Author's note: Hi everyone, thanks for taking the time to read this fic. It's pretty personal to me.
Content warning: Thoughts and references to suicide are regularly present. The way depression is depicted may not and probably won't be identical to how everyone experiences it, so keep that in mind. These are heavy themes, and I am not attempting to showcase them either positively or negatively. This story is explicit in many chapters.
Chapter 1: Happy birthday
Upon first glance, it was a day just like any other.
Marinette attended university classes at a popular school of design and fashion. The university itself encompassed many of the arts within its various schools, meaning she got to work alongside many different people. On top of achieving high marks, she sold commissions on the side, oh and regularly saved Paris from akumatised victims created by the evil Papillon.
Yes, all in all it was a pretty average day.
Except there was something that just felt kind of, for lack of better words... off. Something had been bugging Marinette since that morning and she still hadn't figured out what it could be.
It wasn't until she talked to Alya at the end of her last class that she realized. It was one very small yet very important detail that somehow she missed all day.
Today was Adrien's birthday.
"Girl, I can't believe you of all people forgot Adrien's birthday is today. Didn't you see him in class too?"
"It wasn't my fault! I never forget!"
"Until now you mean." chirped Alya.
"It must be because our end of semester projects are almost due; it's too much pressure!"
"Oh Marinette, relax. You are just too adorable sometimes."
Marinette could not believe that Alya was able to find humor in such a dire situation.
"What am I going to do, Alya?" she pleaded, throwing herself onto her best friend's shoulder, the weight causing Alya to stumble back a little. "You've got to help me, this is a disaster!"
"Woah chill girl, just give him a gift tomorrow. It's not complicated."
Marinette's voice rose, "What? Tomorrow? I can't give him a gift tomorrow; his birthday is today. He'll know I forgot and he'll be so disappointed. He's probably already disappointed that no one got him anything and oh no he'll always remember how I forgot this special day and he'll never love me and we'll never get married and have a house with three kids and a hamster named—"
"Marinette!" Alya interjected, shrugging off her friend. "You're overreacting. Adrien is just fine."
"I can't just give him something tomorrow. We only have one shared class, so I could pretend I just forgot to give him a gift, but that would make me a liar. I'd be as bad as Lila. You've got to help me!"
Alya repressed a sigh. It felt like near every day Marinette found a way to sneak Lila into a conversation about Adrien. Clearly she had a love rival, but so was Chloe, and Chloe didn't inflict nearly as much rage as the former did.
"Look, the three of you all decided to major in fashion, and as luck would have it, you all placed into the same university and therefore share some classes together. Eventually you're going to have to come to terms with that."
"It's not the same." Marinette insisted. "Chloe's dad obviously pulled some strings to get her here, and I can't explain but I just know that Lila managed to con her way into attending as well. You know what I think? I think they both enrolled in this school to be next to Adrien."
This conversation would go nowhere again if Alya let it. She'd lost count how many times her friend brought that theory up. Shaking her head, she finally said, "Alright, alright, so what do you want to do?"
Marinette grinned. "Look, I've got an idea. But I need your help. You'll help me, right?"
Now Alya did sigh. How did she always find herself like this?
...
Adrien elongated his stride, trying to get to the main entrance as quickly as possible without breaking into a run. He just wanted this day to be done with. His father had been away all morning, only leaving another pen as his birthday gift just like every year. How foolish he was to think that one year was anything other than a fluke. Further, he arrived at school just to be smothered by Chloe and Lila.
Chloe and Lila of course didn't tag team hover by his side all day just for his sake though, oh no. The girls were practically engaged in an outright brawl for his affections. Pushing each other as hard and often as proper decorum would allow, they each even had a few rounds of accidentally slamming him into a wall or desk, even nearly down a flight of stairs.
To be clear, he did remember to grab onto the railing before his face hit the floor.
That moment seemed to be the tipping point for the day. During each class after that, except the short reprise during figure drawing, the only class he shared with Marinette, Lila smooth talked their peers into taking her side against Chloe... not particularly hard to do given Chloe is well... Chloe. But he couldn't even bring himself to feel sympathy for his friend on this day, as from that point on he dealt with an army of classmates fawning over him at all times that Lila could not be there herself.
And the touching, god there really was such as thing as too much physical contact. He knew it was possible but never thought he'd experience it first hand.
And it was all courtesy of Lila, for going through the trouble of rallying all their classmates together to "help" him with trivialities throughout the morning.
A friendly tap on the shoulder to ask if he preferred a red cup or blue. A casual slap on the back in congratulations. Brief attempts and holding hands from Lila, all of which he politely rejected.
Then, he felt the tickle of her breath in his ear. "Happy birthday Adrien. This day is just amazing. Don't you agree? You can thank me another time. Today it's all about you." Lila whispered, snaking an arm around his shoulder. He would have crawled out of his own skin if he could.
Then there was Chloe.
A hand danced up his back. "Adri-shoo didn't you miss me last period? Did you get your birthday present in the mail? I'm sure they needed two men to carry it, those slackers!"
Chloe was better in the touching department, which was saying a lot given she threw herself at him on a near daily basis. What she lacked in touch however she made up for in chatter.
So. much. chatter.
Like a buzzing in his ear that just wouldn't stop. What he'd give for five minutes of silence. And he was unable to turn away and ignore her because she would not stand to be one-upped by Lila. Adrien wasn't sure how, but she remained in his field of vision in the same way the wind somehow always blows in your face, no matter which direction you turn.
All in all, he did his very best to remain polite and constrained, even if he was screaming inside.
He swore that he never wanted to hurt anybody.
He just... wanted to go home.
Which is why he instantly regretted it when, before getting into the Gorilla's car after school, he snapped as he felt fingers grasp his jacket from behind to stop him. He was finally going home, and yet someone was trying to drag him back.
In an instant of panic, he grasped towards the car door, but the backwards motion of his body caused his hand to accidentally swing the door shut. His throat constricted and a faint sob erupted from his lips. The Gorilla must have assumed Adrien did not need a ride that day because at that instant he drove off.
For a moment, Adrien contemplated if there was time to throw himself in front of the car.
Defeated, he turned around to face the culprit. The mixture of anger and disappointment was evident on his face before he realized and fixed his composure, but by then the damage had been done.
Although it had been Alya that had grabbed his jacket, it was Marinette standing behind him who looked utterly mortified. Her shoulders were hunched and stiff, as if trying to bury her head like a turtle trying to hide. Her palms pressed together as she rubbed her hands while speaking furiously. It took him a moment to realize she was speaking to him.
"... and that's why you grabbed me, uh I mean she grabbed you. I, we, us thought you'd want to have a patisserie at our baked goods!"
Adrien didn't quite understand, but thankfully Alya filled him in. "Marinette forgot today was your birthday but she still wanted to do something nice for you, cuz she's cool like that. So she's inviting you for pastries at her parents' bakery." Alya paused, exhaling. "Oh and sorry about your ride." she added as an afterthought.
Adrien's tiredness was only exacerbated at the thought of yet another birthday "something", and his face fell. But then he thought about it again. This was Marinette. Marinette, who looked like she didn't even want to ask at all once she realized he was in a hurry to leave for the day. Marinette, who was always considerate of how those around her felt, and he was proud and lucky to be part of that group. She probably noticed everyone else doing things for him and felt guilty. It wasn't fair to her to have to take time out of her busy day just for his birthday. He didn't like that she felt obligated. His shoulders slumped a little at the thought, and he gave her a forced smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"I'd, uh, be happy to come along Marinette." he started, gaining confidence in his voice. "Would you like to walk there together right now?"
Marinette's eyes widened. "Ah yes! I mean, no way! I mean... well... it seems like you've had a long day already, so maybe...tomorrow instead?"
Before he could answer, his ride pulled up behind him. Natalie stepped out, holding a large tablet showing a frustrated Gabriel Agreste.
"Adrien! You know you have Chinese studies after school, why did you not come home at your designated time?"
Adrien began fumbling a reply when Alya interjected. "M. Agreste, it wasn't his fault, really. It was my fault. I held him back so that we could ask him to come to Marinette's parents' bakery, you know for his birthday!"
Natalie turned Gabriel's face towards Marinette. "Absolutely not! You will return home immediately. There is no need to waste your special day at a bakery; you'll spend it at home where you belong." And with that, the screen went blank.
The three teens continued to stare at the blank screen for a moment longer, until Natalie pulled it away and placed it back at her side.
"Um, well, I guess I'll see you in class tomorrow. Thanks anyway."
Adrien turned to his two friends, but then realized only one of them was still present.
"It is time to go Adrien. If you will, please get into the car."
"Wait, Natalie! What happened to Marinette? She was just here, I haven't even said goodbye yet!"
Natalie adjusted her glasses, closing her eyes with impatience. "You will see her again tomorrow. Now please..."
Alya nodded. "She's right, you know, Marinette will be just fine tomorrow. I'll go find her now and make sure of it." she winked at Adrien.
Adrien nodded a bit reluctantly, but knew Alya could handle her friend better than he could. He turned towards the car, ducking his head as he entered it. Natalie followed in his suite.
The car was warm, a nice contrast to the chilly air he just came out from. The days were becoming shorter as they headed into the middle of Autumn. Shorter, colder, more bitter especially when the wind picked up like today. Had he had to have walked all the way back home on a day like this, he'd probably freeze to death before he made it all the way back.
That is, if he wasn't a part-time superhero who could transform and hop back home in less than 5 minutes.
Before the car even pulled out from the side of the curb, Adrien caught Alya running back in his direction, phone in landscape mode in her hands, and her mouth moving as if she was having a conversation. Curious, he rolled down his window.
"...and this time it's my best friend! I'm sure Ladybug and Chat Noir will arrive on the scene shortly! Until then I'll be keeping—"
Hurriedly, Adrien leapt from his place in the back to grip the Gorilla's seat. "Wait! I need to take down– take back my Chinese book! I left it in one of the classrooms okay see you later this might take a while I'll call you bye!"
"Adrien wait!" Natalie attempted to stop him but he already was in route back towards the school.
...
Marinette was akumatised. Of this he was certain, though he made sure to verify with Alya after transforming in order to keep his cover. Knowing she could rival his Lady in stubbornness, he didn't bother an attempt to convince her to flee. Instead, they ran side by side after their friend.
"What's her power? Did you catch what happened?"
"No. I only saw her jump on top of the school roof, but it has to be her."
"Are you sure?"
"Spare me kitty." Alya smirked. "I'm a journalist. I know for a fact Marinette was the only one in the area; and she had just ran off after a confrontation with her friend's dad. Honestly I can't fault her for being upset."
"I wouldn't call it a confrontation, per se."
"What?"
"I mean—are you sure it was meant to be a confrontation? Perhaps his dad just has his own way of saying things...okay nevermind point taken."
The duo stop running as Marinette leaves their view.
"I need to take it from here. Any idea where she might be headed?"
"Most likely the Agreste mansion. It's—"
"Don't worry. I'll find it." Adrien ended the conversation abruptly by extending his staff and vaulting after his friend.
After his altitude adjustment, he was in a much better position to get his eyes back on Marinette and, hopefully, locate the akuma before his Lady arrived.
"Where did she go?" Adrien looked across the rooftops and out towards the sunset. "She couldn't have gotten that far—"
No sooner had those words been muttered, a pair of hands roughly shoved him from behind, knocking him off from his vantage point balanced atop his staff. He screamed as he hurled towards the pavement below. Closing his eyes and bracing for impact, he was surprised to feel the familiar sensation of string as it caught him and prevented him from injury.
Opening his eyes, he smiled. "My Lady, it's about time you showed up."
But Adrien found he was face to face, nose to nose, not with his lady, but with another masked wonder.
"Sorry chaton, but I'm afraid you've got the wrong girl. I'm not your lady. You can call me Master though. Master Marinette. Master of designs. Master of planning. Master of everything. And I know that you are not necessary today. Or at all. So give me that ring."
Marinette's hand moved towards his own. And he couldn't move it because his whole arm was suspended by her threads. Trapped.
There was no time for second guessing. Adrien forced his legs behind himself in an effort to kick upwards with enough momentum to break free of her grasp. Marinette stumbled backwards, caught off guard. Capitalizing on his initiative, Adrien grabbed his staff and swung it under her feet, causing her to lose balance.
"Having difficulty staying in control there, akuma?" Adrien teased as he snapped the strings constraining him.
"That's Master to you!" Marinette spat back.
"Oh, how possessive of you, master."
"I'm only possessive of your miraculous, the rest is in your dreams my minou." she spoke solemnly. "And when I want something I don't hesitate to take it.".
Marinette rivaled even Ladybug in her speed and agility, which Adrien was quickly finding out. She lunged at him suddenly and given their already close proximity he barely shifted to the side in time to miss the arms attempting to grab him. Time slowed for him as their eyes met, and he saw brilliant blue contoured by a pink and black mask. Her dress and shoes had the same palette, colors layered artistically in a way that would put his father's designs to shame.
Adrien continued to dodge her advances. He didn't want to fight. He didn't need to fight. He only needed to locate the akuma. Which would be infinitely easier once Ladybug arrived and they could devise a plan.
As for the time being, Adrien was perfectly capable of acting as the diversion. He could keep her at bay so that no harm could come to his father or Nathalie, or anyone else for that matter.
He sprinted towards the rooftop's edge, preparing his baton to vault to the next house over. One house, then two, then he stole a cursory glance behind him to see that she was still following him.
Nearly losing his footing when he landed on the angled slats, Adrien couldn't help but turn to sneak another glimpse at his opponent. Similar to his Lady, Marinette... or rather, Master Marinette's weapon had a yo-yo like magical string. Getting a better look he noticed the difference was there was a ball at the end, of which then was strung to a short staff, or even cross-like object held in her right hand.
Had he not been preoccupied, Adrien might've recalled a time when he played with a kendama not unlike the one Master Marinette was using on this day.
On her next leap, Marinette disappeared from Adrien's view behind the wall of the house he stood on. Thinking she might be hurt from missing the jump, he acted on impulse to help.
In hindsight, he was an idiot.
A string wrapped around his ankle from below and jerked him down. Instinctively, he reached back for the ledge, which only served to angle his body and... wham! his head clipped the corner of the house on the way down. Master Marinette threw him to the pavement before she descended herself.
"Are you going to finally stay where I put you?"
Disoriented, he lifted his head at the sound.
"No ma'am." he muttered as once again he felt a pull on his ankle, dragging and tossing him across the street against the adjacent building. He cried out as the air was pushed from his lungs and he fell gracelessly back onto the street.
Marinette, seeing that he was unfit to escape at this point, began to approach him. She walked slowly, unsmiling, but not angry. Simply focused on the task at hand.
"So much like Ladybug." he said weakly.
Marinette ceased her stride. "Ladybug is not here. She abandoned you, can't you see it? She's not coming."
"Of course she's coming. She always steps in right in time." Adrien replied. "Though feel free to move a little faster my lady." he muttered under his breath at the end.
Adrien could only lay helplessly and watch Marinette as she closed in on him. He wasn't going to give up. Ladybug was going to come. He would hang in there. And if she was in trouble, unlikely as that may be, well... Adrien inhaled slowly,
...he would save Marinette himself.
Stealing his nerve, he waited until she not more than a couple steps away. He took the time to scan her body looking for clues as to what object the akuma could be hiding in. Nothing stood out. He felt a wetness run down the side of his face.
He was bleeding, well shit.
Chalking it up to his head injury, Adrien couldn't help that he saw such a strong resemblance to his Lady. Her stride, her confidence, her energy... it was... it was... miraculous! It was her miraculous! That had to be it, he reasoned. When Lila was akumatised she had a fake fox miraculous. That might mean Marinette had...
"Wow, you must have hit your head harder than I anticipated. Your entire face is red and you need to pick that jaw of yours off the floor. I do not appreciate being ogled."
"Wait, ogled? No you have the wrong ideahh—ah," he self corrected, "actually, what I meant to say is you have the wrong idea that I'm ogling at your body, stunning as you are of course."
She glared, and a giggle almost escaped him when he saw how her nose scrunched up when she pouted.
He cleared his throat and continued. "I'm just amazed at your wit, your confidence– you're amazing Marinette."
"That's Master Marinette, and of course I am! I can do anything I put my mind to, including retrieving your ring of the black cat. If you can realize all this, then just be still so that this can all be over soon and no further harm comes to you."
That was a surprising revelation. "You're saying, after throwing me twice by my foot, that you don't want to hurt me?"
Master Marinette kneeled at his side and brought her face to his ears, whispering, "My minou, I didn't mean that, I only meant not more than necessary."
This was as close and unsuspecting as he was going to get, and so Adrien made a grab for it. His arm quickly grabbed hold of her weapon, but she was on to him. Without hesitation, she took his wrist and twisted, forcing his body to turn with his arm and shove his face into the ground.
"Naughty kitty!" she pressed down on his hand and he screamed.
"Sorry Marinette, I had to try—aie!, hh! please stop! Stop!" With each plead she pressed harder into his wrist so much that he thought his arm would break. "Please stop, who?"
"Ah, hah... it hurts!" he wailed. "It hurts— stop! Stop!"
"Stop who?"
Adrien couldn't think. Couldn't process what the fuck she wanted him to say. The searing pain shot directly up from the hand she held to his shoulder and made him forget completely how light his head felt.
"Please, please." he stammered. His breathing came in short, shallow gasps as he struggled to cope. She had inhuman strength, and he was trapped beneath her, helpless and in agony.
"What is my name, kitty?"
Oh god, that. He grit his teeth together in fury and spat out "Master Marinette! My arm, you're breaking my arm!"
As quickly as she grabbed him, she released his wrist and fell unceremoniously to the ground in a crumpled heap. She oh so generously gave him a minute to compose himself, how merciful.
During that minute Adrien came to realize two things.
Ladybug still hasn't come.
And his other hand was still clenched tight.
Kicking himself for forgetting so easily, he opened his hand. In it held the prize– one of her earrings. Going at her weapon as a diversion played out perfectly, well nearly so. Yes, this looked just like Ladybug's; only the color was different. He counted his blessings and prayed this was the correct side.
Still short of breath, he stammered, "Ca... cataclysm." As if made of glass, the tiny piece of jewelry broke in half between his two fingers. A dark purple butterfly emerged and commenced its flight into the sky.
"No!" a voice yelled behind him.
Suddenly, Adrien realized exactly what he had done.
...
Marinette came to a moment later. She found herself far from the school and on her hands and knees, a sense of bewilderment and amnesia present.
She knew what this meant, and would scold herself later for being so careless. But for now if she was herself again that meant Chat Noir had—
As Marinette's gaze drifted upwards she saw him, Chat, her partner, lying on the ground but shifting his body forward almost in a panic. She quickly assessed that he was favoring his right side and that his hair was matted and stained with a deep red. Oh god, what had she done? His hand was outstretched as if he was... reaching for something?
Marinette gasped when she saw it and connected the dots on what he was attempting to do. If the akuma escaped, it could multiply and become stronger. But he had done it, he defeated and freed her. Now all she had to do was purify it, but she was not transformed!
"Chat Noir, don't do it! No!" she screamed, but it was already too late.
...
A person can only become akumatised willingly.
They need to feel like there is no way out, that there is no other solution. Papillon preys off desperation, loss, and suffering. Even if it is merely a momentary feeling, if the timing is right... anyone can become ensnared.
In Adrien's case however, his willingness came from knowing that he was in no shape to actually give Papillon what he wanted.
He was useless as an akuma. But he could play off his weakness as a strength if nothing else, and use himself as the target for Ladybug.
On the plus side, today she'd only have eyes for him... if she could get here that is.
He heard Marinette call out to him as his digits grazed the soft wings of the evil butterfly, causing it to vanish and his vision to cloud over.
For a moment, there was complete silence. Nothing.
Then, a voice.
"Chat Noir, I am Papillon."
Touching the akuma was like plunging head first into the ocean. A feeling of numbness, of separation, washed across his body. Deeper he fell, into this ocean of his own thoughts and emotions, all competing for his attention. None of them really succeeding.
Adrien attempted to ground himself, but what is there to grab a hold of in the middle of the sea? When he attempted to focus himself, it was as challenging as if he were trying to swim further underwater. The pressure suffocating him only grew.
But... if he allowed himself to let go, to turn towards the surface, well, then he merely had to let the current carry him up. Towards air, towards Papillon.
"Chat Noir. I know you can sense me. I can sense you too, you know. I see what you see, I feel what you feel."
He couldn't turn away from listening to Papillon. Doing so would mean diving back down in that hazey mess of his mind. So he listened.
"Your dear partner has abandoned you, left you to face me all alone. Tell me, what's that say about her... or about you?"
An urge to respond bubbled up inside him. "Ladybug has not abandoned anyone! What have you done to her?!"
A voiceless chuckle echoed in his mind. "How touching... if it wasn't so naive. I do not have your lady. In fact, I'd say she's quite capable of managing on her own. After all, how many times has it been that Ladybug had to rescue you? Maybe she's simply had enough. Enough of fighting. Enough of you."
What? How ridiculous. Adrien wasn't new to how this all worked. He was well aware Papillon was trying to use him.
He was stuck in Papillon's game for the time being, but he didn't have to play.
"Why the silence? Afraid I'm right?"
Goading him, predictable.
"She hasn't showed up. She won't show up."
His trust in Ladybug wasn't so easily broken.
"She'll never show up..."
Fat chance.
"... at least, not before I find your identity."
Beep beep beep.
As if on cue, the telltale sign of his impending de-transformation was made loud and clear.
"How disappointed your partner must be."
Beep beep beep.
"You can't do a thing without her."
Beep beep beep beep. The sound became more frantic. Do something. Ladybug was counting on you.
"Ladybug knows she can't count on you. Because,"
Beep.
"You"
Beep.
"are"
Beep.
"worthless." Adrien whispered, finishing for him. Just then he felt himself being dragged back down under, though he didn't have it in him to swim back this time.
He was losing himself, he knew that.
...
By the time Marinette returned to the scene as her superhero persona, Chat Noir was... different.
Usually, once someone falls victim to an akuma, they transform in a way that reflects their new self. But Chat... he didn't change at all.
When she arrived, he was standing, staring silently at his hands. Blood still was present across his face and in his hair, though he didn't seem to either notice or care anymore.
He turned towards her, a faint smile present on his face. She shuddered at the eeriness of it.
"My Lady, you're here!"
He limped towards her. "What took you so long? Anyway it's no matter. This akuma surprisingly has me regaining some of my strength." She winced as he attempted to stand fully upright. "Now that you're here, we can finish this! What do you say?"
She didn't want to fight Chat like this, but she knew she must if she was going to save him. Marinette took out her yo-yo and spun in defensively. "I can't Chat, not like this."
Chat frowned, shoulders slumping. "I... but... " he paused. "No, Papillon was right." he clenched a fist. "You don't need me anymore. Maybe you never did. I'm sorry it had to come to this Ladybug. I'm so sorry."
Quick to adapt to his change in demeanor, Marinette called forth her lucky charm. There was no telling how dangerous an akumatised black cat miraculous holder could be.
A red rose with a black stem landed in her hands.
Marinette looked down at the rose, surprised. She then looked at her partner, who had a near identical look of shock mirrored on his face.
"Maybe it's trying to tell us something, don't you think, chaton?" she said quietly. He frowned at this, eyes clouding over.
Silently, without breaking his gaze locked on her, Chat Noir approached. His abrupt closeness forced her back a few steps automatically, until she felt the coldness of a wall blocking her path.
Cornered.
Hesitantly, she presented the rose.
He continued to look only at her as he said, just above a whisper, "cataclysm" and took it.
A single black petal drifted gently to their feet, covering the small pile of ash that formed there one moment prior.
Neither said anything, the moment too delicate and tense.
Chat inhaled, and then spoke again.
"I'm sorry, but I have to do this." His voice deepened and grew louder suddenly, taking her off guard as one hand forcefully struck the wall a hair split from her head, further enclosing her. His face suddenly in hers, contorted with anger, he bellowed out at the top of his lungs "Cataclysm!"
Instinctively, she closed her eyes and braced for what was to come next.
Then, nothing.
Marinette opened her eyes after the initial shock dissipated from her body, but no one was there.
Breath caught in her throat as she saw the last remnants of black dust waft across her view. Following the dust to where it landed next to that from the rose, she saw it. A broken ring.
And an akuma slowly flying from it.
She had a job still to do.
...
After dealing with the akuma, Marinette dropped to her knees beside what was left of her partner... and his miraculous.
Her single earring chimed frantically, signaling time was up. It hadn't even been 5 minutes, but perhaps that's what happens when you started out with only half a miraculous.
With as much tenderness as her shaky hands could muster, she picked up the blackened yet otherwise still intact petal.
"Miraculous Ladybug."
She felt her transformation drop no sooner than the wave of Ladybugs erupted from the rose petal, traveling across the area to put all back in order.
The ring included.
The holder, not.
...
Natalie rolled the car window up as a far away scream permeated through the evening Parisian sky. She then turned her attention to the person sitting next to her.
"Adrien, why did it take you so long to find a book?"
Adrien shrugged, fingers attempting to tug at a ring that was no longer there. "Oh, you know, I saw Alya when I went back in and figured it would be safer to stay inside until the akuma passed.
Natalie sighed. "Okay Adrien. But next time, try not to forget your belongings in the first place."
"Yes, I'll be sure it won't happen again."