Chapter Thirty-Six: Opposites
A/N: Despite me being really excited to write the last chapter, this one definitely is my favorite. I'm using flashbacks, which I foreshadowed a couple chapters ago, in order to give you guys the entire picture! Enjoy!
P.S: Apologies for the late post. I had competition on Saturday and I needed yesterday to... mentally process emotions.
TheStrangeClaireBean: Aww, I knew you wouldn't be able to resist a review!
bja133: The whole akumatization thing was a dream sequence.
mayuralover: I don't kid when it comes to being a murderer.
black neko hime: No spoilers!
Dragon Lord Draco: I think you'll be minorly content with this chapter.
Opposites: (noun) A person or thing that is totally different from or the reverse of someone or something else
As Marinette continued her uncontrollable sobbing, she felt Tikki's tender paw rest on her quaking shoulder. Too focused on getting her Chat Noir to breath again, to start fighting again, she never noticed a weak, yet distraught, Plagg fly out of the now-dormant ring.
"Marinette, focus!" Tikki snapped the bluenette out of her depressed trance. "There's still another way to save him, remember? Remember what Master Fu gave you-"
"I have… to keep pressing… if I don't… he could be gone…" Marinette choked, still committing to chest compressions, despite Adrien not improving in his state at all.
"Marinette, he's already gone!" Marinette stared at her kwami, eyes glassy. "I'm sorry, Marinette, but if we don't do anything soon, he'll stay dead!"
Marinette quietly nodded, hands still shaking as she removed her hand from Adrien's chest. Turning around, she rummaged the white first aid kit, eventually grabbing a cylinder glass bottle, which housed near-fluorescent orange liquid.
"When did you get this?" Plagg asked, circling the bottle.
"I knew Chat Noir wasn't going to ask Master Fu, so I took measures into my own hands." Marinette explained, removing the cork cap. "So one sip of this, and Adrien will be alright?"
"It's not that simple, Marinette. The potion doesn't make everything go away…"
"Master Fu said Plagg would explain everything," Marinette recited, before turning to the tiny black cat. "So what am I missing?"
"Adrien absorbed dark energy, energy just as powerful and destructive as his Cataclysm. For the past while, his body was slowly being overridden by this unstable energy. The only way to reset the balance is for destruction to overrule and push the akuma's energy out."
"This potion…" Marinette stared at the bottle, words choked as if she wasn't ready to say what she was about to say. "This potion isn't a healing one, isn't it? It's a protection spell. Because the only way to return balance is for Plagg to use his unstable Cataclysm, right?"
Plagg nodded. "The ritual has only been performed once by me, millenniums ago. Master Fu hasn't even created a protection potion to protect something from this magnitude before! If the slightest error, the slightest mishap, happens…"
"Plagg could end up disintegrating Adrien." Marinette whispered, in a daze.
"It's your choice, Marinette." Tikki reassured.
Silence.
Finally, Marinette gently opened Adrien's mouth, tugging by the lip, as she fed him the protection potion. "If we don't do anything now, he'll die anyway." Planting a tender, yet brief, kiss on the blond's lips, Marinette hesitantly stepped back, nodding.
Plagg sighed, still uneasy and worried about the choice. With one final breath, he floated atop Adrien's chest. And gently lifting his paw, silently apologizing for everything he's done under Adrien's care, he yelled,
"Cataclysm!"
Marinette entered the classroom, eyes dazed and unseeing as she forced herself to walk up the stairs and plop into the seat next to Alya. Everything hurt. Her mind, body and soul were numb with heartbreak and sorrow. Even after the bell long rang, she still felt her eyes gaze towards the empty seat next to Nino.
And despite her aching feelings and aching heart telling her otherwise, the bluenette bit back her tears and her saddened cries. Because Adrien wouldn't want her to cry, not for him. That's how much he loved her. And now Marinette finally understood that. All the times he jumped head-first into danger and all the time she had called him rash, reckless and impulsive, it was because Adrien loved her so much, he hated to see her injured or hurt. And Marinette never understood that, until it was too late for her to say.
Maybe if she understood sooner, things would be different. Maybe Chat Noir wouldn't have needlessly dove head-first into danger and absorb the akuma. But at the same time, Marinette understood his reasonings and intentions. After the tiring experience that was Stoneheart, Chat Noir probably wouldn't have enjoyed chasing after Aimant duplicates as both Chat and Adrien.
Marinette chuckled, for the first time since that night. Maybe it was just insomnia delusions, but she found it amusing that she could now talk about her partner as both her long-time crush, and her superhero friend. But when she thinks about that, all she can remember is what it cost her. If Marinette hadn't been so needlessly adamant in protecting their identities, she could've been laughing with Adrien at this very moment.
Alas, peace and laughter was nonexistent as the old, loving, Marinette slowly faded into darkness as a new, battle-hardened one emerged and began to erase her. But maybe there was still hope, because if her experiences as Ladybug taught her anything, it's that in order to be a hero, you have to be strong.
Adrien woke up to a start. Immediately, the blond recognized his current quarters as Marinette's. His head was sore, as well as his chest. As he surveyed his surroundings, Adrien realized the previous night's events were a mystery to him. The last thing he remembered…
"I trust you."
The blond's heart sank to the bottom of the ocean. The last thing he mumbled to Marinette as he laid on his deathbed was that he trusted her enough to release his transformation as he passed out. The thought of his princess going hysterical with the combination of new information and the fact he was dying hurt his heart more than any of his wounds.
"How are you feeling, Kid?"
Adrien tiredly turned to his kwami. "Everything hurts. What happened?"
Plagg shook his head. "Poor Marinette, she was crying in terror as she tried to help you."
The blond sighed, feeling the pain from Marinette. "Why do I get the feeling I'm supposed to be dead?"
"You're lucky Ladybug slipped the potion we needed into your pocket. Otherwise, we wouldn't have been able to perform the ritual."
"Where's Marinette?"
Despite all the pain he'd undergo in the past 24 hours, the only thing that mattered at the moment was that Marinette was alright and not thinking she had just watched him die. Plagg pointed towards a note that laid on a pillow to the side.
Adrien,
I'm sorry I had to leave to go to school; I had to find an excuse to cover for you. You're lucky your father was on a business trip. There's some fresh clothes in the laundry basket at the bottom of the stairs. And if you're ready, we need to talk tonight.
-Marinette
Adrien sighed, rereading the note multiple times before setting it onto the bed. Marinette knows who he was, she knows how much he'd hurt her, and yet she still decided to help him preserve his identity?
Plagg hauled up the basket of fresh clothes onto the bed. "Get changed, Adrien. You've already missed two classes. Best you hurry up."
The blond nodded, removing the clothes from the basket, he smiled as a fresh croissant rested inside a box at the bottom. Even at her worst, there was still a sliver of the old Marinette.
Even as a blinding green light erupted throughout the room, Marinette intently kept her eyes at where Adrien laid. If he was going to end up dying in that very moment, the bluenette didn't want to regret not looking at him for the longest time possible. Finally, when the energy fizzled away, the three of them stared, before grinning, as Adrien was still intact and whole. Marinette was the first to react as she quietly ran her porcelain fingers over Adrien's pale cheek.
"Did it work?" she mumbled. Adrien wasn't disintegrated, but he still wasn't breathing.
Suddenly, miraculously, the blond's chest heaved for a few seconds, before his still-unconscious body began to inhale and exhale at a normal pace. Marinette laughed, before her laughs turned to tears, as she lightly, but meaningfully, hugged Adrien's body in pure relief.
"He'll be unconscious for a while, but for the meantime you might want to find some excuses to cover up his lateness." Plagg suggested.
Marinette nodded as she slid down the stairs' railing and opened her drawer, grabbing a stationery pad and pen. As Marinette scribbled a note, Tikki peered over her shoulder.
"Are you going to do what I think you are?"
Marinette pressed her lips, before weakly nodding. "I have to, Tikki. It wouldn't feel right if I didn't at least try."
Tikki smiled. "I'm proud of you, Marinette. And I'm sure Adrien will be too."
"Things will be different now, won't they?"
The kwami shrugged. "Yes, things will change. But at the same time, things will stay the same. But you're starting a new chapter of your life, Marinette. And so many doors and opportunities will now be open to you."
Marinette turned to the blond. "I just hope he feels the same."
"He will. He loves you a lot, I hope you know that. He'll support whatever your decision is."
By the time Adrien finally mustered enough strength to actually walk to school, it was already half and hour before school ended. Sure, he woke up way before then, but he preferred not getting berated by people's prying questions, so he decided to take it easy. Alas, his plans immediately foiled as the second he entered Mme. Bustier's classroom, basically everyone asked if he was alright.
As Mme. Bustier clapped her hands to garner attention, she turned to Adrien. "Glad your injuries aren't too extensive, Adrien. It really is a shame drivers don't pay attention on the roads anymore. First Marinette, then you. Shame."
Blinking twice, Adrien suddenly sat up straighter as he quickly spat out, "Yeah, shame. Thanks for, uh, covering for me, Marinette!"
Marinette only inattentively nodded as she resumed working on her tablet. Even if no words were conveyed, it was clear her eyes read, 'Yeah, I didn't actually know exactly when you'd wake up, so I came up with the most dramatic, yet realistic, excuse I could think of.'
Throughout the day, Marinette avoided Adrien as if he were the Plague. He didn't blame her, of course, I mean, she only truly knew Chat Noir for a few months and Adrien only a year! Despite this, he was worried, but relieved, he'd be meeting the bluenette that night. Maybe then he could clear up some of the drama and confusion that they partaken in the previous night.
It was strange to think that yesterday, Adrien hadn't even imagined revealing himself to Marinette. Okay, that was a lie. Everyday he would always have to shoot down that option, because he just didn't want to put her in danger. But here they were, in the exact same situation they were trying to avoid.
By the time Adrien came home that afternoon, it took all of his charm and persuading power to prevent Nathalie from calling Gabriel and preventing Adrien's chances of ever going to school again.
"Just be sure nothing like this ever happens again. If it does, I'll have no choice but to introduce the problem to Mr. Agreste."
Adrien nodded. Sure, I'll try not to absorb another akuma again. I mean, I only just prevented another city-wide catastrophe, but sure, I promise.
After pacing his room for what felt like forever, Adrien finally confirmed nobody would be in his room that night (thanks to his phone's piano recording).
"Is it time to visit our favorite home?"
Adrien nodded. "Plagg, Claws Out!"
As he lept from building to building, his joints and muscles clamped up as he sorely traveled throughout Paris. The now-raining city screamed with thunder as the black cat persevered, silver staff held by his gloved hand. I'm a freaking lightning rod with this thing on.
During the entire trip, he played different scenarios in his mind as he desperately tried to come up with the right words to say. But what surprised him the most was that Chat Noir realized that Marinette had been avoiding him, not because she was still reeling from the previous events, but because she was afraid of something. Not of him, but of something much deeper.
THUMP!
The second Chat Noir opened the balcony hatch, he realized Marinette had been waiting for him this entire time.
"Hey."
Chat Noir entered the room, gazing at the bluenette, an expression of sadness etched upon her face.
"Chat,"
"That's me." He chuckled nervously.
"A-Adrien." Marinette sniffed.
"Are you disappointed knowing that the guy who broke your heart is the same one who was your shoulder to cry on?"
"Disappointed?! Why would I be... no. I'm not disappointed at you. I'm disappointed in myself."
Marinette was reduced to tears as her breath hitched.
Why are crying, princess? Why are you crying for me?
"Why would you be disappointed in yourself?"
"Be... because you loved both sides of me! And... I knew I couldn't do the same... Until just recently, of course."
"Both sides? Marinette what are you talking about-"
"I thought I hid who I truly was in order to protect us both, but then I realized that no matter what, we will never be safe!" Marinette exclaimed hysterically. "We are creation and destruction, and in all honesty, I don't ever want to be safe if it means losing you..."
"Our identities must remain a secret. We're both superheroes, Chat Noir. We don't have a choice."
"Marinette, I don't-"
"I love you, mon chaton! Don't you get it?! You've spent years pining after Ladybug, and only a second, recent glance at someone like me. I just hope... you'll accept me for who I truly am. I hope you'll forgive me for all the pain I've caused. Tikki.."
"I told you, Tikki. We can trust Alya…"
"Spots on."
WHOOSH!
Chat Noir's glowing eyes were closed shut as a blinding light flashed before him. Opening his eyes, his breath slowed as he saw a familiar slew of spots.
"Ladybug, call me Ladybug."
"I'm Ma- Um Ma- Madly clumsy…"
"You are more than just a partner to me, you're my friend."
"Are you Ladybug?"
"Whoever she is beneath that mask, I love that girl."
Chat Noir stared in awe as he saw the two people he grew to love, as the same person.
"Hey."
"You know you're irreplaceable."
"I've been wanting to tell you for a while, But I- "
The spotted heroine was engulfed by a passionate Chat Noir, who refused to let go.
"Hey."
After a few minutes of warm silence, Chat Noir laughed a heavenly laugh as he whispered, "All this time, you thought I would be disappointed it was you?! Marinette, I couldn't be any happier you were the one under the mask!"
Cupping a shocked Ladybug, the black cat wiped the tears from her eyes before planting a loving kiss on the bluenette's forehead. "I told myself I would love whoever was behind the mask, and I kept my promise. One of them, at least."
Returning the hug, Ladybug began to sob of pure happiness. "Your acceptance is the only thing I need, minou. Thank you."
BOOM!
Thunder clapped as creation and destruction chuckled. Seeing a rampaging akuma terrorize the streets of Paris, yin and yang shot each other a knowing look. Luck and misfortune reluctantly broke off the hug before readying their weapons.
Light and darkness bent forward for one last kiss before they smiled at the battle to come.
"We're a team."
"Partners."
"After you, M'lady."
"Let's go, kitty."
A/N: Ahh, so you think this is the end, right?
Nope, it's not. It was, but I decided I have no reason to live if I just leave the story right here! So you'll be receiving... four more chapters to wrap up some loosely loose ends! Enjoy the few weeks of content, you Bugheads!
Bug Out!