Chapter Text
The shot fired. Chat Noir only had his back turned for a second. Nothing seemed out of the normal before that moment. Another akuma was taken care of, Ladybug and Chat Noir saved Paris once again. A crowd of bystanders and reporters surrounded the heroic pair, Ladybug was finished talking to the press and they were both about to part ways. That's when the gun shot fired from the crowd, no one ever found out who did it, it happened too quick.
Chat ran towards Ladybug feeling helpless, he was unable to understand how anyone could do such a thing. Ladybug laid weak in Chat’s arms.
“My lady..” he uttered in disbelief, noticing the colour fading from her cheeks.
She smiled wearily knowing both their of identities were going to be revealed, but that was the last thing on Chat’s mind.
He placed his hand attempting to stop the bleeding from her chest.
“Ladybug I love you.”
“I know.”
“But I do! I really do!”
Ladybug placed a hand to his tearful face, “I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. But my name is actually Marinette. Thank you, Chat for everything.”
Her eyes slowly fluttered closed, his eyes widened, ‘I'm Adrian!! It's me! Marinette! ‘
Ambulance medics took Ladybug away she transformed back to Marinette. Chat Noir wanted to go with her but had to disappear before his identity was also revealed.
Adrian didn't return home until late that evening. After getting Plagg more cheese, he hung round the rooftops of Paris not wanting to face his father's wrath for sneaking out. Also he would have to pretend that he wasn't traumatised and grieving over the girl who loved. When he did get back to his room, he turned the TV on to see Marinette’s photo on the news. The headline reading ‘Ladybug dead: identity revealed as Marinette a local girl’ the reporter was describing what happened, there was even footage of it, no sign of tracking down the idiot who did it, then they asked where Chat Noir was. Adrian lowered his head breaking down before the screen, Plagg sat on his shoulder not knowing what to say.
3 years later
Adrian had been home schooled for the past few years and even completed his college exams from home. He put all his energy into his education, it was distraction. His father also got him going on a world tour, modeling his father's new line of fashion.
Yet he still played back that day he lost his beloved ladybug. The sound of the gunshot, Marinette’s last words. He didn't even get to say goodbye. As Adrian he did, but no one understood why he was so upset. “You hardly spoke to her.” Chloe commented at the funeral, yet she still turned up even though she was the one who bullied Marinette’s during school.
No one knew but him, how much she meant to him. Yes Chat was saving Paris singlehandedly now, but it wasn't easy and for a year he didn't even transform as Chat Noir. He feared the questions and didn't want to break down before the press, that wasn't his style.
So now Adrian wanted something different, he persuaded his dad to let him go University. He wanted any excuse to not model full time.
Alexis dragged her suitcase along with her and her backpack at the university gates. It was her first time leaving home from England and living in Paris. She was going to prove she didn't need anyone, she can manage by herself. She was tired of people underestimating her, especially her parents.
Alexis put her stuff in her room, she was one of the first students in her flat. She hurried out to explore her new home city.
Alexis walked down a street, glancing up from the GPS on her phone. On her travels she noticed a old man backed into a corner by a group of teenage boys.
“You got any chopsticks, mister?” One of the boys taunted.
The Old man remained composed, “No don't be silly! Can you leave me alone now?”
“No not until you give us your money-”
Alexis frowned as she approached them, “Hey get lost or I will call the police!”
The teenage boys smiles dropped as they saw the fire behind her eyes, they quickly retreated.
Alexis helped the old man to his feet, “Are you okay?”
The man nodded,“Of course. Thank you. ”
Alexis bidded the old man farewell before carrying on her walk. The old man rubbed his chin, a green kwami flew out from the old man’s jacket, “Do you think…?”
“Yes I’ve decided, that's her.”
Alexis was on top of the Eiffel tower enjoying the view, she buzzing with excitement. She looked below to see a swarm of rats fill the streets, Alexis rubbed her eyes, convinced she was hallucinating.
“It's I the real life Pipe piper, and you all will like my music, you have no choice but to dance along!”
Alexis raised her eyebrow, that didn't make much sense and she hoped it was a weird joke.
Her backpack began to rattle, Alexis dropped it and a small red box with black spots on fell onto the ground.
Alexis opened at the box, to see a pair of earrings.
“How did they get there?” She thought, then she recalled her mum told her she left a surprise for her in her bag. Was this it? Alexis didn't think too much about it and placed the earrings in, it brightened up her outfit. She soon realised her earrings were not from her mother, as a small spotted creature awakened floating in the air before her. The creature stretched and yawned , “It's been a while.”
They both stared at each other for a moment, Alexis not knowing if she actually was hallucinating this time.
The creature smiled brightly, “Hi I'm Tikki!”
Adrian hadn't even finished his photo shoot in a studios nearby when he saw the news, he took a heavy sigh. He was overworking himself too much, also without Ladybug to purify the akumas, it meant twice the work. At one point he was going to give up but he couldn't, his Ladybug wouldn't want that.
“Plagg claws out!”
Plagg grunted before disappearing into his ring. Adrian transformed into Chat Noir.
He jumped out of the window onto the rooftops and headed towards the Eiffel tower.
That's when he saw her silhouette, a young woman in the red black spotted pattern. His heart raced. Her outfit looked different, it was impossible, but it had to be Ladybug.
“Marinette?” He called.
Chat raced towards her on all fours, tears beginning to swell up in his eyes, about to grab her shoulder. His hand redrew quickly, as, an unfamiliar girl wearing the ladybug mask turned round, looking slightly confused by the sight of wide eyed cat fellow.
Chat Noir’s eyes dimmed, “You're not Ladybug.”
She stood up right and attempted to put on a confident act, as she placed her hands on her hips. As she introduced herself to Chat, he knew this was going to happen eventually, but he still struggled to process it. This had to be a joke, why would anyone try to replace ladybug?
“Oh yeah and I prefer ladybird.”