it ok, you don’t have anything to apologise for kitty cat” Ladybug smiled.
“But Monarch, he severely injured you, he had hostages and if I was there maybe i-“ Chat took a deep breath.
No more tears Adrien.
“If I’d of been there I’d of stopped Monarch from taking the miraculous’ from you” he closed his eyes.
“And then maybe Gabriel Agreste wouldn’t have had to sacrifice himself” he spoke carefully and calmly.
Ladybug looked down.
“About that, the reason why i asked you to meet me here” she said, taking her own deep breath.
Chat noir gazed up at her.
“The truth is i had to lie to Paris about what really happened” she spoke sadly, ashamed.
Chat noir now had the look of concern in his eyes.
“I lied to protect the people of Paris and the people involved but I’m gonna tell you because despite everything I’ve done you’ve always been there for me.”
Chat noir’s eyes were locked on Ladybug.
“I know you’re fed up of keeping secrets and we said going forward we would be honest with one another and truth be told I don’t think I can go another day without telling somebody” Ladybug squeezed her eyes shut.
“I don’t understand” said Chat unsure what to feel.
Ladybug sighed.
“The truth is, Gabriel Agreste wasn’t a hero, he was Monarch”
Chat felt his heart drop to his stomach.
“I was never severely injured, I made a silly judgement to trust him at the last second and he swiped the miraculous” she breathed.
“He was chasing the miraculous to restore his wife’s life after she fell ill from the peacock miraculous that was broken, you see his wife, Emelie Agreste was infertile so they used the miraculous to create a senti monster to be their baby but now that boy has grown up and I swore to his father that I’d keep the truth from him to protect him-“
Chat’s back shook with uncontrollable sobs.
“C-Chat?” Ladybug spoke completely shocked at the display in front of her.
Chat pressed his head against his hands as he struggled to breathe.
“Chat what’s happened?” Ladybug asked confused, a strong sense of concern in her voice.
“H-how could you” Chat choked through tears.
Ladybug didn’t know what was going on nor did she know how to react or what to do.
“Chat I don’t understand…”
The boy beside her laughed bitterly through his tears.
“You don’t understand”
“No I don’t understand!” Ladybug was now starting to match Chat’s anger.
“One you never cry or seem bothered by anything, two I literally just told you the truth what more could you want from me? and three it’s got nothing to do you what I choose to tell the people that were involved!”
Chat seethed with anger.
“You have no idea what I do behind closed doors! You never even ask if I’m “bothered” about anything because you always get in there first wanting me to comfort you!”
Ladybug glared, her anger growing.
“Because you never come to me for anything your always too “I’m Chat Noir im not afraid of anything and I don’t need anyone cause I’m so cool and aloof and confident” so yeah I don’t bother to ask because you brush me off anyway”
Chats eyes burned with angry tears.
“Because you lie to me ladybug! You hide things from me and treat me like a child! Why would I tell you stuff? What just so you can “protect me” from more things? You’re a liar you’re just protecting yourself!”
Ladybug sprung to her feet in outrage.
“How dare you! You don’t know the half of it Chat Noir! You have no idea what it’s like to have to live with what I live with, to have seen what I’ve seen!”
Chat rolled his eyes.
“Oh right sorry let me get out the world tiniest violin for ya” he jeered.
In that moment Ladybug saw red and without another thought , her palm made contact with Chats cheek.
Chat gave a feline like growl loosing himself in his own rage.
Grabbing his stick, in one quick swipe he pinned Ladybug to the ground.
Ladybug kicked upwards, kneeing chat in the face.
“You wanna fight? I’ll give you a fight!” Chat swung his stick at the red and black polka doted superhero his blood boiling.
Ladybug returned the favour by throwing her yo-yo at his feet, wrapping around his ankle and pulling him over.
To which he grabbed hers and soon enough Paris’ two best known superheroes were kicking, throwing punches all while tearing strips off of each other.
“I can’t believe you would even think of saying that to me!” Ladybug screamed in combat.
“I can’t believe you’re being so selfish!” Cat noir screamed back blocking her off.
“Well if I’m so selfish maybe we shouldn’t be partners anymore! Since you seem to be so entitled to knowing everything!”
“Yeah well maybe we shouldn’t” Chat screamed pinning ladybug to the wall.
Ladybug glared in utter outrage, tackling Chat to the ground.
Catching Chat by surprise.
“Get off me! You’re hurting me” Chat growled fighting against her.
“Well then you won’t be needing this then!” Ladybug went for Chats Miraculous
“Get off me get off me!” Chat shouted now more distressed than angry.
She snatched the ring off of his finger.
There was a flash of green.
Ladybug felt sick to her stomach.
Adrien tried to make himself as small as possible as he wailed, tears flowing down his cheeks.
He sobbed pushing Ladybug off him.
“I-I’m” tears streamed down her cheeks.
“Adrien Im-“ she reached out.
He batted her away.
Just like how he did in London.
only this time, it seemed to hurt a lot more.
“Just leave me alone” Adrien cried.
“Adrien please let me talk- let me explain” Ladybug begged now openly crying.
“There’s nothing to explain-“
“Please, Adrien-Chat just please hear me out” Ladybug sobbed hysterically.
Adrien glared, tears shimmering in his emerald eyes.
“I’m sorry please!” Ladybug cried scrambling towards him holding out the Chat Miraculous.
“I shouldn’t of done that, we should of talked, I should of been honest from the start”
Adrien swiped the miraculous angrily.
“Plagg Claws out”
“Wait no Chat please” The smaller girl pleaded.
Goodbye Ladybug, consider us done” he spoke with little to no emotion, projecting himself into the air and across the rooftops.
Ladybug cupped her mouth, fell to her knees and sobbed.
What had she done?