GLE – I wrote this because I needed to get inside Marinette's and Adrien's heads when I was working on the reveal scene with Hawkmoth in my story, Dreamcatcher. I had no intention of actually posting it like this – like a proper story. I'd been thinking of just posting the unedited, first version of it on tumblr for anyone who was interested (that version would not have included butterflies since I added those on a later draft of the main story; also wouldn't have had every action written out because it was more thought/dialogue-based, etc). By the time she got to the fourth chapter, my beta editor, Fey Phantom, wanted to see some of the story from Marinette's and Adrien's points of view, and I told her I'd actually sort of written it… and then basically felt that I should polish it up and post it properly because she'd been feeling that way and a lot of you probably were too. So here it is!
For the record, writing this felt like a three-legged race! The whole reveal scene I kept switching back and forth between points of view to really get it right… and then I'd have to play catch-up with the other two points of view, where one of them would inevitably carry it forward for a bit before the other two played catch-up again… and so on. Kind of slowed the whole writing process down, but I'm happy with the end result!
This story is set during the second half of chapter 3 and all of chapter 4 of Dreamcatcher.
An Unexpected Letter
Letter 1: "Sincerely, Hawkmoth"
Marinette's eyes widened and her hands started to shake as she read the letter she was holding. She had found it on her desk, in front of her computer, addressed simply to Marinette.
"Oh no, Tikki! Hawkmoth knows who I am! What do I do?"
The kwami floated up to land on her shoulder. "It looks like he wants to meet with you, Marinette."
The edges of the page crinkled a little as Marinette's grip tightened. "I can't believe this. I wasn't ready for this today!"
Her gaze scanned the typed words once more.
Ladybug,
This is Hawkmoth. Yes, I have discovered your identity. Please meet me on the pool deck of the Grand Paris Hotel at 21:30. It is time we end this. I will not fight you and I will not be akumatizing anyone else. I will bring only myself and my Miraculous.
Sincerely,
Hawkmoth
"What do you think he means by not wanting to fight and not akumatizing anyone?" asked Marinette. "Why wouldn't he? He has the advantage here, why not just take my Miraculous when I'm not expecting it? What's he hoping for? I don't understand."
"I guess we'll have to find out when we go see him."
"Yeah," she agreed uncertainly. "I guess." Marinette lowered the letter back onto the desk. "Do you think he knows Cat Noir's identity too, or just mine?"
Tikki shrugged.
Marinette turned her head to stare at her kwami. "How are you so calm about this?"
Tikki's smile was soft and a little uncertain, but her voice was warm when she replied, "It is a surprising development, but I believe in you, Marinette, and I think you'll get through this all right. And it may be a good thing! This conflict with Hawkmoth could be over soon!"
Marinette spent the next few hours mulling it over, and was particularly quiet during dinner. Well, quiet until her parents asked how her afternoon was with Alya and the guys and began lightly teasing her about Adrien. Despite becoming red and embarrassed at the direction of conversation, it did actually help to distract her from the more pressing matters on her mind, if only for a little while.
"Do you think he wants to talk?" Marinette wondered once she was back in her bedroom. "Maybe try to convince me to outright hand him my Miraculous, like that's some kind of challenge he needs since he figured out who I am?"
"I don't know, Marinette," said Tikki.
The girl wrung her hands, then stomped her foot. "This doesn't make sense! He's gotta be up to something!"
Because after all this time and everything they'd been through since the beginning, this meeting was very out of character for the supervillain. He did things at a distance, from the shadows. A direct confrontation like this was not his style. Maybe it wasn't even Hawkmoth? Maybe it was some crazed fan that had figured out her identity and decided to lure her out by claiming to be Hawkmoth. Whatever the case, she had to go. But that didn't mean she wouldn't be extra-cautious about it.
Tikki feasted on cookies, having a larger share than usual. Marinette continued to wring her hands while imagining various (sometimes completely outrageous) scenarios or to pick up the letter and reread it, wearing out the paper. If it was a crazed fan, she couldn't bring Cat Noir into this. But if it was Hawkmoth, she should bring Cat Noir into this. Either way, she had no way of communicating with him when they weren't transformed, and since there were no akumatized villains on the loose, Cat Noir wouldn't be transformed. Maybe that was part of Hawkmoth's plan. To have her come alone. She felt dread build up in her stomach at that thought. More than ever, she wanted her partner by her side, flirtatious nature and all.
When 21:15 hit, she'd decided she had enough of waiting around and would just go early to meet her enemy. She packed her purse with so many cookies it was nearly bursting.
"Everything will be okay, Marinette," reassured Tikki. "I'll be with you. And I trust you."
Marinette gave Tikki the best smile she could manage – tight with worry, but full of gratitude – and transformed. She looped her yo-yo on a chimney in the distance and started to swing from roof to roof towards her destination. She stopped when she was almost there, her mind still heavy with anxious thoughts, and decided to try calling her partner at least once.
"My Lady!" answered a very surprised Cat Noir on his baton.
"Cat, I— Cat!" shouted Ladybug when she noticed him on a rooftop across the street.
He looked up and saw her, his expression brightening. Hanging up, he hopped over to her rooftop.
Ladybug hugged him. She was so glad she wouldn't have to do this alone. She didn't realize just how much having Cat Noir there would calm her fears.
"You got a letter too?" he asked.
Ladybug pulled back and held his arms. "Yes. From Hawkmoth."
"Do you think this is a trap?"
"I don't know. This is just so sudden. I don't know what to think. We should be prepared for anything."
Ladybug's eyes strayed off to the side as she thought on that a moment longer before focusing back on her partner. A small smile crossed Cat Noir's face.
"I'm glad you're here with me, my Lady. Together, we'll be unstoppable."
She returned his smile and nodded. Then she stepped away and readied her yo-yo. "Let's go."
The pool deck was covered with white butterflies when they landed upon it. It would have been a beautiful, magical sight to behold if the situation wasn't so ominous. Ladybug kept her eyes locked on the man at the other end. Hawkmoth was sitting on a chair and even though it was dark on his side of the pool, Ladybug could tell that it was him. It was really him! This felt so surreal, like her initial battle against Stoneheart. Here they were, face to face with their enemy for the first time. And just like that original battle, Ladybug's demeanour shifted, her determination trumping the rest of her emotions.
She gripped her yo-yo tighter in her hand, keeping it at the ready. Her other hand was raised slightly in front of her. Hawkmoth stood up and started walking to their side, disturbing the butterflies in his path. Ladybug remained in place, trying to read the expression in his eyes. Beside her, Cat Noir made a small movement, but Ladybug's entire focus was on their approaching enemy.
Hawkmoth stopped a few meters away. He stared at them as they stared back. What was the man thinking? What was happening here?
The villain dropped his gaze to his staff, picking it up slowly. Ladybug raised her yo-yo a fraction more. But then, Hawkmoth threw the staff away. It clattered on the deck, nearly rolling into the pool, and sending a number of disgruntled butterflies into the air.
What?
Ladybug held her position, not lowering her guard. She wasn't going to let Hawkmoth intimidate her. She was about to glance over at Cat Noir for his thoughts on their enemy's behaviour when she realized her partner was actually standing slightly in front of her. She would've let out an exasperated huff if the situation wasn't so tense. She took a step forward instead, standing on equal ground with her partner.
Hawkmoth gave them a single nod of his head. "Ladybug, Cat Noir. I'm sure this must seem rather out of the blue. And I'm afraid to say, I don't particularly feel like explaining it."
"Why did you call us here?" asked Ladybug while at the same time Cat Noir asked, "How did you figure us out?"
Ladybug wanted to know the answer to her question first, but Cat Noir's question was valid. Hawkmoth was really here. Hawkmoth had delivered those letters to their other identities. He'd snuck into her room and left a letter when he could've just snuck up on her as Marinette – how did he figure out Ladybug was Marinette?! – and taken her Miraculous before she could react. Which brought her back to her real question: what was Hawkmoth hoping would happen here? Why call this meeting?
"I've been a fool," Hawkmoth answered, voice quiet. "I realize that now. And I will do anything I can not to lose any more family members."
What? thought Ladybug. He's doing this because he's lost family?
"Luckily for you," continued Hawkmoth, "the best way I can achieve that goal is by handing over my Miraculous, right now."
Ladybug couldn't hold back her gasp. Was he serious? After all that he put her and the rest of Paris through, he was just going to… give up? That didn't seem likely. Something else had to be going on here.
Hawkmoth then reached up and removed his Miraculous. The light that surrounded him looked like butterflies flying off of his form. When it dissipated, there stood a man in a hooded cloak with a mask on the lower half of his face, his identity still kept secret from them. A light purple kwami floated in front of him.
Ladybug stood frozen to her spot. She really hadn't expected him to do that. What on earth did it mean? Here she was, facing Hawkmoth and he'd just gone ahead and removed his Miraculous for her!
"I understand now, Master," said his kwami, voice pitched higher than Ladybug would've expected, and the passing thought that 'at least someone here does' flew through her mind. "I… I'm glad that this is what you want. And… thank you."
"Nooroo, I…"
It is time we end this.
Those were the words he'd written in his letter.
I will not fight you and I will not be akumatizing anyone else.
"I'm sorry," said Hawkmoth to the kwami. The two of them shared a look and then the kwami was absorbed back into the Miraculous, transforming the jewelry from a locket into a butterfly brooch. The surrounding butterflies suddenly took to the air like cherry blossoms in the wind and they left the three humans alone on the pool deck. The man held out his Miraculous to the superduo. "Take it."
Ladybug just stared. The kwami who had been forced to do evil deeds had thanked him. Why had he thanked him? Had the man… Had something happened for Hawkmoth to change so abruptly?
I will bring only myself and my Miraculous.
"Please," Hawkmoth prompted again, voice tight and nearly cracking. "Take it."
Hawkmoth had apologized to his kwami. And he'd sounded sincere.
Ladybug stepped forward, quickly tying her yo-yo around her waist. Her heart was beating in her chest with a mix of emotions. Was this really the end? Would he try to steal her earrings at the last second? Would he actually hand over his brooch? What would happen then? Would he reveal his identity or just walk away? Why was he doing this now? Knowing who she really was couldn't possibly have intimidated him in any way, so what was the reason? Would she ever find out?
The Miraculous landed softly in her cupped hands and the man backed away. Ladybug stared down at the jewelry. This was the moth Miraculous. She was holding the moth Miraculous after months of fighting with its user.
"I don't understand," she said.
Cat Noir stepped up next to her. "Neither do I. You're just… surrendering? Just like that? I don't get it."
"I have something I need to discuss with you, Cat Noir," said Hawkmoth, his earnest tone clouded with regret.
Ladybug blinked, even more confused than before.
"I'm a bit… hesitant to do this with Ladybug present, but will allow it if you wish."
Why Cat Noir? Why not her? What was going on here?
"Ladybug is my partner no matter what. I trust her completely. Whatever you have to say to me, she can hear it too."
The heroine turned to face Cat and smiled. She felt very grateful for her partner's appreciation of her. He smiled back.
Hawkmoth took a deep breath then sunk down on one knee, clasping his hands together, resting his forehead against them, and his elbows on the other knee. Ladybug was struck with the image of a penitent in prayer.
"I can't tell you how much I deeply regret my actions. I can only hope that you will find it in yourself to forgive me for what I've done."
The man pulled the mask off and dropped it on the deck, reaching into a pocket beneath the cloak and taking out a pair of large glasses that he put on his face. Ladybug bit her lip to keep in the surprised squeak she wanted to let out when the man pushed his hood back off his head. Kneeling before her was none other than Gabriel Agreste. Her fashion hero! Adrien's father! He was Hawkmoth?!
"I love you, Adrien. I want only the best for you, and I see now that I may never get your mother back, but I should enjoy what I've had in front of me all along."
Ladybug stiffened. Her eyes wanted to dart over to the boy next to her, but they remained fixed on Mr. Agreste. Mr. Agreste's eyes, on the other hand, were solely focused on Cat Noir. Ladybug held her breath.
He couldn't mean… Her partner wasn't…
She'd been so wrapped up with confronting Hawkmoth that she hadn't even thought about the fact that Cat Noir had received a letter too, in the same way that she had. This man knew Cat Noir's identity too. And he was calling him…
"Adrien?" she asked shyly, finally daring to look Cat Noir's way.
"Father?" he asked in a near whisper, removing any doubt from Ladybug's mind. "I don't… It was… it was you? All this time?" He shook his head and shifted back a fraction. "But… why? Why did you…" He paused to clear his throat. "Why did you become a villain? Why did you attack Paris? Why were you doing this?"
Ladybug dropped her hands to her side, turning fully to face the boy. In the back of her mind she reminded herself not to loosen the grip of her hand that held the Miraculous. She couldn't take her eyes off of Cat Noir. Cat Noir… who was Adrien.
"I wanted the Miraculous," admitted Mr. Agreste in a small voice. "I didn't know where the ladybug and black cat Miraculouses were, so I needed to draw them out."
Despite herself, Ladybug understood the logic in that. She'd become a hero, after all, just to defeat his villains. But that still didn't explain—
"Why?" prompted Cat Noir, voice extremely quiet.
Mr. Agreste's expression was conflicted and guilty. When he spoke, he sounded ashamed. "Believe me, Adrien, I didn't mean for it to come to this. For it to get so out of hand. I just—" he cleared his throat. "I just wanted to get your mother back. That's all this was. With yours and Ladybug's Miraculouses, I thought I could bring her back. But, as I said before, I see now that that isn't an option for my future."
For the first time since arriving on the pool deck, Ladybug felt like she had a clear view of the whole picture, or at least enough of it to make sense of all the events that led them to this moment, standing there right now. This wasn't at all what she was expecting of the man behind Hawkmoth's mask. She shifted her weight from side to side as she tried to reconcile everything she'd just learned with her previous thoughts on the matter.
"You mean…" Cat Noir spoke up, his voice a little louder than before. "It was… it was the villain Friday, wasn't it? Dreamcatcher? You'd been put unconscious by her spell…"
Mr. Agreste nodded, smiling weakly. "Yes, I had a dream and a nightmare. She showed me two real possibilities for my future, and I realized that if I continued on the path I had been on…" He shook his head.
When he didn't continue, Ladybug wondered what exactly he had seen, and her mind provided her with several unpleasant options for the rest of the sentence he didn't speak. Holding back a shudder, she quickly banished the images.
Swallowing, Mr. Agreste said, "I don't want to lose you, Adrien. You're all I have left, and you're more important to me than I've let you know recently. That's why… those changes I proposed at dinner? I am absolutely serious about them. If you… if you even want to see me anymore after this."
Of course he'd want to see you after this! thought Ladybug. He's Adrien and he cares about people, especially those close to him!
"Yes, I do," confirmed Cat Noir. "Of course I do. Father, I… I love you, too."
With that, Cat Noir strode forward, dropping his baton along the way and throwing his arms around his father in a hug. The man immediately hugged him back.
Ladybug looked down at the two of them and suddenly realized how very out of place she felt. This was something between father and son, and she wasn't part of it. What was she even doing here? What had this been all about? Everything she'd thought about being a superhero defending Paris and being in a war with Hawkmoth had just flown off the roof in the last ten minutes. This definitely wasn't how she expected it all to end. She had the Miraculous now, maybe it was time for her to go.
She began to back away on tiptoes, reaching for her yo-yo so she could leave.
"Ah, wait a moment, Miss Dupain-Cheng!"
Ladybug jolted at the use of her real name and stopped her retreat. She couldn't look at either of them, particularly Cat Noir, though his eyes bore into her intensely. Mr. Agreste got to his feet, drawing her attention back to him.
"I… um… erm…" she mumbled, blushing. Taking a quick breath, she settled herself to bring out the confidence she always tried to portray as Ladybug and met Mr. Agreste's eyes. "This seems like a family thing now, so… I should go."
"Nonsense," he dismissed. "You've been as much a part of this as my son."
He stepped forwards and gave her a little bow.
"And for that," he continued, "I must deeply apologize to you."
Ladybug blushed. Was this really happening right now? The Gabriel Agreste was apologizing to her?
My favourite designer is bowing to me! she thought. Her hands flitted up and fluttered around her head to emphasize each new thought that ran through it. And he just so happens to have been Hawkmoth! He's Adrien's father! Adrien is Cat Noir! And Mr. Agreste thinks that I'm as much a part of this as their family! We must be a weird, magical family… no, what am I saying? I'm not family… yet…
Reigning in her rampant musings, Ladybug centered herself and said, "Well, you want to make things better and you've given up your Miraculous." She lifted the hand still holding said item and waved. Her gaze went over to Cat Noir. "If you promise to treat A-Adrien well, then I forgive you."
"I do," responded Mr. Agreste immediately. "I will make it up to him."
"Great!" she grinned somewhat awkwardly. This whole situation was so surreal. She wasn't sure how much more she could take.
"And as for you," said Mr. Agreste, "I do believe there is something I can offer you for all the undue stress I caused you."
Huh? she thought. He really doesn't need—
"Would you like to intern with me in fashion design? I've seen some of your work and I am of the opinion that you can become a star designer one day."
Forget his apology and him considering her as important as his family in this situation, her fashion idol just said he believed she could become a star designer! Her! Marinette Dupain-Cheng! And he's offering her an internship?! This was definitely not what she was expecting when she came here tonight!
"Oh! W-well I…" she stuttered. Could she even properly form words anymore? "That's very nice of you to say… I…"
"You should do it, Marinette!" chimed in Cat Noir. Her eyes shot over to him and he raised his hands, waving anxiously. "Uh, you are Marinette, right?"
She smiled and blushed. They hadn't really had a chance to talk about this with one another yet, had they? She turned back to his father and nodded.
"Thank you, Mr. Agreste," she said, her voice carrying strong. Tikki was right. Everything was going to be okay. More than okay, really. It seemed her dreams were coming true! "I would love that." She shifted back towards Cat Noir, her blush not dissipating, and gave him a little wave of her hand as if just greeting him. She needed to do this. "Tikki, Spots Off!"
She watched the astonished faces of father and son as the pink light took away her transformation. Tikki reappeared from her earrings and hovered in the air. Marinette's eyes lingered on Cat Noir.
"Plagg, Claws In!" he exclaimed as he walked to her, and it was her turn to gape at her partner as he became Adrien Agreste.
"Plagg!" squealed Tikki in delight, diving upon Adrien's black kwami and stealing the attention of both teens. "Isn't this wonderful? Everything seems to have worked out and we can see each other again!"
"Argh, Tikki!" complained Plagg, trying to push her off of him. "You know I don't do mushy stuff! I'll just go for some nice camemb– ah…"
Tikki started rubbing Plagg behind his ear and the cat-like kwami stopped putting up a fight, relaxing into her touch. Tikki smiled in triumph and Marinette thought it was really cute.
"Huh. I'm going to remember that," mumbled Adrien. Louder, he said, "My Lady," and he closed the gap between them, taking Marinette's free hand. He planted a small kiss on the back of it, making her heart beat wildly. "I'm glad it's you!"
Marinette yelped when he suddenly picked her up and spun her around.
"I finally found you!" said Adrien through his laughter.
She couldn't help it, she began to giggle along with him. She felt so happy in this moment.
When he put her down again, he continued to hold onto her. His face was as red as hers, and he gazed at her as if there was nothing else more important in the world. Marinette felt like she was on cloud nine.
"Too I'm you glad," she tried to say. Shaking her head, she amended, "Glad you it's too. Gah! I mean…" She took a deep breath. She was Ladybug and he was Cat Noir; she shouldn't be getting so flustered! Letting the air out, a smirk settled upon her lips and she said, "Well, isn't this night just full of miracles, Kitty?"
Adrien blinked and the most adorable and overjoyed expression lit up his face. He gave her a dazzling smile, and his fingers came up to brush a lock of hair behind her ear. Her breath caught in her throat. Adrien froze, realizing what he'd done. Without hesitation, Marinette leaned closer to him and placed her hand on his cheek, ignoring the butterflies in her stomach. He relaxed into her touch, pressing his cheek further into her hand, and a soft smile graced his lips. Marinette's heart had never felt more full. Adrien was her friend, her pun-loving partner, and the boy she loved. It was perfect. He was perfect. They were perfect. She felt lost in those beautiful green eyes, and Adrien seemed just as enamoured with her own blue ones. They never needed many words between them to get their points across, and for the first time, Marinette knew she was not only seeing Adrien for everything that he was, but that things between them were going to change in a direction both of them desired very much. Oh, how she loved him!
"Thank you for releasing Nooroo!" said Tikki.
Startled, Marinette jumped away from Adrien and glanced around. Without her noticing, Mr. Agreste had moved from where she last saw him and was nearly at the exit behind her.
"I'm glad you decided to change," continued Tikki warmly.
The man looked at the kwami and responded, "As am I… Tikki."
It was weird hearing someone else address her kwami, but after everything that had happened tonight, the strangeness of that barely phased Marinette.
"Ah, Father," said Adrien, stepping towards him. "I can bring you home."
Mr. Agreste smiled. "A little fresh air and exercise are fine with me, Adrien. I don't want to burden you any more than I already have."
Adrien shook his head. "It's no burden. Really. As Cat Noir, I'm pretty strong. And besides, this way, no one will know any of us were even here."
Mr. Agreste seemed to agree with that and fully turned his body back away from the doors.
"Oh, Marinette!" said Tikki. "We should go too. We need to bring the moth Miraculous to the Great Guardian."
The Miraculous in Marinette's hand suddenly felt heavier and more present than it had in the last several minutes. She would put it in her purse for safe-keeping until she delivered it to Master Fu if there was any space for it in there. She wanted to roll her eyes at the ridiculous amount of cookies she'd brought along, now that the confrontation with 'Hawkmoth' was over.
"Be sure not to stay up too late," said Mr. Agreste. It was probably the most parental comment she had ever heard the man make. "It is a school night and you deserve to get enough sleep for tomorrow."
"I will," she replied. "Thanks for your concern, Mr. Agreste. Tikki, Spots On!"
Would she ever get used to Adrien's delighted expression at seeing her do something so simple as transform? She hoped not. She'd cherish every moment his wonderful smile was directed her way.
With the Miraculous in one hand and her yo-yo in the other, Ladybug hopped up onto the roof's ledge, ready to leave.
"See you tomorrow, Adrien!" she said cheerfully.
"You too!" he responded enthusiastically. His grin turned Cat-like. "And sweet dreams! I hope they're of– um, good. They're good!"
He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, his smirk losing its edge. She grinned in return and jumped off the building. Knowing him, she could just imagine how the rest of that sentence was going to go: "Sweet dreams; I hope they're of me!"
They usually are, she thought to herself. But after everything that's happened tonight, they'll probably be even better than any I've had before!
This had certainly been one crazy day. From hanging out with Alya, Nino, and Adrien in the park, to finding a foreboding letter from Hawkmoth when she returned home, to discovering that Hawkmoth was sincere in giving up his Miraculous, and learning the identities of Hawkmoth and Cat Noir, Ladybug's head was spinning with how intense everything had been. Her emotions had certainly been put through one heck of a rollercoaster!
She had never felt more graced by Ladybug's luck than in this moment. For all of her own natural bad luck, it seemed like her Miraculous had pulled through and granted her the best possible outcome for life. Adrien was her partner Cat Noir and she understood so much more about him now, but she could also see that there was still so much more to learn about him too, and they could take that journey together. Their war with Hawkmoth was over. It was over in such a peaceful manner that she had come away from it without even the chance of bruising. They all had. If anything, what happened tonight was a healing form of forgiveness, a reconciliation. Everything had been set right in the world.
As Ladybug looped around the city towards Master Fu's neighbourhood, she tittered with excitement for tomorrow. She had an internship with the Gabriel Agreste to look forward to. She didn't have to fight akumatized villains anymore. She was going to greet Adrien in the morning – her partner Cat Noir! – and know he was just as happy to see her as she was him. Truly, life couldn't be more miraculous!
-(x)-
GLE – It does feel refreshing, even to me as the writer (not just a reader), to see a different perspective on events (though I'm not usually a fan of word-for-word reiterations). I'm glad I ended up writing this out. I'm not even sure which perspective is my favourite! They all bring something different to the table! I'll be posting Adrien's point of view tomorrow.