AN: Thank you so much to those of you who take a few seconds of your time to review! It means so much to me to actually get to read your feedback on my fics.
It definitely helps me to get motivated enough to write and upload chapters a whole lot faster than I normally would.
Warning: this chapter gets a little bit hectic.
I'm well aware that Nathanaël is written OOC in this story but as 99% of the fandom has claimed him as their precious 'tomato' son, I don't see him in the same way. He isn't my tomato child and I'm probably in that 1% that feels that way. If I need a villain or side character, Nathanaël (or Theo) are my go-to's. I don't dislike/hate him. I just don't see him in such high regard as others do.
With that said, happy reading~
J'Ai Besoin De Toi
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Marinette felt foolish.
Maybe she shouldn't have shown him such a hopeful look in her eyes as she waited desperately for his response.
She watched as Adrien bit his lower lip, contemplating on how he should word whatever he was about to say to her.
"I…" he began, clearing his throat he started his sentence again, "Can't say how I feel about children. Honestly, I grew up as an only child and none of my friends have children of their own yet. I don't have any experience with them"
Marinette looked so crestfallen in that instant moment. Quickly, she nodded her head, "I-I see…" she stammered and sighed.
"I don't dislike them though" Adrien added, with a small smile noticing how dejected she looked. He didn't want to lie to her and tell her that he felt completely comfortable around little ones.
"Would you… perhaps… some day in the near future would want to have kids of your own?"
Marinette caught him off guard with her sudden question as his eyes widened for a split second, lips parted in a small gap and then relaxed.
"I…"
Marinette leaned in closer to him, his standing figure shielding her from the sun; the water gushing from the fountain falling on deaf ears as everything stilled. The gelato slowly melting in her anticipating hands as she waited to hear his response.
"Yo! Sorry to keep you guys waiting!" Nino shouted as he and Alya sprinted towards the fountain with bags on each arms.
Marinette frowned, an expression that wasn't missed by Adrien's sharp eyes.
"Boy… I'm starving! Anyone down for some pizza? When in Rome right?" Marinette awkwardly started.
"Girl, we're in Milan!" Alya shook her head laughing, dumping her bags onto Nino to grab her best friend's wrists and pull her sticky hands up. "Let's go freshen up!" Alya announced and dragged Marinette away.
"So what were you two lovebirds gossiping about while I was shopping?" Nino asked with a teasing wink and nudge to Adrien's shoulder.
Adrien gave him a strained smile and scratched the back of his neck, "Nothing much" he simply said and grabbed some of the bags to help out.
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The group was caught up in the sightseeing that they didn't eat until dinner. Alya noticed that there was a shift between Adrien and Marinette. While she herself and Nino were having a blast, she didn't get the same vibe off of those two.
Wanting them to connect and bond more during the trip, she decided to really intervene and beg Nino for more souvenirs so that Adrien and Marinette could go sight see on their own, having not done so the entire trip.
As soon as both parties split up and went their separate way, Marinette walked next to Adrien's side with her hands held behind her back holding a small gift she bought. She felt full and content, especially with her purchase of the matching bracelets she got for herself and Louis.
She felt giddy and couldn't wait to show her mom.
"Would you like to go check out other stores for souvenirs?" Adrien asked to break the silence they were in.
The hustle and bustle of the city made more noise than they did as Marinette nodded her head. "I do. I still need to find the right gifts for my parents"
"Okay" Adrien simply said and fell back into their silence.
He didn't know what to say or do.
They weren't particularly fighting but he couldn't just ignore the metaphorical elephant in the room either.
Marinette didn't love him, or at least, not all of him.
She just didn't know it.
To him, she's just a long time, dedicated fan of Chat Noir's.
To him, she's just infatuated with his goofy charm and heroism.
To him, she'll never know that Chat Noir was standing right in front of her.
Adrien knew it was foolish to think that someone could love ALL of him.
Billionaire supermodel, cat paws, ears and all.
They continued to walk the lit up streets when they were interrupted by sudden squeals and screams of surprise.
"EEK! IT'S LILA ROSSI!"
"LET'S GET HER AUTOGRAPH!"
"AHH! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S REALLY HER!"
"SHE'S HERE! SHE'S HERE!"
Adrien's ears instantly perked up like a cat's as he hastily turned his head so fast that he luckily didn't get whiplash. He noticed a crowd of young girls surrounding a nearby hotel. He caught a glimpse of chestnut colored hair and long legs wearing red boots with heels.
"Son of a- You have got to be kidding me!" Adrien groaned, taking Marinette by surprise, "We need to go, now!" He whispered-yelled to her and quickly grabbed her hand. He dashed into the nearest alleyway he could find.
Marinette gripped tightly onto her little jewelry bag as she panted and abruptly stopped in some unknown passage.
"What was that about?" She asked Adrien as he heaved, lungs burning as he held onto the brick wall for support.
"N-N-Nothing! J-J-u-u-st th-ough-t I-I s-saw a leech i-is all!" Adrien panted, "God, I'm so out of shape" he wheezed, as his lean muscles tensed at Marinette's touch.
Her cold hand gently touched his bicep as she laughed, "You out of shape? Not likely"
Adrien playfully rolled his eyes, "I've been cheating on my workout and diet for some time now"
"How long is some time?" she asked.
Without thinking, he said, "Ever since we made love"
As soon as those words came out of his mouth, he froze.
Marinette froze as well, eyes wide for a split moment but then quickly replaced with a warmth spreading throughout her face. The blood pooling in her ears, cheeks, and her already cold and reddening tip of her nose.
Before either of them could say a word, both their phones started to ring and vibrate in unison. Nino and Alya wanting to know where they ran off to.
Adrien and Marinette settled yet again into a silent and now awkward walk back to their hotel.
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Before Marinette could enter the elevator to her hotel room, Alya dragged her outside of the elevator and let the guys go on up without them.
"So?" Alya asked, looking hopeful.
"So, what?"
Alya rolled her eyes, "Did you guys kiss? Confess your undying love for each other? Secretly got hitched without my knowing?"
Marinette shook her head, "None of those things happened"
Alya booed and crossed her arms, "So what am I waiting for?"
"I-I d-don't k-know" Marinette sighed.
She knew Alya only wanted the best for her and fully supported whatever this was with Adrien but even she wasn't sure what would happen with him.
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Back into her room, Marinette quietly entered the room and just as before - Adrien left a light on for her as he was already settled in bed.
Marinette took her toiletries and clothes and changed in the bathroom.
She again contemplated on whether she should just sleep on the couch or floor.
She knew they weren't fighting, she just simply made everything awkward with her big mouth.
"Here" Adrien spoke up, as he moved the blanket to let Marinette on the bed.
Marinette timidly accepted his invitation and settled onto her side of the bed. She exhaled deeply and tried to get comfortable but couldn't as her back wound still slightly irritated her. The coolness of the mattress against her skin felt nice but it didn't help her to relax.
"If Chat Noir didn't exist… would you have given me a chance?" Adrien softly spoke up.
Marinette's breath hitched in her throat at his sudden question.
"What?"
"Would you let me into your heart?"
"I-I-I'm n-not w-worth t-t-the t-trou-ble"
She heard him chuckle and move on the bed. Adrien adjusted himself by effortlessly grabbing Marinette and sliding her underneath him. Holding her arms against her head as he caged her into him while his knees supported his weight on either side of her legs.
"Don't belittle yourself so much, Marinette. I think you're worth it"
Marinette's eyes grew misty as she fought the urge to cry.
Cry because here was a guy who knew all her troubles and imperfections and still wanted her.
Cry because her self-confidence and self-love in herself were tarnished into nothing that all she could do was always think in the negative.
Cry because another was in her heart instead.
"If Chat Noir didn't exist, I'd still want to meet him. The real him. I'm a wreck, Adrien. I've lead you on for far too long" Marinette's lip trembled as the hot tears spilled from her eyes.
Adrien ignored her soft whimpering and focused on only one thing she said.
She'd still want to meet the real him.
Him.
Marinette may have not known that she was with the real Chat Noir this entire time but something bubbled and sparked within him. Her feelings were as genuine as she is and he was confident in knowing that no matter how big of a Chat Noir fan she may have been in the past - her feeling were true and they remained true and loyal for the past two years since the disappearance of the Parisian superhero duo.
Marinette gasped into his mouth as Adrien leaned down and captured her lips. Her surprise soon turned into moans of pleasure as she weaved her hands through his golden hair. Her heart hammered against her chest as she felt him glide his long fingers against her thighs and legs.
His lips traveled from her lips to her jaw and collarbone as her leg wrapped around his torso. His kisses were light on her face but sensual on her shoulders and chest. Adrien's hands found themselves gripping Marinette's hips, the pad of his thumbs massaging little circles into the exposed skin of her pink silk pj shorts sliding off.
That night, they didn't have sex like they normally would. Marinette was comforted by Adrien's closeness but still not sure if her answer was good enough for him. She didn't exactly answer his question.
Everything would be okay, wouldn't it?
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"No! Get away from me! Unhand me!" Marinette yelled as Nathanaël squeezed her small wrists and roughly shoved her onto her bed.
"I've had had enough of being celibate with you! I've waited for you to want me intimately as I've had for you! I've waited for two years! So what do you do instead? You go running off to another man's dick, you bitch!" Nathanaël started to unzip his jeans while simultaneously trying to forcefully remove her clothes when she kicked him after slapping him away from her body.
"I will never have sex with you, Nathanaël! NEVER!" Marinette yelled and took advantage of his staggering, as he swayed back and forth taking hold of the wall to balance himself out.
Limping out onto the hallway of her apartment, Marinette ran towards the elevators while caressing her bleeding hand.
"You think I'd let you cheat on me?!" Nathanaël roared, leaning against the entrance of their home, "I'll make you know your place you cheating whore!" He screeched, grabbing his whiskey bottle as he sprinted towards her, managing to pull her down by her long wavy pigtails as she fell onto the hard burgundy carpet.
Marinette gasped as she tried to calm her racing heart, grabbing onto whatever piece of furniture she could as Nathanaël dragged her back into their apartment by her bare feet. She held tightly onto a hallway table until her knuckles turned white. The table moving slowly as Nathanaël tried prying her off of it. In one hand he held her ankle and with the other he was still holding onto his poison.
The stench of alcohol consumed the entire floor. Not a single neighbor budged at all at the noise having gone deaf to it months ago.
Kicking and screaming, Marinette managed to gain control and quickly bolted for the emergency stairwell.
Tumbling down a short flight of stairs, she hurriedly got on her feet and ran down two more flights and then entered a bottom floor's level taking the elevator from there.
Marinette ignored all the looks and stares she got on her way out as she exited her apartment building and ran directly into the cold raining streets of Paris.
Her blood stained thin grey tank top and black shorts were instantly drenched. She didn't know where to go. She couldn't go to Alya's because then Alya would be out looking for war and Nathanaël's blood to shed. She definitely couldn't go to her parents because then her dad would be the one raising hell and she didn't want Louis or her mom to see her in her current condition.
She wasn't exactly sure on what terms she and Adrien were on but today was a Sunday and she knew she could, hopefully, find him at the laundromat. She didn't mean to throw more of her baggage onto him but Marinette was terrified for her life and running to Adrien felt like the most logical thing to do at that moment.
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Marinette looked and felt like shit.
Nathanaël cut part of the right side of her forehead, busted the left side of her lips, bruised her neck, arms, and the icing on the cake was when he came at her with a knife and she had to grab onto it with her right hand in order to defend herself. The blade easily sliced through her skin and she was pretty sure that if she didn't get actual stitches for it then she'd get an infection.
She had nothing on her. No money, no identification. Nothing.
The only thing she had were the clothes on her back and what little bit of confidence and determination to get the hell out that was left.
She knew she'd have to eventually go back to that hell hole and retrieve the things most important and valuable to her like Tikki for example.
Marinette had no time to kick herself over forgetting her purse and a sleeping Tikki as she arrived at her destination.
Limping into the laundromat, she thanked the stars and heavens and all the deities in the world for Adrien's presence inside.
He hadn't noticed her as his back was faced to her as he took out a load from the dryer so that he could neatly fold his clothes on the countertop.
"Adrien!" Marinette exhaled, not knowing how long she was holding her breath for.
The second that Adrien caught a look at her, he threw his clothes on the table and held her by the arms, supporting her and making sure she wouldn't fall down.
"What happened?!" Adrien panicked.
"I-I-I can't d-d-do this a-any-m-more, A-Adrien! Nathanaël's cra-zy! I barely managed t-to g-get out w-with m-my life!" Marinette broke down. "I'm s-scared, Adrien. I-I a-am s-so scar-ed r-right n-now" she wailed as she shivered, blood and drops of water soaking the floor around her.
Adrien didn't care that she was bleeding and looked like a mess as he tightly held her in his arms.
For a boyfriend to physically abuse his girlfriend, it was unacceptable but to actually try and kill her? Now that was unforgivable.
Adrien's blood boiled, he wanted to clench his fists and go hunt down this Nathanaël. He wanted to tear him to pieces and break every single bone in his body. Adrien was seeing red but for now, that asshole was temporarily saved as he attended to Marinette first.
It had been not even a week since they came back from their Milan trip and in that time Nathanaël grew more violent and colder than Marinette had ever seen him.
The first time that he laid his hands on her since her return from Italy, Marinette cried. She felt saddened by the fact that the once creative, inspiring, and ever so talented young man that was there for her after her heartbreak of what happened with Chat Noir was no longer there in the present man who drank constantly, was physically abusive, and almost raped her.
Marinette's whole body was washed over with a sense of relief. That in that short moment in time, she was safe and away from harm.
Adrien held her in his warm arms for a good twenty minutes before letting her go.
Silently, Adrien let go of her and held onto her shivering injured hand. The bleeding lessened but it was still looking pretty bad.
"We need to get this stitched up" he told her as she agreed.
"I do but I can't just walk into the hospital looking like this. The paparazzi would have a field day with you and think you were my abuser"
"Let the paparazzi talk all they want!" Adrien raised his voice, feeling frustrated by his want to punch this boyfriend of hers in the face and the need to protect her from all the wrong that has been done to her.
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"Adrien…" Marinette frowned, caressing his cheek with her good left hand.
He held onto her hand on his cheek and kissed her inner palm, "Let's clean you up a bit at least. Wait here" he instructed as he took a freshly dried blanket from the dryer and wrapped her in it. Lifting her up on the counter, he told her to sit still as he walked out of the laundromat and quickly ran to his car, driving to a nearby boutique he's worked with in the past.
If there were any perks to being basically fashion royalty - it was this. Being able to ask for clothes, no questions needed.
Returning back to the laundromat with two bags in hand, Adrien smiled as he set them down next to Marinette. He first took out the contents of the first bag which contained a first aid kit. He lightly and with much care made sure to clean her lip and forehead wounds first. Next he took out a bottle of water and cleaned her hand wound as she winced.
"Sorry" Adrien apologized as he did a fast patch up job with gauze.
Her hand looked worse than it actually was. After he was finished with all her cuts, he couldn't do much for her bruises with no ice on hand so he moved onto the next bag.
Adrien took out a long sleeved olive green turtleneck dress and jacket, black leggings, ankle boots, and a leather belt to adorn the dress with.
"Oops I almost forgot" he said as he quickly jogged back to his car and brought in another bag containing a matching set of panties and bra.
"Can you help me get dressed?" Marinette shyly asked, cheeks and ears flaring brightly as he simply nodded his head. She felt so drained, not caring if anyone walking by saw her naked through the windows.
Taking off the drenched clothing off of her, Adrien threw them on the floor as he unclasped her bra. He couldn't help himself and leaned into her skin, the tip of his nose running against her cold back. Leaving light butterfly kisses on her skin, she covered her chest with her left arm as he helped her put on her under garments.
Once she was properly dressed, she immediately felt a thousand times better.
"Now to get you to the hospital" Adrien announced as he finished folding the last of his laundry.
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"Thank you for everything, Adrien. I mean it. I-I don't know h-how I'll ever repay you for your kindness" Marinette told him.
"Tell me why Chat Noir is so important to you. That's all I'd like to know as your payment for my kindness. I don't need payment for anything but I'd really like to know"
"I guess it doesn't really matter now. If that's all you want, then I'll tell you"
"It is" he confirmed as his eyes flickered with anticipation.
Marinette took in a deep breath, inhaling and exhaling as she found a way to word her thoughts, "I owe him at least the chance to get to know his son" she started.
Adrien's brows furrowed, confused by what she just said. "Son? Chat Noir doesn't have any children" he said matter-o-factly.
Marinette nodded, "None that he or the media knows of"
"So how could he have kids? Chat Noir wasn't known to fool around with fans"
"That's because I wasn't his fan" Marinette shook her head.
"Then who are you?" Adrien asked, his heart thundering in his chest.
It couldn't be. No.
Marinette? How?
Was that even possible? Sweet, innocent, Marinette?
The pieces were starting to shift, align, and connect in his head.
"I'm Ladybug or well I was" Marinette corrected herself as she waited for his reaction. Keeping her secret was no longer relevant if Paris didn't need her to save it anymore. She knew that she trusted Adrien enough to let him in onto her big secret that until then only Alya knew. If she was going to pour her heart out and explain why she was so in love with Chat Noir then Adrien needed to know the truth. Ladybug was of course a fan of Chat Noir but not like other ordinary fans as he may have thought.
"No, you're not"
It wasn't the reaction she was expecting but she supposed that denial was fine too.
"I would never lie to you, Adrien"
"How? Can you even prove it?" Adrien was frantic, his mind racing as he tried to desperately understand.
"After the defeat of Hawkmoth, Chat took him somewhere. I-I d-don't know where or what he did to Hawkmoth but we were finally freed from his curse. I was so exhausted after that fight, it took a toll on my body and my kwami Tikki's magic. Next thing I know, I'm waking up in a nice hotel room with Chat Noir. He looked so dejected… he wasn't acting like himself and then-"
"Stop" Adrien pleaded, the memories too painful for him.
"You said you wanted to know, maybe I shouldn't have said anything"
"N-no, wait. Please do continue"
Marinette looked at him for a few minutes, waiting for anymore objections but when none came, she continued.
"Chat and I had sex that night. It was my first time and I gave him everything. I gave him my trust and my heart but…" Marinette paused, this was always the hardest part of her story, "I guess that wasn't enough for him. I guess I wasn't enough for him. He didn't know I was so madly in love with him. I guess I was stupid to think that"
"And your son?"
"Chat Noir left me abandoned in the hotel room, sure it was a nice room but that meant nothing to me. I felt hollow for weeks and one day after having morning sickness for quite a while, Tikki told me that I needed to see a doctor. Maybe she knew before me but the doctor told me I was pregnant. I cried my eyes out, it was the first time I felt so alone in the world. An ex-superhero single mother. Ridiculous, isn't it?"
"What does your son look like? His name? Age?" Adrien bombarded her with questions.
It took her by surprise, his sudden curiosity towards her son and his persistence of knowing what and how much Chat Noir meant to her.
"His name is Louis, he's eight months old. Louis was born with blonde hair but over time it gradually turned darker so now it's black. His eyes are a hazel color, they shine more green than anything" she fondly said, her genuine love for her son was clear to him.
Marinette patiently waited for Adrien to say something but he never did. Trying not to bite down on her bottom lip, she lightly tapped her foot but he still didn't say a word.
She spoke up and frowned, "I'm truly sorry for leading you on, Adrien. Your kindness and friendship are two things I'm incredibly grateful for. I should've told you that I have a son and I completely understand if you'd no longer like to see me. You'd think I'd be used to getting rejected by now" Marinette dryly chuckled at her own sad miserable life and bad luck in the love department.
"I-I'll t-take m-m-myself to the h-hospital" she told him, quietly picking up her wet clothes from the ground and placing it in a bag. She placed the bag on the bend of her left arm and caressed her injured hand as she limped to the door.
Marinette shivered as the gush of cold wind hit her, it was still raining and without an umbrella she'd get drenched again.
She sighed and braced herself.
"Where's your kwami?" Adrien asked as she set a foot out the door.
He was asking where her kwami was instead of what a kwami is.
Marinette entered the laundromat again, closing the door behind her, "I accidentally left her at the apartment. She knows how to hide, especially from Nathanaël. Why?"
"Because I have a kwami too" he said with a mixed emotion in his tone. His own kwami Plagg appearing in seconds from his hiding spot as he waved without saying a word. Normally he'd be flying and zooming around enthusiastically but felt like the mood in the room didn't call for it.
"W-W-What?" Marinette's voice cracked.
"I'm Chat Noir" Adrien firmly said.
Marinette lost consciousness, seeing pitch black in seconds. A thud of her body falling to the floor never came but she fainted instantly.
Maybe it was the loss of blood from her wounds or maybe from her physical and mental exhaustion or maybe it was because of Adrien's sudden and not so little revelation.
She didn't really know.
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Done! To be continued.
Secrets are revealed!
Things are starting to come to an end here in a few more chapters. I'm aiming for at least 10 chapters but who knows, we'll see!
This chapter was pretty straight forward so I don't have much else to say other than: see ya, until next time!
Please do review! Follows and Alerts tell me that you guys are at least interested in the story but reviews really let me hear out what your feedback and personal opinions on my stories are!
If anyone is afraid to leave reviews due to language difference - please don't be! I can fluently read Spanish and partial French! :) And hey, that's why Google translate was invented after all! LOL.
So ya know the drill! Tell me what ya think! ;D
