Chapter Text
It's....it's over.
Marinette stood dumbfounded in the shower. The realization hit her suddenly. It has taken her the past few months to finally come to this acceptance. There was no more Monarch. No more akumatizitations.
The past year was harder than she cared to admit. She was starting to slip towards the end, with Luka and Kagami finding out her identity. Not to mention the unshakable tiredness. Marienette was excited to resume her position as just a normal girl, with no secrets.
Her heart pained at the mention of secrets. She hadn't told Adrien about the true reason behind his father's death. She (well, her as Ladybug) thought it was the best for Adrien to think of Gabriel as a hero stopping Monarch. It still hurt not to tell him the truth. Gabriel Agreste was really Monarch, who traded his life for Nataile. The secret put more strain on Marienette than she would've imagined. Marionette was beginning to put her shyness aside and talk to Adrian. She was surprised on how easier it is to just be his friend, especially if she isn't just endlessly stammering. Plus, Adrien was finally getting to experience freedom, as much as he could without his loss clouding his mind.
"Marinette! You're going to be late!"
The sound of her mother's voice jolted her from her thoughts. She was going to be late for the first day of Year 11. Rushing through her shower and the rest of her morning routine, Marinette hurried to school.
---
"Alya!" Marinette was overjoyed at the sight of her best friend approaching her in front of the school.
"Marinette! Girl, I have so many photos to show you. Europe was gorgeous." Alya spent the summer traveling with Nino's family, touring Europe now that it was safe to do so. Marionette missed her friends dearly, but she was secretly glad that it brought her and Adrian closer.
"I can't wait to see them!"
"Sup Mari, how's it going," Nino said, taking his place at Alya's side. "Dude! I thought you were still in London!"
"Got in last night ." Adrien said as he approached Marinette's side. Marionette was less surprised than Nino as she heard that Adrien decided to stay in Paris for school. He still had to spend a few weeks there to check his father's international assists, but Marionette was overjoyed that he wasn't going to boarding school.
The group was excited to be reunited. Catching up over Marinette's crossiants and macroons, the conversation slowly shifted to the end of Monarch.
"I don't know what to do with myself. There's been no need for Ladybug and Catnoir, so the Ladyblog has been empty," Alya said. "I miss the action."
"Yeah, dude. I miss the resistance." Nino added guiltly. "Fighting together was wicked fun."
"Yeah..." Adrien trailed off. Nino and Ayla had a moment of realization at the sound of his voice. Adrien seldomly talked about how the end of Monarch impacted his family, but there was always tension around the subject with him there. No one wanted to remind him of his father's sacrifice to end Monarch's rein.
"Are you guys excited for the new classes?" Marinette said abruptly, trying desperately to change the topic. "We're doing costume design in fashion. We're doing a showcase at the end of the month; you guys should come!" The other mirrored her enthusiasm, trying to lighten the mood before class resumed.
"I have my first Modern Journalism class next period!! Fingers crossed we still get the school news paper." Alya added.
"Ms. Bustier's journalism? I have her next too!" Adrien light up.
The bell rang and Marinette left for her next class. Despite the distraction, her mind was on Monarch. The city was safe but she still felt like something was missing. She missed her adventures with Catnoir. She was forever guiltly about lying to Adrien about his father.