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It's a surreal feeling when you know you're about to leave a place for the last time. And barring a visit that's out of the norm, you won't be familiar with the every day occurances. You won't see the same walls every day, you won't pass through the same doors every day, you won't see the same faces every day.
It was well after the last day of class. Most of the graduating students had already left. And the one that remained was the last one you'd expect.
You would expect him to be here in Room 33 though.
Nathaniel was laying down across one of the large tables, staring up at the ceiling and trying to absorb as much of the room as he could. He was drinking in as many memories as he could through osmisis before he had to leave.
Marc was by his side, laying the other way across the table. Their faces were next to each other as they talked through their thoughts.
"Mr Monlataing would let you visit any time you want," he suggested.
"I know. But it's weird, isn't it? I wouldn't even go here anymore."
"You could get away with it. You look the right size."
Marc laughed when Nathaniel brought a hand over to weakly swat at him.
"I don't know... Part of me isn't sure I want to come back." Nathaniel sat up, shuffling back so he could look down into Marc's eyes.
"I've graduated from Francoise Dupont. I'm not going to be a student here any more. So I don't want to visit as one. I... I want to move on, and do new things."
Nathaniel reached down to hold Marc's hand, and he looked up fondly at his boyfriend.
"I guess it's not the biggest change we've had."
There was silence.
Weeks ago, they had both talked about the sudden shift in Paris' status quo. Hawk Moth defeated, Mayor resigned, several people leaving...
"I've... been bracing myself for all these changes," Nathaniel sighed. Marc sat up moving closer and resting a hand on his cheek.
"But now it's here," Marc added.
"It's all happened now."
Both of them reached to different places on their own body. Marc reached for his hair, feeling where one of the hairclips used to be. Nathaniel also touched his thumb, where the ring was gone.
They had given their Miraculous back to Ladybug a while back, when Phoenix and Oviseer were retired. It was a teary farewell; Ziggy wouldn't stop crying and hugging Marc, and Nathaniel bought a full bag of popcorn for Orikko to have.
That was one of the harder adjustments to what was normal for them. Even if they only had the Miraculous for a few months, having Ziggy and Orikko in their lives was such a source of joy.
The Miraculous, the city, the school, their friends...
Nathaniel shifted across, running his hand through Marc's hair
"Marc, what we've built together... it's what I treasure most. No matter what happens, no matter what changes, I'll always be here for you."
"Nath..."
Both of them leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to each other's lips. Then they rested their foreheads against each other, closing their eyes and just appreciating the closeness. It didn't matter where they were, they always had this. The warmth against their sides, their fingers softly entwined...
"Knock knock."
A while ago, both of them would have suddenly jerked apart. But today, they didn't care if anyone saw them. They lifted their heads and turned to the door.
"Ladybug?"
Both of them slid off the tables as she walked over.
"Sorry to interrupt your moment. I had to make an important delivery."
The two of them watched as she took the Goat hairclips and the Rooster thumb ring and put them on, releasing both the kwamis from them. When they last saw each other, all four of them were crying. And it still seemed like Ziggy was holding back their tears.
"When you're ready. You two should hold out your hands. For their gifts." Ladybug stood back. Ziggy and Orikko nodded to each other. Then they started to dance and sing and spin in the air.
Both Marc and Nathaniel were silent as they watched the performance, and then they recoiled slightly as the glowing resin was spat into their hands. Nathaniel pulled a face at the supposed gift, but then his eyes shot wide as the material coalesced into a golden orange charm, shaped like a magatama. Next to him, Marc's shining glob turned into a glossy white charm in the same shape.
"What are..." Nathaniel started, before suddenly Orikko flew towards him to hug against his cheek.
"Kwagatamas," they answered, hovering back next to the item in question. "They're a special sign of friendship between a kwami and their holders."
Orikko eventually released the hug and hovered back, staying in front of Nathaniel's face with a serious expression.
"Nathaniel, this charm links you to all the past wielders of the Rooster Miraculous, and cements your place as a legend in the line. So whenever you feel like you can't do something, just remember you'll always have this. You'll always be Phoenix."
Next to him, Marc was cradling Ziggy in one hand while softly petting their horns and drying their tears. Now that they had made the charm, it seemed like Ziggy was overwhelmed with emotion again. And the same conversation was happening in murmured whispers.
"Orikko..." Nathaniel placed the kwagatama safely in his jacket pocket, and raised his fist up.
"I'll never forget. And I'll never forget you. Partner."
Orikko smiled, raising one hand to bump against Nathaniel's.
"Pound it."
"Pound it."
Marc also made a similar gesture, and Ziggy finally wiped away the last of their sorrows.
Paris continued to change. Everything always did. People came, people left. Trouble started, trouble stopped. Friends were made, friends were lost. But no matter what happened, three things remained constant.
The Goat kwagatama, woven into a threaded bracelet on his wrist
The Rooster kwagatama, held on a waxed cord under his shirt
And the unshakable solid relationship between the two boys who would choose to be with each other, no matter what.