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He didn’t know what to do. He didn’t know what to do.
Sprawled as he was on the ground. Staring up and up at- God. How could he let this happen to Marinette?
The glistening purple glass of her skin was all he could see. As she stood so tall and rigid. Yet with such a haunting grace that made Adrien so unable to tear his eyes away. Staring with so much horror as the girl he loved was so wrong.
And then he’s moving again. The sharp crack of her bag spinning his only indicator for the next attack. Forcing him to scramble away. It shouldn’t have been that hard. He was fast. Even without his miraculous. Quick enough to dodge and duck and run. But now he was barely missing the bright balls of light she fired at him. Only just able to dive out of the way of the last one.
“Marinette! Stop!” He lets out the desperate cry. And. He thinks maybe it does something.
Because she was stood there now. Legs spread wide and head still tilted downwards. Hands loosely by her side. But her grip was tightening. With her fists started to shake around the bag strap. And it’s then that that wretched butterfly mask appears around her eyes.
Adrien can see how she grits her teeth. Eyes shutting tight. She was struggling. Because, of course, even when Marinette was the one in trouble, she always tried to help. Did everything in her power to make sure everyone around her stayed safe. It’s why he loved her. Why he needed to help her now. If only he’d just trusted her in the first place. Had seen through such a clear lie.
“Oui.” It’s such a quiet little thing. The smallest voice from Marinette. Who still stood tense and with her eyes shut. The purple butterfly mask vanishing from around her eyes. And the word like an affirmation of his own shortcoming.
It’s enough to make him move. Springing up so quickly and darting ahead. Lunging forward and grabbing her arm to spin her around. And then wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close, her back flush to his chest. The cold glass skin is such a jarring difference from every other time he’d held her so closely like this. He doesn’t have time to think though, when she’s already struggling against him. With such an intense strength. So he desperately says all it is he wanted to say to her. Lays his love for her bare, trying to wash away the doubt he’d caused.
“You don’t need to fix my heart, Marinette.” And he leans in beside her. Doing all he can to keep his voice from wavering. “It’s already mended.”
“Is it..?” There’s such a longing tone in her voice. And it just makes Adrien grip her tighter. With the utter wonderment in her tone. That that could possibly be true. Her eyes meeting his without interruption. It’s no wonder he can’t keep the tearful choking of his words from escaping as he tells her that Ray, Loic, and Nelson tried to trick them. Who had tricked him.
“Forgive me… I love you! I’m begging you. Tell me that you still love me too.” And there’s a terrifying moment he thinks she wouldn’t listen. That that purple butterfly mask would come back and try to drown her again. That she’d push him away and he’d lose her. But the butterfly doesn’t come back. And he’s met with the sharp clang of Marinette’s purse falling to the ground.
The cold hand comes up to rest against his arm still wrapped around her. And he starts at it with wide eyes before his gaze finally comes back to meet her own. The tiniest smile spreading on her face that had been so filled with defeat and despair just a second ago.
“Of course I love you.”
And it’s such a weight off his chest. Flooding him with the dizzying relief. And he brings his hand up to cup her cheek. The freezing of the glass skin is such a small thing now. Because through it he could really see her now. Her smile still so radiant even with how soft it was. And they share the kiss like nothing was different. Like they’d done hundreds of times before. Just the closeness of one other. Ignoring all the other sound and lights around them. By the time they’ve pulled away and he’s opened his eyes.
Marinette’s own face is the first thing he sees. Blue eyes instead of that glowing white. And her freckles jumping out on her cheeks instead of the smooth purple glass they’d been. And the warmth pooling off her. Making his hand linger longer as he just holds her cheek, soaking it all in. So enraptured by her utter beauty.
He doesn’t know how long they’re left like that. Both of them just enjoying holding the other after the mess that today had been.
Finally he does speak. Still too hesitant to really move away from where his forehead rested against hers. “I love you, Marinette. And I’m so sorry I didn’t trust you before. I know you’d never lie to me.” He’d meant it to convey just how much trust he had in her. Since he didn’t know if she remembered the rushed apology he’d said while she wasn’t herself.
But when Adrien opened his eyes, he sees the frown on her face. The small pursing of her lips. And he worries that it wasn’t enough.
“Adrien, I…” And she’s biting her tongue before she finishes. Worrying at her own lip as she looks away. And it makes his stomach roil with the tension. At the pure anticipation of what it is she wanted to tell him. The thing she had actually been keeping from him-
Clack. Clack. Clack.
There’s a sharp noise echoing from just outside then. Enough to make them both fall quiet. Drawing their gaze away from one another and to the shut door of the room. That’s when the humming starts up. A light and airy one. Slow and methodical in tune. It just makes Adrien scrunch his brows together. Especially with the smallest way Marinette stiffens under him.
Right. She probably was exhausted from it all. Having to deal with someone wandering by wasn’t exactly ideal. So he’s already stepping around to be in front of her. Sending her his own smile and turning back to the door just as it creaks open.
Though whatever he’d had in mind sputters to stop. Utterly dumbfounded by the- woman who walks in. Those toxic green eyes are the first thing that stand out to him, nearly glowing in the dim room. Until all his attention is caught on the mask around them. The purple butterfly wings spreading out and framing her face. He- he doesn’t understand what- who he was looking at. Another alumatized villain..?
Her heels make their final clacks as she comes to a stop. A mere few feet away. And she brings her hands forward from where they’d been hidden behind back. A long staff coming with them and all resting right in front of her. It’s only then that Adrien really takes her all in. The pale purple skin. And the so familiar outfit. That purple suit and staff. Really the mask should have made it clear enough. There was only one other person he’d seen with such an eerily similar persona.
Her humming starts back up. And the horrifying image building in his mind makes it sound so much worse. So much more like a looming threat that was waiting to strike. His arm comes up to block Marinette still behind him. Because this- this woman was-
“This meeting is far over due, no?” Her words just make Adrien tense further. The slight sway as she talks doing nothing to hide the veiled threat behind it all. “It’s a bit rude to hide behind your boyfriend dear Marinette.”
What? Why was she addressing Marinette? Was she trying to akumatize her again? His mind was whirring trying to make sense of it all. But he had one real priority above it all. To get Marinette out of there, now.
“Who are you?” Marinette speaks aloud. And Adrien can’t help darting his eyes to her. Worrying over her drawing even more attention to herself. Please- Marinette now wasn’t the time- Though he sees the hard look in her own eyes. How whatever exhaustion she had had nearly evaporated in favor of putting on this stronger image.
And there’s a light laugh from the woman. Her hand coming up to cover her mouth at her outburst. Before she sighs as her sachirine sweet eyes bore into them.
“You may call me, Chrysalis.” She lifts a hand up then. Pointing her finger right at Marinette. “And which do you prefer, Marinette or-” She- Chrysalis was making to say something else. But that’s when Marinette yelps loudly and quickly steps out from behind Adrien.
“Just Marinette! Why would I prefer anything but my own name-” She follows it all up with an awkward little laugh.
Adrien can’t help staring at the back of her head. Both worry and fear that Marinette wasn’t behind him anymore. That Chrysalis clearly was here for her. But why? And the little thought makes his stomach flip uncomfortably. What else was Chrysalis going to call her? Why- why did Marinette cut her off so quickly? And she- he knows she does that awkward little laugh when- when she’s not saying something.
“Oh? Why, you told me yourself. Just with that one little word.” She gives a mock gasp then. “Ah! My apologies. You probably don’t remember what we spoke about when you were Heartfixer. What it is I asked you.” And then those green eyes turn to him. “You heard Marinette, right? Adrien? What was it she said?”
He wracks his brain. Marinette hadn’t said a lot. And most of it was directed towards him. But- there was something- “‘Oui’?” It’d been one word. Said almost so abruptly. And he hadn’t thought much about it. But. She’d said it right after the butterfly mask had appeared around her eyes hadn’t she.
“Hm. Yes. And the question I asked.” Her eyes snap to Marinette. And it makes him bristle. Hand darting out to grab at her arm in some attempt to shield her from- whatever it was those eyes wanted. “I asked if you were Ladybug.”
What? His entire body goes rigid from hearing it. His hand hovering dumbly in the air. And mouth falling open in a gape. No sound coming out though. Because it all got stuck in his chest. Scrambled together with utter blankness of his mind. Nothing he heard made any sense. It couldn’t make sense. This was Marinette. She wasn’t- She wasn’t hiding something like that from him-
Adrien has to stumble back when he’s bumped into. Eyes rapidly moving to gaze at Marinette. Who’d just flinched backwards so violently. And was left stuttering out some ramblings. He couldn’t see her face from this angle. But with how her shoulders were hunched up. And the pure desperation in her voice, he didn’t think he wanted to see it. And his hands betray him. Because he doesn’t reach out to steady her. Hovering them awkwardly and shaking so badly with a tremor.
“What? No- no. You can’t- I can’t have messed it all up like this. Ah-” That’s when she turns to him. Hands coming up to her mouth and shaking so badly. Her blue eyes so achingly wide. “A-Adrien it’s not- this is just-” She doesn’t get to finish whatever she wanted to say. But he doesn’t think he wanted to hear whatever it was. Because anything would mean- would mean some lie. Something he’d been in the dark about. Something Marinette had kept from him-
“Aw did poor little Adrien not know? There’s quite a lot more you’ve been keeping from him isn’t there, Marinette?” He was going to be sick. Especially with how Marinette is so quick to look away. To tense up and pull her hands from her face in favor of fisting them tightly by her side.
There might be something else that’s said. But the ringing in his ear pulls his mind away. Ladybug would know all about his father wouldn’t she? And he knows there’s something that’s being kept hidden about it all. He’d never been able to align whatever image of a man everyone thought him to be and the man he knew as his father. And. If Ladybug was- If Marinette- Did Marinette know something?
“Your fight is with me, Chrysalis. Adrien has no part in your goal. My miraculous is what you're after, right? Well! Try and get them now!” Marinette’s outburst is what draws him back. If only because the next thing she does is turn to him and grab his face with both hands so gently. Cupping his cheeks in her hands.
And. Just for that moment. Her sad little smile is what makes him remember that this was the girl he loved. To hell with whatever else was happening. She mouths out a single word then. Run. Then she’s spun around.
“Tikki! Spots on!” The light that engulfs her is what truly seals it then. And when Ladybug emerges from it, Adrien runs.
Hearing already the sounds of both Chrysalis and- and Ladybug bounding at each other. He has to dodge an object hurtling right at him. Ducking and rolling through the side door of the classroom. And he turns to the still open door. Just in time to see Ladybug toss her yoyo to slam it shut behind him. Chrysalis closing in on her the last thing he sees. He’s breathing heavy from so much more than the exertion.
It wasn’t going to end well. Not at all. Because he knew Chrysalis was smart. He and Ladybug had been coming to realize that these past few months with each villain coming their way. She had to have some plan as horrifying as it was. God. She’d probably planned the entire thing today. Had made sure Marinette would end up in that state. And he’d been such an idiot to fall for it.
He had to help. And he rushes up. Hurtling down the halls to loop around to the other side of the room. Calling out his transformation mid run and letting the magic of the miraculous wash over him.
And the doors slam open as he comes crashing in. Shouting off a half hearted pun just as he uses his staff to swipe at Chrysalis who’s been nearly on top of Ladybug. Taking the space between them to rush to his lady’s side. Offering her a hand and pulling her up quickly. She’s quick to start filling him in. Though it’s all a buzz as he opts to look at her clearly now.
Whatever glamour the miraculous give them must not work when he knows who is under the mask. Because it was so clear now. With that dark hair tied into those pigtails. Even with the brighter blue sheen. And those piercing blue eyes. Had they not had the unnatural blue tone from the magic of the miraculous, they’d be just like Marinette’s. Even her voice was the same. And he could hear the waver in it. How she was still so exhausted. So on edge.
He just nods along with her and they’re thrown back into the battle. And they were losing. So horribly. Because Chrysalis knew their moves. Knew just what they were going to do. To an eerie accuracy. And she wouldn’t stop talking. Every little thing stabbing at Ladybug. And making her stumble and act without thinking.
And he wasn’t any better. Because it felt so odd trying to fight beside her now. All he could see was Marinette. Could only see how much worry she still held in her frame. Could only think about the mess of confusion he felt towards her right now. The amount of time he’d spent separating the partnership with Ladybug and his love for his girlfriend. And the wall he’d been building up in his mind. Piling higher and higher about his doubts towards just what exactly had happened when Ladybug and stopped Monarch. And it was all tumbling down right onto the image of Marinette.
They didn’t know what to do. Because they’d realized something. Even if they do overpower her here. Force her to retreat. She’d still know. Would know who Ladybug was. They might win here. But it’d mean they’d lose the coming war.
Ladybug finally breaks away. For just long enough to call her lucky charm. It’s. A tiny little black ring. He scurries away quickly from Chrysalis to get a better look. Oh. It was his ring. The red on it mimicking the little green paw print on his own. And it makes what feels like a hard rock settle in his stomach. The dread washing over him.
He could erase it all. But. She’d know if he just erased Ladybug’s identity. Would piece together what it was he’d erased. It had to be more. Erase why she’d even come here today in the first place. However far back in the day it was. Safer to remove the whole day- And everyone else’s memories of today too. Because Marine- Ladybug had told him before. About Chrysalis having eyes everywhere. He didn’t know who it was. Would be impossible to narrow it down.
He’s so stuck in trying to figure it out that he doesn’t see the staff swiping across his face. Connecting so hard with his head and sending him spinning in the air. Landing in a heap on the ground.
Laying there dazed and eyes lidded. Only just hearing Marinette’s cry for him. And see her blurred figure still fighting so harshly against Chrysalis. Would she be the only one to remember in the end? When he erases it all? She’d want him to erase his own memory of today. And she’d be the only one left. Again. Being the only one to know. Would she tell him? Would this be another thing she’d keep hidden away?
He didn’t want her to have to bear it. When she so clearly already had so much. But. Then should he keep his own memory? She’d be so against it. But why should he be kept in the dark. It’d be better if they knew who their enemy was. Knew who to look out for. He could actually be the one to hold that knowledge. For once be the one who knew, not the one who was lied to.
But he’d know so much more too. Know something he didn’t ever think he’d wanted to know. That Marinette and Ladybug were one in the same. And he’d have to go on trying to keep seeing her the same way. Have to keep trying to pretend he didn’t know. Didn’t know that the girl he loved so deeply was keeping something from him. Was lying to him so bold-faced every single day. About something he still didn’t know. Because there was so clearly something more. Now that he knew to look back.
He wouldn’t be able to stop himself from picking apart every single thing she’d ever said to him. Every little nervous stutter he’d found so adorable would become the next doubt piled onto the growing swarm of things that meant she was lying to him.
But. He’d been searching for the truth. For so long.
The iron grip around his heart tightened. Even as he regained his bearings. And he hauled himself back up. Staring as Marinette pushed Chrysalis back. Meeting his eyes and readying her lucky charm to toss it up. Intending to send Chrysalis from the room with the swarm of magic ladybugs. Just in time for him to use his ability. The perfect setup really.
And she does it. Tossing the little black ring high up.
“Miraculous Ladybug!” And the swarm of ladybugs spreads out. Sending Chrysalis to whatever room she’d holed up before coming here.
Already he charges up his ability. The black sphere of the pure abyss looming high above him and expanding. Still so unsure on what to do. The dark mass warbling with his own unsurity. And acting so erratic. A perfect recreation of just the warred state his own mind was in.
Until he looks back at her.
At Marinette’s eyes staring at him. And she just smiles softly. Uttering just one word as the go ahead for him. “Oui.”
He. Didn’t want to lose her.
”Miraculous Chat Noir!”
And he releases his energy. Everything being engulfed into that never ending blackness.