Adrien frowned at the schedule Natalie promptly handed to him. Sure, it was his usual day-to-day routine- school, fencing practice, a photo shoot at 5- so why was there a meeting scheduled for him at 7? Mind running a million miles an hour, the events of the previous night a dampener on his mood, he turned up to Natalie. "Er, Natalie, what's this?"
Natalie stiffened but turned around. "Your father has requested to have a dinner with you tonight, at the new restaurant in Paris."
"He has?"
"Yes, I have." Adrien turned his blond head to the doorway and watched his tall, posed father stroll into the room in a very business-like manner. "It has been drawn to my attention that we don't not have a strong bond. I would request you join me for dinner tonight."
The gears turning in Adrien's mind, he felt alive, like electricity was being coursed through his body, all the way down to his finger tips. He couldn't prevent the grin splitting across his face as he leaped up from his chair at the breakfast table and wrapped his father in a tight hug. Sure, the dinner invitation was more business-like than parent-like, but Adrien was grateful all the same that his father was making some sort of effort to bond with him. It was almost too good to be true!
Gabriel Agreste stiffened. "If you could remove yourself and get to school-"
"On it, father! Thanks so much!"
Bounding with happiness, Adrien almost skipped out of the dining room, the lump in his pocket annoyed by the motion. He went out the doors, outside the gates, and into the limo that would take him to school. Almost too good to be true!
Gabriel Agreste straightened his tie. "Natalie, I will be in my study. Do not disturb me."
His faithful assistant bowed her head and murmured assurance as the fashion designer moved down the stairs. The plan was falling into place.
Well you only need the light when it's burning low
Marinette yawned tiredly as she sat up in bed. "Mmm... Tikki... I had this weird dream... Chat Noir and I had an argument or something like that..."
"That was no dream." The little red kwami buzzed around her owner's head. "Marinette-"
The girl with the black-blue hair gaped at the kwami, remembrance flashing through her brain in a matter of seconds. "Oh my god... Tikki, did I really say that?"
"I'm afraid so," the kwami confessed. "When you had purified the akuma, Chat Noir leaned over to kiss your hand, and when you pushed him away, he asked if you could ever return his feelings..."
Marinette, teen super heroine, shook her head frantically, "Tikki, no! I can't believe..." she choked on her words.
"I'm so sorry, Marinette," Tikki whispered. "You told him you liked someone else."
"I crushed his heart," Marinette moaned. "Tikki, I feel so bad..."
The red fairy rested comfortingly on Marinette's head. "I'm sure it'll be all right, Marinette. You and Chat Noir have been partners forever! It'll be fine, you'll see."
"No," the teen moaned, flopping backwards on her bed dramatically. "I feel so bad! I shouldn't have told him that- what if it drives a riff in our partnership?! Chat Noir's one of my best friends- I don't know what I'd do without him."
"Then you need to tell him that," the kwami coaxed. "Let him know that."
She took a shaky breath. "You're right, Tikki. Tonight on patrol I'll let him know I never wanted to hurt him."
Tikki flew in a somersault, smile stretched across her face. "That's the spirit, Marinette!"
"Yeah," she murmured, confidence slowly filling her body. "Tikki, why do I feel like I'm forgetting something?"
"Because you always are!" Tikki said with a giggle.
Marinette grabbed her pig tails and let out a loud gasp. "Oh no! I have school at 8:00!" She whipped her head around to read her alarm clock. "It's 7:51!"
Tikki giggled as the teen dashed back and forth across her room, throwing her science homework into her pink bag and then gathering up the rest of her notes. Changing out of her pajamas and into her school clothes was done in record time. Grinning, the tiny red fairy fluttered into Marinette's purse. "All set!" Marinette yelled something about changing the alarm on her clock and leaped down the stairs, three at a time. Her mother, learning to accept her daughter's tardiness, held out a brown paper bag that Marinette snatched on her way out the door, calling back her good-byes and love for her parents. Sabine smiled and shook her head.
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
"I'm... here..." Marinette gasped for breath as she tumbled into the classroom, tripping over her own feet and sprawling onto the floor. Mme Bustier sighed.
"Marinette, you're just on time." Sighing with relief, the black-blue haired girl gathered her things and moved up to her seat, where her best friend Alya was already waiting. Alya clicked her tongue and shook her head as an exhausted Marinette smacked her head off the desk.
Adrien watched her peculiarly. Nino was continuously questioning about his good mood, and all he said was that 'his father came around' and Nino seemed slightly dissatisfied. But Marinette didn't just look exhausted- she looked emotionally conflicted too, her eyebrows were screwed up and she was biting her lips, like she was pondering something. Shrugging it off, he faced the front as Mme Bustier began the lesson.
Alya had to snap her fingers in front of her best friend's face multiple times to get her to concentrate- she seemed more out of it than usual. And the fact she was half-asleep at her desk didn't help. Being a good friend, she'd question her- AFTER school.
Only know you love her when you let her go
The school day passed extremely quickly. Adrien spent the entire day counting down the minutes until 7:00, minute by minute. Eventually it became extremely boring.
When the day was over with the usual toll of the bell, Alya hoarded Marinette away to interrogate- er, question her best friend. Adrien walked out onto the front steps, wanting to sit down and relax with Nino for a few minutes before he had fencing practice. But no such luck. One Chloe Bourgeois had something else on her mind.
"Adrihoney!" A certain blonde, stuck-up female squealed as she lunged forwards and wrapped her arms tightly around the teen hero's neck. "Did you miss me?"
Adrien blinked and tried to unravel himself from Chloe. "But I just saw you in class three minutes ago."
"Such a long time to be parted from moi," Chloe said dramatically, fortunately removing her arms from Adrien's neck and unfortunately, reattaching them to his hips.
Out of the corner of his eye, Adrien spotted Alya, watching the scene with a mix of amusement and disgust, and Marinette, beet red and fuming silently. He turned back to the... annoying blonde and tried to pry her arms off him. I need a crow bar to get her arms off! He thought, finally managing to push her arms away.
"Adrikins! Why don't we go off to the most romantic restaurant in the city? Daddy will pay for it- don't forget, he's the mayor," Chloe drawled, dragging a hand down Adrien's arm.
"It's impossible to forget," Alya snapped, marching over to join their conversation, dragging Marinette with her, "when that's all you mention every single day!"
Chloe gasped. "That's rude! I have to talk about my wonderful self too, you know." She stared Marinette and Alya up and down, her gaze disapproving. "At least I HAVE a wonderful self. And some fashion sense. I mean, look at Maritrash!"
She cackled evilly and Adrien felt a strong pang of dislike for the blonde. Marinette looked like she might burst into tears, but at the same time like she might attack Chloe, Alya looked plain annoyed. But Marinette and Alya were extremely nice- they didn't deserve to be treated that way by Chloe, especially Marinette.
"Marinette."
The name slipped out of his mouth before he noticed it himself. The bluenette regarded him, still flushed, and Alya was beginning to look more and more amused, not to mention Nino. Chloe fought the urge to scream and managed a fake smile at her crush. "Sorry, did you say something, Adrien dear?"
"I said Marinette," he said. "Her name isn't Maritrash. It's Marinette."
Chloe scoffed. "She deserves the name Maritrash. It suits her better."
There was a bit of a pause and Adrien didn't know whether to scream at Chloe or let Alya do that herself, who looked like she might strangle the girl. He saw Kim, Max, Rose, and Juleka watching from the top of the steps, looking amused and showing sympathy.
But to everyone's surprise, Marinette spoke first.
"I- I- I'm Marinette," she managed, and Adrien noticed, she pointedly refused to look at him, "My name is Marinette, not Maritrash, I hope you know how to say a simple name."
Chloe didn't back down. "But the trash name suits you better! I mean, look at yourself!" She gestured wildly to Marinette, her hand flapping and voice rising, "I'm so glad I don't have to fish out clothes from the dumpster. Oh wait!" She mock gasped. "They're not from the dumpster? Your parents must have had to sell the entire shop to be able to afford anything at all-"
"Chloe-" Alya started.
"Hey-" Adrien began.
"Whoa-" Nino said at the same time.
But Marinette absolutely snapped. "You do NOT insult my family!" She drew herself to her full height, which wasn't much (but Adrien would admit she looked intimidating) and glared heavily at Chloe. "I don't have to brag about my father's position to get what I want! I do it myself! I've got a wonderful family, thank you very much, and I don't need someone who has to use her father's name and position to get someone a damn detention-" at this she gestured to a shell-shocked Alya- "And I don't... I don't... I don't have a past time of insulting people and trying to make them learn their place!"
Her voice cracked and she pushed through the crowd of people and bolted. Alya immediately followed, shouting her best friend's name. Everyone else was shocked- and amazed. Marinette had never stood up for herself like that.
"Damn," Nino breathed. "She's got sass."
And Adrien felt himself nodding along.
Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
It was 7:00. Adrien had decided to make the best impression he could, as he never got the chance to eat with his father, and put on a pair of black jeans, a white short-sleeved collared shirt, and a black jacket over top. He fidgeted in the entrance to his mansion, waiting for his father.
And his father finally appeared. He was wearing almost the same thing as always, but with a heavy black coat over top. "Glad to see you're punctual," was all he said before they both headed to the limo.
The ride was short and soon they were seated, the wait staff evidently quicker than they would be for the average customer. Adrien thanked every server, and tried to talk and strike a conversation with his father, but to almost no avail. His father seemed to constantly talk strictly business, and Adrien's school schedule. How his Chinese was coming along. How fencing was going. How piano was. When he tried to tell him about a new song he'd learn, his father would say, "I was only concerned with the progress, not the specifics," and then move on.
He found himself enjoying this less and less than he thought he would. Blindly stabbing his steak with a fork, his father stood up and excused himself to 'take an important call'. Adrien hung his head in defeat and nodded; he should've known this wouldn't last.
To believe he had turned down meeting up with Ladybug for this.
"Plagg, claws out!" Perfect, model Adrien Agreste punched out his hand and the tiny black kwami vanished into the ring. Completing his transformation, he pulled out his baton, ready to contact Ladybug and tell her he couldn't make patrols tonight. She'd be able to handle it, right?
He clicked a button through his glove, and after a few seconds of ringing, his Lady's face appeared. "...Chat..."
"Ladybug," Chat interrupted, "I won't be on patrols tonight."
Her voice almost cracked, almost tearing Chat's heart in two. "Is it because of me? Chat, I'm so sorry, I wanted to talk to you tonight-"
"Nothing to do with you," Chat said quickly, although he was still feeling pained from the previous night. "Something came up for me."
Her face showed the relief. "Oh. Oh. Sure Chat, have fun. I'll be fine."
He grinned, his typical Cheshire cat grin. "Thanks, M'Lady!" As he shut off the monitor and released his transformation, he let out a long sigh. He knew Ladybug was making her best efforts to apologize, but he wasn't feeling it right now. He needed... time. So he let her go to do patrols.
He let her go, off on her own.
Only hate the road when you're missing home
"Maybe," Adrien mused aloud, "I should give up on her."
But he found it impossible. Ladybug was perfect- her confidence, determination, quick-thinking. As much as tried to be mad at Ladybug, it wasn't working. He forced the image of her, smiling and posing, out of his mind. "Tonight," he vowed, "will be Ladybug free." He would not think of the super-heroine; he was supposed to enjoy himself with his father, who we be back any second now. They'd sit down and have a tasty meal and talk about the fashion world.
There was a heart-splitting scream and a loud crash outside. Adrien jumped up from his seat, his curious side driving his legs to the door and throwing it open. He gaped at the sight of the very girl he was trying to forget, fighting a man who had a sword clutched in each hand and was dressed in a ridiculous purple and black samurai armor set.
"I am the Samurai!" he bellowed. "I am the BEST fighter, better than anyone else! Even you, Ladybug!"
His Lady gritted her teeth and swung her yo-yo out of her right hand, wrapping it around the handle of one of his swords and tugging it away. The Samurai didn't seem fazed, and produced another one out of thin air.
Ladybug frowned and turned towards the crowd of people watching the fight from the restaurant. "Get out of here! Save yourselves!" She sounded beat up and exhausted, like she had patrolled all night and been chasing this akuma for miles over rooftops. Several followed her orders, more stayed and video-taped the fight scene.
Adrien vanished back into the restaurant and ducked into the bathroom. Plagg flew out of his coat pocket. "I was an idiot," he growled.
"What else is new?" Plagg mumbled, flying a circle around Adrien's head.
The blond sighed. "Plagg, claws out!"
A newly transformed Chat Noir bounded out of the restaurant, thankfully unnoticed by other bystanders, and found himself struggling to move through the mob of people trying to hide for safety in the dining area. "Move!" he howled, no time for manners. Then a loud gasp fell over the crowd, followed by silence.
Terrified suddenly, Chat Noir burst into the area, the night sky cold and dark and the wind chilling. To his horror, the akuma was standing over Ladybug, a foot on her rib cage. Her yo-yo was discarded far down the road. Her head was tilted back to touch the black pavement.
There was a pool of blood at her left side.
A large pool of blood that made Chat Noir gag.
Ladybug was gritting her teeth, twisting and wincing under the Samurai's boot, but he only cackled evilly and raised his sword for the final blow.
"NOOOOOOOO!" Chat lunged with more power than he thought he had at the Samurai, who looked over, startled to see the new opponent. Chat foot-ball tackled him; the two went rolling down the road. He heard his Lady groan and he immediately pulled out his baton and rushed the Samurai. But the akuma was a well-trained Samurai and met him with full force.
Chat Noir put in all his fencing training and all his courage and rallied the Samurai; but it was impossible to beat him in a fight, he knew. Think, he told himself and he spun his baton like a shield to prevent injury. What would Ladybug do?
He surveyed the opponent while he had the chance- the only thing that stuck out to him was a bracelet with a sword charm on it. That must be the akuma.
Letting out a yell, he charged forwards, no intent of beating the Samurai by sword fighting. The akuma held out his sword, but Chat dug the end of his pole into the ground and extended it, pole-vaulting over him. The Samurai was luckily against a wall, so as Chat flew over the opponent he pressed his feet up against the wall and bounced back, slamming himself into the Samurai's back.
The two sprawled out on the ground, but his cat-like reflexes caused Chat to roll away- with the bracelet in hand. He quickly ran over to where his Lady's yo-yo was discarded, and then to Ladybug, who was laying on the ground, coughing. "My Lady," he choked, "Ladybug! Ladybug!"
"Chat..."
Thank god. Chat Noir broke the bracelet charm and watched the purple butterfly flutter away. "You have to purify it, please, Ladybug, try." He put an arm under her arms and helped her stagger to her feet.
She nodded drowsily. "R... Right..." He handed her her yo-yo and she feebly tossed it at the butterfly, purifying it and releasing it. "Bye, butter... fly..."
Then she collapsed again, blood still leaking through her suit.
Chat cringed. "I've got to get you out of here." Reporters were beginning to show, including Alya from school, and questions flew right and left.
"Ladybug, how'd you get hurt?"
"Was that the toughest akuma yet?"
"Where was Chat Noir?"
The black cat had had enough. He wrapped one arm under Ladybug's back and another under her knees, and glared fiercely at the crowd. "Go away!" He shouted, not caring how rude he sounded at moment. "She's obviously hurt!" Pushing the butt of his baton into the ground, he vaulted away onto the rooftops, struggling to jump and hold his Lady (who was surprising light) at the same time.
The same re-occurring thought bounced through his brain.
Why'd I let her go like that?
Only know you love her when you let her go
Chat landed on the roof of the Agreste mansion, unsure of where else to go. Convinced that no reporters were following and nobody else had seen, he crouched on a portion of the roof concealed to any midnight strollers. "My Lady," he urged. "You need help."
"Chat," she moaned. "Chat, it hurts... I'm so sorry..."
He shook his head in disbelief. "You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for. I should be apologizing. Now stay here. You're going to be purrfectly fine."
Despite the bad pun she managed a smile and he dashed away, through the window to his bathroom, and grabbed several towels and a first aid kit and leaped out again, running across the roof. He saw her red suit again and knelt beside her, wrapping her legs and right side in towels to keep warm, then tugging the first aid kit out and rummaging through it. Grabbing some cloth, he realized he had no clue what he was doing, but pressed the cloth to her side all the same, determined to stop the bleeding.
"Chat," she wheezed again.
He shook his head. "Ladybug, save your strength. You're going to be fine, it's shallow, but bleeding a lot. That's all."
"Chat," she repeated. "I'm so, so sorry... You're my best friend, my partner..." Chat Noir's eyes widened and he didn't stop her as she kept talking. "I didn't realize what I said would've hurt you so much... I'm such a horrible partner."
"No, you're not!" Chat said loudly. "Ladybug, you're so strong, and I'd be nothing without you. You're a purrfect partner, life would be a catastrophe without you... I know..." his throat tightened. "I..."
There was a beep in her earrings.
Scared suddenly, Chat looked at her ears; one dot left.
"Ladybug!" he cried. "Your transformation!"
But...
She had fallen unconscious.
Panic seized up in Chat's mind. His Lady was about to turn back into her normal self; her civilian self; and he couldn't just leave her alone- she was knocked out, she'd bleed out! He didn't know her identity so he couldn't bring her anywhere. He ran through every possibility in his mind of what to do, but nothing would work.
He was excited to see her, but not- he didn't want to break her trust. Chat's throat constricted and his eyes bugged as the beeping persistently went on, and then there was a flash of pinkish-red light.
He was scared.
So naturally, Chat Noir shut his eyes.
He felt her stir beneath his claws, but he wouldn't open his eyes. He was scared of what he would see. I'll prepare myself, he thought miserably. This is the girl I love. We were going to find out sometime. Just not in this condition. He took a slow, shaky breath.
And opened his eyes.
It was Marinette.
Chat gawked at the girl in front of him, her black/blue hair in two perfect pigtails, her eyes closed, looking so peaceful it was like she was sleeping. His brain completely stopped; no way. It was her this WHOLE TIME. The quiet girl who sat behind him in class, the girl who stood up to Chloe, the girl who had the best snacks, the girl who was one of the best gamers he knew; the girl who nodded along to Alya's rants about her blog- oh my god if Alya found out- the girl Nino and Nathaneal had had a crush on, the girl who was the class president.
This girl was Adrien's life.
He swallowed a lump in his throat. He couldn't let her die.
A tired red kwami gasped and almost tumbled down the roof. "Even the suit's not invincible," she gasped quietly. "Oh, Mari..."
"I know where she lives," Chat rasped, finding his voice. The fairy nodded tiredly and fluttered into the handy side bag Marinette had strung over her shoulder.
Suddenly he knew exactly what to do. Making sure the bandaging he had applied was steady, he slowly stood, shock still invading and conquering his mind, pulling her up with him. Bounding over rooftops with her in hand, he found her house and went down through her balcony hatch.
The kwami flew back out of the bag and tried to tug some blankets up to her bed. Chat lay a towel down on the bed where her wounded side would be and set her down, the fairy pulling up blankets over top. Shaking, Chat managed to pull the blankets up and set the First Aid kit down by her bed.
The red fairy sat down on top of the blankets. She sighed softly. "I'm sorry you had to find out this way."
His throat dried. "I'm glad it was her."
And then he left.
The one, only time he had let her go was the time she was injured.
And you let her go
Hola! I'm Frost, new to the fandom. I had to try this (sorry for any/all angst) and I hope you enjoyed. The song was Let Her Go (and yes, I listened to this on repeat as I wrote this. I might have cried)
I'm continuing this story if I get some support, and drop ideas if you want. I really hope you enjoyed. This isn't over- please review, favourite, and follow!