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Tikki floated in the air beside her as Marinette tied her hair into pigtails with hair ties.
“I like the red ribbons, Marinette.”
“You don’t think it’s too ‘Ladybug,’ do you?” The girl asked, hands grazing over the collection of ribbons on her desk.
Tonight was an important day for her.
It was the first reunion with her lycee classmates after five years.
Life had been eventful, in simple terms.
In the span of a few years, she had started her own fashion brand. MDC , just like what she’s dreamed of as a younger teenager.
Days and weeks pouring over logistics had nearly driven her insane, but she was glad the Butterfly Miraculous was no longer active.
Master Fu had simply dropped off a letter that the Butterfly Miraculous had been returned.
Of course, she had assumed the absolute worst–returning Tikki and the Ladybug Miraculous.
By some exception, permission was granted to keep Tikki.
So she had the companionship of one of her closest, tiny friends by her side as she knocked off milestone after milestone.
Marinette wondered if Cat Noir had been told that the threat had been eliminated.
Sometimes, she thought about the scenario in which they had told each other who they were.
Had she known that their “pound it” on a random Tuesday would have been the last one they ever did as a duo, she would have left a letter or a clue to tell him how to find her. Civilian her.
It just hit her some days that there were parts of him that had seeped into her.
When she shopped in the supermarket for fruit and saw key lime, it reminded her of a time when she brought key-lime flavor macaroons to the Eiffel Tower.
Her silly, dependable partner that she had come to appreciate and even love.
Marinette hoped that somewhere, he had learned to move on from her.
That he was building a life with the family he had always talked about to her tirelessly.
With a smile, Marinette twirled around from the mirror to face Tikki, “What do you think? Any final touches?”
Tikki giggled, “I think you look fantastic, Marinette! Everyone is going to be so happy to see you.”
For old time’s sake, she rummaged the closest for the pink polka-dotted purse. With Hawkmoth’s disappearance, she had long forsaken the item. Tikki had always opted to stay behind in Marinette’s house, only leaving for occasional trips to her parent’s boulangerie.
Smiling, Tikki dove into the familiar space, noting how it stayed the same. Marinette slipped a couple chocolate chip cookies in for the kwami and closed the clasp. Adjusting the strap of the purse so that it lay neatly on the side, she gave a one-over of her one-piece.
She shut the door to the apartment, heart fluttering at finally seeing all her classmates again.
—
“Marinette!” Rose squealed, pushing past everyone to make a beeline for her. “You made it!”
“Rose!” Marinette gasped, taking in her fuller appearance and longer hair, “It’s been so long. You look so good!”
Giving a signature chuckle, Rose’s eyes glittered, “Oh, thank you Marinette! I’ve been better since lycee.” Her eyes spotted someone from the crowd, and she waved her hand, “Jules! Come say hi to Marinette!”
Another figure approached her, and Marinette delighted at the familiar twin that came to her. Her hair was in layers, but the streaks of purple in her hair resembled highlights, giving her a livelier appearance. Juleka strutted over, tucking a hair behind her ear with black nails.
“Juleka,” Marinette awed, “Hi, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“Hey Marinette,” Juleka spoke, and Marinette noticed how much confidence radiated off her. Rose pulled Juleka closer to her with an arm looped through hers, and conversed animatedly, “Jules signed to her father’s record label recently. She’s scheduled to release a full-length album by the first half of next year.”
“Oh, Juleka,” Marinette couldn’t be happier for her friend, “This must be a dream come true. Congratulations.”
Juleka smiled, “Thanks Marinette. I wouldn’t have started all this if it weren’t for you.”
“Me?” Marinette shook her head, “No, Juleka, this was always you.”
Juleka returned a shake of her head, “If you didn’t encourage me to step out of my comfort zone to pursue the arts, I would have gone nowhere.”
Rose, noticing her other classmates, gave a gush and moved to drag Juleka towards them, “Ivan and Mylene! Jules, let’s go say hi. Marinette, it was so good to catch up with you, I’ll see you later!”
With a finger wave, Marinette laughed with a hand over her mouth as Rose bulldozed her way to the couple. It was good to see that the two were closer than ever. Her heart filled with warmth at the happiness that radiated off the both of them as they talked to Ivan and Mylene. They wore gold bands around their ring finger, and Marinette made a mental note to congratulate them when the excitement toned down.
Her eyes fell on the food by the far side of the entrance. Deciding an energy recharge was needed before she immersed in another conversation, she made her way past the people in the room.
It occurred to her that it’s been a while since she’s been in such a crowded room. The energy was electric from the people that laughed on all sides. Dance moves broke out from left and right, and Marinette had to admit that this was a moment she needed.
When she settled by the food table, she grabbed a macaroon and bit into it.
“Key-lime flavor,” she noted. The tanginess of the lime was balanced by the sweet sugar that came afterwards, and her mind brought up Cat Noir again.
“Marinette!”
She jolted, throwing the macaroon into her mouth. “Alya and Nino! Hey.”
“You alright?” Alya laughed, giving her a knowing look, “Don’t choke on your food.”
Hands hitting her chest, Marinette coughed, “Wasn’t planning on it.”
A glass cup entered her vision, and she gratefully took it, only grimacing when she realized it was a punch.
“Nino, you know I’m light weight.”
Nino shrugged lightheartedly, “One glass wouldn’t hurt.”
She wanted to retort back, but already the effects were flowing through her. Taking deep breaths, she evened out her breaths, fanning her face.
“It’s been a while, girl. How have you been? MDC is still flourishing, from what I’ve seen.”
Marinette smiled, “The new collection sold out within the first week. I am beyond grateful.”
Nino held his palm out for a high-five, Marinette returned it. “That’s our girl. So proud of you. Always knew you could sell your own clothing line, ‘Nette.”
“Thanks, Nino.” She popped a piece of cracker into her mouth. “How about you two? Having fun living together?”
“You bet,” Alya leaned into Nino, and he held her with an arm around her. “There’s a different bond that comes with living together. To-tally recommend.”
Mischievously, Alya crossed her arms and gave Marinette a knowing look, “You’d like it, too.”
“Pff.” Marinette rolled her eyes, “You know full well that I’m single as a pringle, Alya. Good try.”
Nino looked around the room, “I wonder if he’s here yet.”
“Who?” Marinette frowned.
Alya’s eyes narrowed before she jabbed her sharp elbows into Marinette’s ribs, “ Adrien , Marinette.”
Her joints locked in place and she froze, “What?”
Nino snapped his hands, “He told me he would come, even if it was only for a few minutes. Let me try calling him. I doubt he’s going to be able to find us through this thick crowd.”
Marinette threw an uncertain look towards the couple, who really looked like they couldn’t wait for this particular reunion.
“I’m not sure, guys…I don’t…I haven’t seen him ever since that. ”
Alya gave a stare, “Marinette, that happened two years ago. He’s going to be okay.”
She tugged at the ends of her fingertips, “I’m not sure if he–”
“There he comes!” Nino exclaimed.
It was a bummer Nino had a growth spurt that made him easier to spot, Marinette thought, looking at his glittery eyes.
The couple didn’t know why she was so scared to see him again.
Tikki knew, but she had been there with her when it happened.
Marinette didn’t want him to see her and have the memories of that day resurface.
Spotting a peak of blonde hair, she bit her lip and made a last-second decision to flee the scene to the bathroom.
Coward. Coward. Coward. Her mind told her.
Opening the clasp to her purse, Marinette slammed the door to the bathroom stall and shut the lid down. She sat on it, sharing a look with her kwami.
Rubbing a hand over her eyebrow bone, she sighed, “I don’t know if I can face him, Tikki.”
“It slipped my mind, too,” Tikki admitted.
She tilted her head up, tears swelling in her eyes, “I assumed he wouldn’t come because today’s the day that…well. You know. His father passed away. With how much shock Paris fell into when they first heard the news, I thought he would spend each anniversary at home.”
Landing on the phone holder mounted to the wall of the bathroom stall, Tikki tried to soothe the distraught girl, “You know, Marinette. Alya could be right. His death was two years ago. Perhaps he’s learned to move on and live with the grief instead of being consumed by it.”
Marinette closed her eyes, swiping away a tear that fell down, “I guess.”
Mood dampened, she let out a groan. “I just feel so guilty. ”
“I shouldn’t have insisted on hanging out with him that day.” Times picnicking together by the banks came to her, and Marinette wistfully combed through them. “If I knew his father was going to pass away from a horrible car accident, I would have asked him to stay at home. He loved his father.”
Her head hung low, and Tikki gave a noise of disagreement as she gave a steady expression. “Marinette, that’s not something you could have foreseen. Nobody knows when their life is going to end. All we can do is to look ahead, living life to the fullest. What Adrien felt that day was grief, but he was in your arms . ”
His sobs as it racked his body still tainted her, and Marinette shrunk. “But, if I hadn’t–”
“ Adrien made a choice to spend time with you that day. He wanted to be with you.” Tikki continued earnestly, needing her chosen to understand that sometimes things were beyond one’s control.
Marinette begrudgingly accepted Tikki’s words of wisdom. “Okay, Tikki.” Though a part of her heart still ached, it was the first step she needed to face the guilt that tossed within her.
A buzz sounded in the air, and Marinette saw Alya’s contact appear on the screen.
Letting out a couple of sounds so that she sounded normal, she picked up, “Hey, Alya.”
“Marinette,” an exasperated voice came to her, and Marinette winced slightly at the tone, “Please tell me you didn’t decide to avoid Adrien.”
Times like these, Marinette regretted not taking a drama elective offered one semester in lycee. Perhaps her acting would have been improved if she had not been intimidated with putting herself in the spotlight.
“Noo, Alya,” she pinched her nose bridge, “I just needed to freshen myself up. I’ll be right with you.”
Without awaiting her response, she ended the call. “Tikki, this night could not get any longer than this.”
A comforting pat on her head later, Tikki snuggled into Marinette’s purse, “It’ll be alright, Marinette. One step at a time.”
—
Unfortunately, Marinette had never had Ladybug’s stealth come to her at crucial moments.
Once outside the bathroom, she immediately slammed onto someone’s chest.
“I’m so sorry! I should have watched where I was going,” she blurted out, grabbing onto her forehead.
“It’s good to see you’ve stayed pretty much the same.”
Marinette's jaw slacked, and she let out a dramatic gulp when a familiar set of green eyes twinkled back.
“A-Adrien! Hi! Hey, Adrien!” She awkwardly waved with both hands, then forced one hand behind her back. Only she was capable of giving the world’s most awkward greeting to an old friend. A part of her wanted to smack her forehead on the pavement and just pass out. Perhaps that would help her avoid the conversation she dreaded to have with him.
“It’s good to see you,” Adrien gestured towards the balcony. “Do you mind talking privately? It’s a little too loud to hear anything, and I’d love to catch up.”
Her eyes flitted to the balcony. It was secluded, and likely quiet enough to talk long.
“Ahaha! You can go ahead,” Marinette’s eyes busied themselves to the food table once more, “I’ll get us something to drink.”
“Great.” She forced her stomach to stop throwing a party at his pretty smile, “I’ll be waiting.”
Turning on her heels, Marinette rigidly walked over to the food table.
Adrien took in the retreating silhouette of the girl.
“Still as beautiful as ever,” he muttered beneath his breath.
Sliding the window shut behind him, he leaned against the railing, breathing in the night air.
Plagg peeped out of his breast pocket, “Good thing I convinced you to come, right?”
Adrien relented, “You’re right, Plagg. Though some of the credit should be given to Nino.”
The kwami snickered, “I like Nino. It was high time you talked to pigtails.”
His thumb habitually stroked the ring on his fourth finger, “Yea…I think I missed her. A lot more than I realized, actually.”
“Adrien!” A muffled voice sounded through the glass windows. He turned to quickly slide the windows open for Marinette. She shuffled in, giving him a faint smile that shot arrows through his heart.
“Hope you don’t mind the punch, they ran out of alternatives.” Sliding a glass into his hands, she made her way next to him, “I know you don’t like to drink.”
“Neither do you,” he pointed out, taking in the flush that decorated her complexion. “I take it, was it Alya or Nino that convinced you?”
She snorted, and he warmed at how comfortable she appeared being next to him now. “Nino.”
“He’s always been the mood maker,” he added.
“Yea.”
The two fell into silence. Marinette stole glances towards him, wondering how it was possible for anyone to become even more handsome.
She thought spending time with him would have accustomed her to his looks, but the time apart seemed to have treated him well.
It was unfair how time seemed to affect people differently. Whereas she could notice the small imperfections on her face, Adrien looked flawless.
He caught her eyes, and gave an easy smile.
“Like what you see?” he teased with his low voice.
Marinette sipped her punch, feeling the heat flood her face. “Oh, shut up.”
Adrien laughed, clutching his stomach with his free hand.
“For the record, you look amazing, too.”
And he really did mean it.
He’d been a fool not to realize it then.
But he wasn’t a fool now.
Marinette shook her head, “I can’t take all the credit. If you saw me wearing sweats, you’d say different things.”
Her fingers grazed the material of her dress, and he revelled in the way the fabric draped over her curves.
“It doesn’t matter what you’re wearing, I think you’re always cute.” He offered.
Her heart stuttered, and she brought an–what-she-hoped-was–intimidating stare. “Okay, Agreste. Quit the flirting.”
“Of course,” he told her with mirth, loving the fire that danced in her eyes at the nonthreatening threat.
She sighed, tracing the glass of punch with her hands, “I didn’t think you’d make it today.”
The air turned a little heavier at the implied meaning behind her words, and Adrien matched the energy with a more somber look. She mourned the loss of his happier demeanor and quietly berated herself for ruining the mood.
“I wasn’t planning on coming,” Adrien let her know, a corner of his lips lifted. “But Nino managed to convince me.”
The moon created a halo around him, and Marinette was in awe at how ethereal he looked.
“Why did you come?”
“To see you,” he said simply.
“But, today’s your father’s anniversary…” she trailed off, feeling the guilt rise in her chest. “Why would you want to see me?”
If she was him, she wouldn’t have come to see her.
He shouldn’t have any good feelings left towards her.
How could anyone ever forgive her?
She opened her mouth, knowing she needed to say this now when the alcohol had invaded her system. If she tried to say any of this in her right mind, there was a chance she was going to chicken out and leave him with little to no explanations.
It had been wrong, leaving him with nothing but voice mail, but that was the best action she could think of doing at the moment.
With her out of his life, maybe he would finally realize that she was the impediment to many successes in his life.
Even if she really, really liked him–sometimes more than just a friend–keeping her feelings at bay would be more beneficial to both of them in the long run.
“Actually, I missed you,” his low voice tickled her heart.
A shaky breath came out from his mouth, and Marinette stood still as he reached over to place a hand over her palm holding the railing.
“I know your voicemail was intended to cut me out. You thought it was better if we stayed apart.” Adrien shifted his body so that his side was now leaning against the railing, “But you were wrong about one thing, Marinette. What happened to my father had nothing to do with you. I was actually dying to meet you that day.”
The hold on her arm became more insistent, and she pressed her lips against one another to listen attentively, “My father and I…had a rough relationship. Growing up, we rarely spent time together as a family. Ever since my mother passed away when I was young, I spent most of my time alone with Gorilla or Nathalie.”
A flicker of shock passed Marinette’s eyes, “What?”
Sadly, he briefly lifted the corners of his mouth. Marinette frowned at the way he suppressed his emotions.
“I know how the media framed our relationship. The tragic, widowed father with a young son. They weren’t far from the truth using ‘tragic’ to describe him. His wife did pass unexpectedly.” Adrien sighed, gazing down at the city.
“What the media didn’t know was how much he avoided me in the same mansion behind closed doors. All meals spent alone on the expansive dining table, wondering how much longer all of this would have to go on for. I actually enjoyed having a camera crew in the house, because at least that means my father’s attention towards me was guaranteed.”
She placed her hand over his, and he shrugged, “That’s why I never blamed you. I could never blame you, Marinette.”
“But you couldn’t see him in his final moments,” she blurted, feeling the weight of her feelings, “If you were home, and not further away with me , you could have seen him faster. He might have been alive.”
“I think it’s better that I didn’t see him,” he admitted, pulling away from her and resting his arms back on the railings.
A breeze picked up, and she stilled as it messed with Adrien’s hair.
If she unfocused her vision, it was almost like seeing her partner instead of Adrien.
The uncanny resemblance was unreal, and sent a chill down her spine.
The breeze picked up and the pieces of hair framing her face danced along.
His eyes met hers and dropped to her ears.
Self-consciously, she covered them, pulling some strands to cover them.
Her mind flashed to Gabriel Agreste, who had taken an unusual interest in her earrings the one time she had paid a visit to the Agreste mansion. It was the first time she had felt a sense of danger from a man’s gaze.
Tikki had suggested she be more mindful revealing her ears afterward because there was no harm in being too careful.
But the way he was eyeing her ears didn’t scare her the way it did with Gabriel.
Laced with curiosity, Adrien’s brows were furrowed as a thoughtful look took over his face. A small movement caught her eye, and she went from looking at him to the ring on his finger.
His thumb was rubbing the inner side of the ring.
Spending so much time with Cat after battles had her noticing every one of his mannerisms.
One of them was rubbing the ring, the same way Adrien was doing now, whenever he mulled over their strategy together.
Now that she thought about it, Adrien had always worn that ring since the moment they first met. It was around the same time she had been given the Ladybug Miraculous.
“Adrien…” her lips felt dry, so she licked her tongue against the rough surface.
“Why were you…happy to not see him?”
His forest eyes came back to hers, and her body tingled at something that seemed to broach them now. Like an umbrella slowly closing back in beneath the pouring rain, her eyes widened at the impossible connection that came to her mind.
She had never been fond of the rain. It drenched her clothes and left her feeling colder.
Months of working together with Cat led to unfortunate circumstances that left them in the covers of his umbrella hidden in his baton.
With each passing time, she had changed her perception of the rain.
From it being a nuisance, the rain became her only moment being in close proximity to Cat.
Marinette watched the cogs turn in his head, prominent from the small pout that he formed with his lips.
Her mind grew heavy with a possibility she hadn’t entertained before.
It had been two years since Master Fu sent her a letter reassuring her Hawkmoth was no more.
Gabriel Agreste’s death anniversary reached its second year tonight.
There was no…way…
Did she want to let her mind run its course to an unavoidable conclusion?
Because if all her thoughts turned to be the truth …There would be a whole another meaning to why Adrien didn’t feel the need to grieve over his own father.
One that she had apparently forgotten about.
“I couldn’t celebrate a villain,” his voice was barely above a whisper, and her breath caught.
“Especially not after everything he did to you…m’lady.”
He bit his lip, tone tentative as he also played with the chances.
Really, how could it be that these two ended up being friends in and out of their masks?
Her hands covered her mouth, and the air sucked out of her. “ Chaton? ”
It broke the spell that kept the two in place–away from one another.
Who reached for who?
She didn’t know.
All she felt was a crash of limbs as they fell into each other, digging their fingers into each others’ backs.
Tremors running through both, she squeezed her eyes shut.
Nose buried into her hair, he wrapped his arms tighter and tighter because this was his lady that was in front of him.
Marinette, who happened to be the girl he loved.
Did she know he needed her?
How much he had yearned for her?
Knowing what he knew now, there was no way he was ever going to let her go now.
The last two years without her had been absolute hell, only full of emptiness.
Plagg had been helpful navigating the emotional waves that crashed through him, but his body ached for real connection.
“Adrien, h-how? What happened the past two years?” She shivered, though it was unrelated to the cold. “Your father was… Hawkmoth? ”
With his head buried in her shoulders, his words came out with broken sobs, “I f-found out after you left. H-he left a will behind, along with artifacts he insisted I keep. It was held in a velvet box. Nathalie left it for me to open in private. M-Marinette, I.”
A teary, frustrated groan tore through him, and her eyes watered at the pain that radiated off him. “He wanted me to carry on his legacy. Him! Me!”
All thoughts ceased to exist as she processed the implied meaning, “Your father wanted you to be the next Butterfly holder.”
“And he had no clue that I had been fighting against him. Fighting against us. ”
Crystal cut down his cheeks, and she finally let her tears flow freely.
“I couldn’t believe it either, but I knew the Miraculous had to be returned to Master Fu. The day after, I took it back to him, and he thankfully allowed me to keep Plagg.”
All her actions flew by her mind, and she gasped in horror.
“I pushed you away.”
She was a terrible person. Just when he needed someone to process his grief, she pushed him away because she thought he wouldn’t want to see her .
Marinette felt a wave of nausea come as the extent of her selfish actions caught up on her.
“A-Adrien, I’m so sorry. I should have been there. I-I let us fall apart I–”
Something soft pressed against her lips, and her eyes bulged open at the feeling of his lips against hers.
He tasted like salt.
Adrien broke away, sucking her lower lip as he came back to look at her. Her heart soared at his darkened gaze, and her stomach coiled with desire.
“I will tell you again and again: I don’t blame you.”
His hand cupped her jaw, and her eyes wavered at his small smile that finally looked a little genuine. “You didn’t know Hawkmoth was Gabriel Agreste.”
Trailing his hand down her neck, he leaned in to leave a peck on her collar bones. “I won’t lie and say that the two years away from you were easy because I missed you.”
Marinette held him tighter, hoping her knees were well-trained from her heroine years to keep her standing.
He brought their cheeks together, rubbing gently. “But I know it was needed. I started therapy immediately after. I’m not 100% okay,” at those words, she gave him a sympathetic gaze, and he smiled. “But I’ll be a lot better with you.”
She fell back to look him in the eyes, grabbing him to her with his cheeks.
“I’m claiming you.”
He grinned, and she mirrored it.
“Me, too.”