Adrien had rushed away from the apartment as quickly as he could, seeing the ladybugs swarming through the air. He realized in that moment that there had been an akuma attack and tried to find the source of it. He rushed through the streets, looking for Ladybug, but he couldn't find her. He assumed that she had already left the scene if there even still was one. He had taken off his mask once he was out of sight of the apartment. He made his way back to his own apartment as he realized that he wasn't going to see her.
Once inside, he peeled off the layers that he was wearing so that he could see the damage that had been done. He was surprised to see no damage. He tried to figure out why there was no damage when he realized that it was because Chat had hurt him before Ladybug set everything back to normal. He hadn't even noticed the ladybugs healing him as they swarmed past him and up to the apartment that he had come out of. Still, his fingers traced the lines where he had been slashed.
He quickly pulled up the Ladyblog when he got back to his house to find no information about the akuma attack was posted yet. However, a quick look at the news gave him the information he was looking for. The Preacher had been infecting people with the seven deadly sins. He watched the news footage of Ladybug and Chat Noir arguing when they should have been fighting. The newscaster described how Ladybug had been struck with wrath and Chat Noir had been struck with Envy and Pride.
Adrien's eyes widened as he watched Chat Noir attempt to use his cataclysm, though it wasn't clear if he'd been trying to grab the staff the akuma was using or the victim himself. However, watching him and Ladybug arguing made him contemplative. He knew that neither of them would remember what happened after they were hit with the akuma's power until the spell had been broken. That was just how the akumas worked. This meant that their main source for what happened during the fight would likely be the news and the Ladyblog. It would also mean that Chat probably wouldn't remember that Adrien attempted to steal the ring back.
Adrien realized that he was going to need a new plan for getting the ring back. He was going to need to figure out a way to convince Chat to give it back to him because there was no way he was going to be able to steal it. He started trying to draft a note to the new Chat. After writing and re-writing the note about 20 times, he finally settled on one that he felt would be decent.
I hadn't realized how Ladybug would treat you. I hadn't realized that she would care that I was gone. I am sorry that you've been having a difficult time with working with her because I saw the most recent akuma battle on the news. I wanted you to know that I do trust you to hold my Miraculous while I can't and that I do think that you can handle being a hero until you return the Miraculous to me.
You fought well and I'm sure, after watching the news, are horrified by the actions you took while under the influence of the akuma's power. I've had similar feelings and want you to know that you did do a good job. I really wish that Ladybug would have been more open to working with you instead of against you.
You have always been selfless and kind. You always focus on making sure that everyone else is okay. You are disciplined and have a clear sense of duty and honor. These are the main reasons that I chose you to be my temporary replacement. You are a good man. However, I also chose you because I know that you can be great and that you won't abuse the power that I've given to you.
I wish that I could tell you more about who I am and what happened. However, I still need to protect my identity and, out of respect for another, I cannot tell you why I decided that I needed to step down for a while. I realize now that not only am I not ready to take back the Miraculous, but you are also not ready to let it go. And I understand that and I need to trust you to live up to my expectations like I am sure that you will.
Please don't take out your frustrations on Plagg or Ladybug. They are both very dear to me.
-CN
He read over the letter again before folding it and placing it in an envelope. He then made his way through the city and back to the new Chat's apartment after changing his clothes. He slipped the envelope under the door and left in silence. It was late afternoon when he got back to his home and went to lay on his bed. He fell asleep quickly as he had stayed up late, sneaking into Chat's apartment.
He woke a few hours later to his phone ringing. It was dark outside. As he looked at his phone, surprised to see that Marinette was calling him. "Hello?" he asked as he answered the call.
"Hey, is this Adrien?" a male voice asked on the other end. Adrien sat up quickly, surprised by the voice on the other end of the phone.
"Yes." He said quickly.
"Do you think that you can come and pick the owner of this phone up? She needs a ride home." He said before rattling off the name of a bar.
"Yeah. Why did you call me, though?" he asked, confused as to why his name would be the one that they would call from her phone. Surely, they would be more likely to call her parents.
There was silence for a moment before the man let out a chuckle. "Well, uh…your number was the first in her contacts list." He said awkwardly.
"Okay." Adrien responded, figuring that it was possible for him to be the first person in her contact list. He still didn't understand why they would have thought that he would be the best person to call, though. Still, he left, taking his car to drive to the bar that the man had indicated. When he got there and went into the bar, he instantly spotted Marinette sitting at the bar. He came up behind her. "Marinette?" he asked.
"Adrien. Thisn't wha i- lookshlike." She slurred, holding a finger toward him and wobbling on the stool that she was seated on.
"What are you doing?" Adrien asked as he sat down on the stool next to her.
"I shndln't have annymor." She slurred. Adrien had to agree.
"Come on. Let's get you home." He said.
"I'd goto yur home." Marinette responded, too out of it to realize what she'd just said. Adrien just raised his eyebrows as the bartender approached them.
"I assume you're Adrien?" he asked.
"Yeah." Adrien responded.
"Here's her phone." He handed the device over to Adrien who in turn put it in his pocket.
"Come on." He said as he helped Marinette to stand. "Let's get you somewhere you can sleep this off." Adrien stated as he slipped an arm around her. He held her up as he walked her through the bar and out to the street to deposit her in his car. "What's going on with you, Marinette?" he asked as he got in and started the car. He had noticed her demeanor over the last week, how withdrawn she was becoming. He also knew that it wasn't like her to get drunk.
"I'm jusan idiot." Marinette said.
"How so?" he asked as he started down the street.
"Because I jus had sex fir te first time a week ago an I decidddid ta psh'im away cause of my ridiculous crush on you." She managed to get out. Adrien was so surprised that he took a moment to look at her instead of the road. He could feel a blush rising to his cheeks because of her confession. He hadn't expected shy, sweet Marinette to discuss not only her sex life, but also her feelings about him.
"Me?" he asked. He'd always thought that she had just been shy when she stuttered around him in high school especially as she grew and started to be able to speak to him in full sentences.
"Yeah. I've bin in luff with you since frshn year." She said.
"Really?" he asked.
"Duh." Marinette responded simply.
"You never told me that." He responded.
"I couldn't tell you anything. I tired to ask you out over voicemail. Buh tha din't werk out sowell. I stole yur phone and erast it." She said as a blush rose to Adrien's cheeks. "An all these yers I din't say anthing ti you cause I was fraid you'd reject me. An all tha' time he wa there an we jus got closer an closer an…" she trailed off. "And now 'e hates me." She added with a sniffle. Adrien glanced over to see that Marinette was crying as he pulled into the parking lot. He got out and helped Marinette out of the car.
"I'm sure he doesn't hate you if he feels like you've been saying he does." He said.
"I ran away. I tore 'is heart out an stompt i'…" she trailed off as the made it to the steps to his apartment building. "This isn't my bilding." She slurred as he helped her to not trip on the steps.
"I don't know where you live, Marinette." He said simply. "You can sleep this off here and then go home in the morning." He added.
"Oh, right." She responded continuing forward as if nothing was wrong. Adrien walked her over to the elevator and put his key hard in the card reader. "This elvator's shiny." Marinette said, reaching out to poke the reflective surface of the interior of the elevator. It wasn't quite a mirror, but it was reflective enough to see a distorted version of the two of them.
"So, what happened with him?" Adrien asked. "...this guy." He clarified when she didn't immediately answer. He couldn't imagine anyone using Marinette in this way. While she was sweet, she was also independent. Part of him also felt protective of her. He wanted to find out what happened to help her in some way.
"I tol' you. I ran away. Havn't seen 'im since. Tried looking, but he's not coming back. I don' dserve him anway." She said as the elevator door opened and Adrien unlocked the only door on the floor. He helped her to the couch where she sat down.
"Have you tried calling him?" he suggested.
"I don' have 'is numbr." She said as Adrien took off her shoes and purse to try to make her more comfortable. He set the purse gently on the coffee table as he didn't know what all might have been inside.
"Well, have you tried going to his house to see him?" he asked. "Or maybe contacting him through Facebook or something?" he suggested.
"I woul' if I knew whre he live. I don' evn know 'is name." she said. Adrien's brow furrowed.
"I thought you said you've known him for years." He said, confused as to how she could not know the name of someone who she'd apparently spent a considerable amount of time with.
"Yeah." She said simply as Adrien got her a pillow and blanket.
"So, you've known him for years, but you don't know his name?" he asked, not even realizing how similar it was to his relationship with Ladybug.
"Yep" she responded as she laid down on the couch and pulled the pillow that he'd gotten her into a hug.
"How?" he asked, still confused.
"He wore a mask, duh." She responded to which Adrien just looked at her with confusion. "You can't expect Chat Noir to jus' be telling erryone who he 's." she said and Adrien's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"C-Chat Noir?" he asked as he felt the room spin.
"Yeah." Marinette responded.
"You slept with Chat Noir a week ago?" he asked, not even knowing how to process what she was saying. The only person that he had slept with was…
"Yeah." Marinette said again.
"W-what would you say to him if you saw him again?" he asked as he stared at her. Looking at her now, he could see the resemblance to Ladybug. He didn't know why he had never seen it before. She had the same black hair, the same blue eyes, the same short stature. He almost wondered if the masks had a certain magic to keep them hidden from everyone, even themselves.
"Tha I'm srry an he dservs better." She said as she closed her eyes and rubbed her face along the pillow.
"Do you know what he'd say?" he asked. He didn't know what to do. Seeing her again now, so soon, and knowing who she was startled him. He felt relief that she was okay and with him. And yet he still felt that his heart was being ripped out and torn to shreds like he'd done with the blankets in their abandoned building.
"He'd prolly try to cheer me up." She responded, sounding sleepy. Adrien nodded silently agreeing that that would be what he would probably do. For now, he turned to leave the room when he heard a soft sob from her. "I miss him." She said and Adrien turned to see that she was looking at him. "I miss mykiddy." She added, tears streaming down her cheeks. He felt tears of his own well up. Despite everything, he still couldn't stand to see her like this. "An he's gone bcause I'm stupid." She said as he started to walk back to her and sat down on his coffee table next to her purse. "An I'm stupider than he thoughd. I should be out thrr, but instead I'm here. Talking to you 'bout my stupid lovelife." She said. Adrien grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. He hated her talking about herself like that, but he couldn't bring himself to say anything. "Tikki's gon be so pissed at me." She slurred, waving at her purse.
Adrien nodded, figuring that Tikki was Marinette's kwami. "You should get some rest, Marinette." He stated as he stood and fixed the blanket on her. He then turned off the light as he exited the room. "Good night, M'lady." He said through the dark. He knew that he shouldn't, but he couldn't help himself as he hoped to provide her with some comfort. He smiled as her response told him that she was comforted.
"G'nigh Kiddy." Had been her response as she slipped off into a deep sleep.
As Adrien laid on his own bed, he couldn't help feeling conflicted. She, Marinette, was Ladybug. She was the woman that he loved. She was the one that he didn't want to confront until he got his Miraculous back. And she was also the one who had broken his heart. He then realized something as he thought about everything.
She had said that she had ran away because of her crush on him. She had broken his heart because she was upset that he wasn't him. Just thinking about how he'd been the reason for her hesitance made him angry. He had pined after her for years and apparently she'd done the same and yet neither of them had moved on the other because they hadn't known that they were each other. Not only that, but she'd drawn away from him as Chat because she had a crush on him as Adrien.
Obviously, she had feelings for both sides of him and he knew that he had feelings for both sides of her, but overall he was frustrated by this situation. He had always imagined finding out who Ladybug was in some dramatic reveal where they stood on a rooftop and just let their transformations run out. He imagined seeing the sun setting as her transformation slipped away and falling instantly in love with the girl beneath the mask. He'd never imagined that the secret would slip out of Marinette's mouth in a drunken slur.
He groaned and buried his face in his pillows. Not only was this not how he expected to find out, but he was also hurt that she felt she couldn't tell him previously. If she hadn't been so stubborn, they would have known each other years ago and would have been able to be in a legitimate relationship. Now, here they were with her drunk and apparently self-destructing and him trying to heal from their mistakes.
Adrien didn't want to sleep, but he had nothing else that he could do with her sleeping in his living room. Suddenly, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out to answer it. "Hello?" he asked.
"Who the hell is this?" a familiar voice said over the phone. Adrien looked down to see that the phone he had answered was Marinette's, not his and that he was speaking with Alya.
"Alya, it's Adrien." He said.
"Why do you have Marinette's phone?" she asked, her voice sounding like a mixture of excitement and surprise.
"Well, uh…I got a call saying that she needed help getting home and I went and picked her up and now she's sleeping on my couch." He said quickly.
"What are you talking about?" Alya asked.
"Look, she's sleeping…on my couch. I can have her call you back in the morning." Adrien offered.
"What are you up to, Agreste?" Alya asked suspiciously.
"Nothing. I'm just being a good friend." Adrien stated in a panic.
"Okay, well, tell her I called." Alya stated.
"Will do." Adrien stated and was thankful when the call ended. He looked down at the phone and his face suddenly turned red. He figured out why the bartender had called him. Marinette had surrounded his name with hearts in her phone. He realized that the bartender had probably thought they were a couple. He set the phone down, not quite sure how to process this new development in conjunction with the rest of what he'd learned that night. One thing was for sure, he was glad that the bartender had called him rather than someone else. He didn't know if anyone else would have protected her identity.
The next morning, he rose early. He grabbed a wheel of camembert from his fridge along with a glass of water and a bottle of asprin. He knew that Marinette would likely have a hangover and that Tikki would probably be hungry. He set the items along with Marinette's phone gently on the table next to Marinette's purse while she snored softly before retreating to the kitchen. He quickly went to work making breakfast, figuring that he needed to act natural. He'd decided not to let her know the extent of what she'd said the night before if he could help it. Even if she did remember, he'd decided that he wasn't going to let her know that he knew the significance of what she said. He was going to act like she was just sweet, kind Marinette.
Marinette woke up with her head pounding. She opened her eyes, not remembering anything that had happened the night before. She immediately sat up when she didn't recognize where she was and started to panic. She took a brief inventory of herself. She was still wearing all of her clothes except for her shoes. Her purse was gone! She looked around frantically before she saw it laying on the coffee table between a wheel of camembert, a glass of water, a bottle of asprin, and her phone. She quickly opened her purse to see Tikki.
"What did you think you were doing last night?" Tikki asked angrily as she came out of the purse.
"I don't know, Tikki. I just wanted a drink and then…I don't even know what happened." She said, but Tikki wasn't listening. She had turned and was staring at the cheese that was next to Marinette's purse. "What's wrong, Tikki?" she asked.
"Since when do you eat camembert?" Tikki asked.
"I don't." Marinette said. She then heard a light knock. "Hide, Tikki." She said as the kwami dove for her purse.
"Do you like your eggs scrambled or over easy?" Adrien asked as Marinette sat upright as straight as she could.
"Uh, scrambled is fine." She said, nervously. Adrien nodded and ducked back into what Marinette assumed was his kitchen. Her mind seemed to be running a bit slowly and she only realized what was going on after a few minutes. "Adrien?" she suddenly shrieked.
"Yeah?" he asked, quickly popping back into the living room.
"What am I doing in your apartment?" she asked, panicked. "We didn't…" she trailed off, trying to remember the previous night.
"You were in no shape to take the train by yourself and I, uh, don't know where you live, so I brought you back here. You slept on the couch." He said awkwardly. He stood there for a moment in silence before speaking again. "Have the asprin." He added before disappearing back into the kitchen. Marinette put her head in her hands and groaned.
"Marinette! You need to go, now!" Tikki said from Marinette's purse. "We need to talk about last night." She added angrily. Marinette groaned again.
"Not now, Tikki." She said, shaking her head. This was a decision that she immediately regretted as her head exploded in more pain than it had been in before. She took one of the asprin capsules and downed the water. She then stood and started walking toward the kitchen.
"Marinette!" she heard Tikki say after her, but she didn't turn back for the kwami. Instead, she ducked into the kitchen.
"I, uh…." She trailed off as she smelled the cooking eggs and her stomach groaned.
"Yes, Marinette?" Adrien said without looking at her. She noticed that his face was lacking its normal smile. She realized that he hadn't smiled all morning.
"I just wanted to say thank you for letting me stay here for the night. I, uh…I don't remember anything from last night. Um, how did you find me?" she asked with a furrowed brow.
"The bartender got into your phone and called me. I guess I was the first contact." He said as if it was nothing. "By the way, Alya tried to call you. I accidentally answered thinking it was my phone. Sorry." He said. Marinette instantly started blushing knowing just what her friend would likely have thought about hearing Adrien over her phone.
"I'll, uh, I'll call her back later. Thank you, for everything." She said. "I'll just, uh…I'll head home." She said awkwardly.
"Stay for breakfast at least? You're going to need something in your stomach." He said.
"I, uh…um…okay." She said.
"I'll bring it out when it's done." Adrien said and shot her a small smile.
"Thank you." She said before ducking back out of the kitchen.
A/N: So, I really contemplated not having this go as I had previously decided. However, I figured that I'd make drunk-Marinette like drunk-me. In other words, very honest. I still think she wouldn't deliberately tell anyone that she's Ladybug. However, she would probably think it would be okay to say that she had sex with Chat as the only other person who would know who Chat had sex with was Chat himself. That and Chat has interacted with Marinette before. Initially, the drunk-Marinette section of the chapter had been going to be from Marinette's perspective and in Chapter 3, but I decided to hold off on it until now. I do see that a lot of people had stuff to say about the last chapter and I would like to address each of you individually.
Guest: Yes, he does default to acting like an arrogant prick when he's stressed. He is very insecure and doesn't really know how to handle not only all of the power he's been given, but also the disdain from Ladybug. And I did have him pin the whole problem on Chat because with someone with such strong feelings about something, they are likely to reject contrary information. And yes, he will be horrified by his actions once he finds out about them. And yeah, he did make some very prick-ish jokes.
Jody: He is actually meant to piss you off (during the akuma attack) because he's being influenced by the akuma's powers. And he does know that Chat Noir did love Ladybug, but also knew that saying that would be very hurtful to her because of her reaction to Chat leaving. And really, the oc isn't necessarily focusing on Adrien, I included that information to kinda try to give clues as to who Chat is. I had been going to have the "possible Chats" interact, but I couldn't manage to do it in a way that wouldn't come out and say who Chat is.
GregorySpoon: Yes, he does say things that he regrets when he's stressed. He is very insecure. He didn't initially appreciate being given the miraculous as he doesn't want the responsibilities attached. And, while there is some blood in his apartment, he isn't actually going to realize that there was a scuffle. And Ladybug didn't really think about how it would affect him to have the time limit.
Joey: You'll have to read and see how he reacts to that bit of knowledge because he is, eventually, going to find out. And I'm sorry that it's irritating to you that everyone things Adrien is Chat Noir and that the new guy figured out who Ladybug was. In this pic, I've been going off of the idea that the kwamis have power that hide their identities. People thinking that Adrien is Chat is solely based on the footage of him fighting the akuma. And the new guy figuring out Ladybug was because she was out of the mask and Tikki was too exhausted to hide. And in the show, Plagg hung around when the ring was knocked off of Adrien and before he put the ring on, however, when Marinette took of her earrings, rejecting them, Tikki disappeared. This is why Plagg disappeared when both Adrien took off the ring and when the new Chat did. It's not because the ring wasn't on them, but because they were rejecting it. And it is a good idea to have Ladybug try to take the ring. I hadn't actually thought of that. It may come into play later.
SaRaH: Yes, he is very insecure. And don't worry, his good traits will come out later on. However, right now he's adjusting to everything and he doesn't have any support. And yes, his comment was in poor taste. He specifically meant it to hurt her.
RickMorty: Honestly, if Adrien had requested the ring back before the new Chat had gone out, he would have it back. However, the new Chat used it and felt how freeing it can be. He also partially wants to prove that he can be a hero and especially now he's going to want to make up for what he's done.