They sat side by side on a park bench, enjoying their drinks and snacks and watching the morning unfold. Several people were taking photos nearby, but for the most part, they were being left alone. That was one nice thing at this point for the heroes of Paris; the city was kind enough to leave them be. It was accepted that the heroes were people too, and that they deserved a break every now and again. As such, they were given some modicum of privacy.
"I'm sorry," Sabine finally said. "I didn't mean to snap at you, and I didn't mean to give away who you are. I just thought everyone of you knew who the other was, is all."
Chat shook his head. "Ladybug is pretty adamant about secret identities, even though most of them have already been blown. At least, within our group they have. We have to keep our families safe from Hawkmoth. If he knew who we were, he could leverage them against us."
"Well, that makes sense," Sabine said. She glanced at the young hero. "That girl at the bakery. You're dating her, aren't you?"
Adrien smiled. "We're, um, we're engaged, actually."
"Really?" Sabine asked, curious. This was a unique opportunity for her, after all.
Sabine loved Adrien. In fact, she already considered him a son.
That didn't mean she wasn't beyond putting him to the coals.
"Mind if I ask you a personal question?"
Chat shrugged. "You can ask."
"Why her?"
Chat stared. "Excuse me?"
"Well, I was just curious," Sabine said as she took a sip from her drink. "Your partner is Ladybug, and even without mom vision, I know she's a catch. So, why some baker's daughter? Why not go for the hero?"
Chat looked off for a moment and smiled. "Because Marinette is a hero. She's brave, and kind, and resourceful. She's one of the smartest people I've ever met, and she's been there for me, time and again. When I was feeling bad as both Adrien or Chat Noir, I could go to her for advice or comfort, and that meant something to me. She's my best friend."
Adrien looked to Sabine. "I don't mean any disrespect to Ladybug, though. She's truly beautiful, and whip smart. She's incredible, and I trust her with my life. When we're out fighting crime, she's easily my other half, but…" Chat looked down at his cup. "I don't know what her favorite song is. I don't know what color her eyes actually are. We've never held hands and gone for a walk, or talked about our families, or our friends. We've always tried to keep things focused on maintaining our identities, and that's meant, well… I guess I realized one day that the Ladybug I loved, the perfect cutout in my head? She was the one that I had imagined, and when I really looked close? I wasn't imagining Ladybug filling that image. I realized was just thinking about Marinette and putting Ladybug in her place. All of those qualities your daughter has, she has, too. But the other stuff? The simple, private stuff? That's what we share, and that's what made me realize what I was feeling. And when I realized that, well, that's when I knew I was in love with her. And that's good right? Because your wife should be your best friend. And that's who she is. She's my best friend."
Sabine wiped at her eyes for a moment.
"I hope," she started, but had to stop to keep herself from hitching. "I hope you realize that's the best type of couple. Bodies age, looks fade, but friendship creates a bond. My husband is my best friend and I love him to death, and I wouldn't have it any other way."
Chat glanced to her and smiled. "Thanks for that."
"So, does Ladybug know? About the engagement?"
At that, Chat drooped a little. "I wanted to tell Ladybug before I told anyone else, but, well, I don't know that I'll ever get the chance."
"Oh?" Sabine asked, curious. "I'll admit, my daughter doesn't, well, talk much about her duties as a hero. However, from what she has said to me, I know she respects you a great deal."
"That's really sweet of you to say," Chat said. He sighed and leaned forward to rest his head on one hand. "Let's be real, though. She told everyone where she was going and what she was up to. You of course, her daughter, Mamabug, even Chloé. She's spoken to all of them, but not… Not me."
Sabine eyed Chat. "Did you ever think that maybe it's because she doesn't know how to tell you what she wants to say?"
"She always knows what to say," Chat laughed. "She's the most confident, capable person I know! She's amazing! Her trust in me is precious, and I have to earn it every day."
Sabine thought on this. "I think just by being you, you earn that trust just fine, young man."
"You don't get it," Adrien said. "For the longest time, it was the only thing I had in my life that was worth anything."
"The only thing?" Sabine asked. "Aren't you a supermodel? Don't you have fame and money? Fans? Prestige?"
Chat sighed. "What I had is a life where my father couldn't be bothered to spend any time with me, where I had to schedule something as simple as a dinner, and even then it would usually get cancelled. What I had was a prison where I had to beg and scrape to go to school, go outside, have a friend, do anything normal. My life was dictated and decided until I fell for Marinette. Now, for the first time in my life that I can remember, I have a say in how I get to be me. It's liberating, but it's also scary. I've looked to LB for validation for so long... Now I have to figure out what I'm going to do going forward."
"And what are you going to do? Now that you're you?"
Chat leaned back a bit and took a breath. "I'm going to finish school and go to University. I'm going to get an apartment, and I'm going to learn how to cook for myself. I'm going to learn how to do laundry and clean and I am going to learn to drive a car, even if I don't need to drive. I want to. I want to do everything people take for granted. I want to balance my bills and make my fiancé dinner and not have to worry about when I need to be somewhere. I just want to read in a comfy chair without being told to mind my posture or, or go for a walk without a bodyguard, or text someone without my phone reporting what I'm writing to my father's assistant. And when our apartment is finished, and we've moved in? I want to invite our friends over to spend time with us. And I need to do these things. I need my daughter to see her father doing things around the house. She needs to grow up knowing that both of her parents are there for her and trying for her. And she needs to see every day that she is loved." He looked to Sabine. "I know it's a lot, but that's what I've dreamed of. It must sound silly to you."
Sabine set her drink down. She reached out and held Chat's hand. "I think that is a wonderful list of goals. Marinette is lucky to have you, young man. Very lucky."
Chat squeezed her hand back. "I just… I need to show her, Marinette, that I'm good enough for her."
"What in the world would make you think you're not?"
Chat scrunched down a bit. "Because I've never been."
Sabine made a tisking noise, but Chat held up a hand. "Ma'am, I wasn't good enough for my father, ever. And, and I wasn't good enough for my mother to want to stay. And now Ladybug… I just can't lose Marinette, too. Whatever it is about me that makes people leave, I have to fight it this time. I just can't…"
Chat locked up as he abruptly started to cry. Sabine gently pulled him into her lap and held him as he did. She asked in her softest voice, "Is this why you kept trying to help me?"
Chat nodded against her.
Sabine rolled her eyes and sighed. "Now, you listen here, and you believe me when I talk to you. You're a good person. You always have been. And sometimes, even though it's not fair, good people get saddled with a lousy situation. You're not the cause of your parent's actions, and you're not the cause of my daughter leaving. She had something happen that, well, she needs to face you about it herself. And I know she wants to, but I know she's, well, she's scared to."
Chat sniffed and sat up. "Why would she be scared to?"
"Because it's, well, something that could change your dynamic, and she's terrified of that. She's terrified of losing you. And of course, in proper family fashion, she's gone about this in the most backwards way possible."
"So, it wasn't because of me?"
Sabine's mind raced. Technically, it was, but not in the way Adrien was thinking.
"It was, well, no direct and singular fault of yours, let's say. Now, you dry those eyes, mister. It's a lovely day, and I'm sure Marinette would just love to spend it with you."
"But she's working. I can't take her away and leave her father hanging. I…" Chat looked to Sabine. "Do you think they'd let me help out? At the bakery, I mean?"
Sabine blinked as a large smile grew on her face. "I think that would be a fantastic way to stay on her parent's good sides. Why don't you head over there and ask them? I can't imagine them saying no to you."
Chat grinned and got up to leave. "I'll do that. And, um, about, well, Ladybug? Please let her know that, that I'm here for her. That I'll always be here. No matter what."
"I will, but I promise you she already knows. Oh, and Chat Noir?"
"Yes?"
Sabine gave him the warmest smile she could. "Thank you. Thank you for the work you do. Thank you for keeping my little girl alive. She acts tough, but she'd be the first to admit that she needs you just as much as you need her. Ms. Cheng could not do better in having a future son-in-law."
Adrien went to speak, but couldn't. His face looked as if he were trying to keep back a flood of emotion that was threatening to push its way out. Finally he looked back to her and smiled.
"Thank you for that. Thank you so much."
"Now go woo your girl," Sabine said, trying to make light of things. "She's waiting on you. And be polite to her parents!"
Chat took out his staff to launch himself out of the park. Sabine smiled as she watched him go.
"Atta boy," Sabine said.
Notes:
This chapter had a lot. I edited a lot of it around and out, but... Woof. Lotta stuff here.
NEXT TIME!
That cameo that was promised happens! This, um, this chapter was long and I need a day buffer. Don't judge me.
Sabine learns a shocking secret!
Toddlers!
ALL! NEXT! CHAPTER!
Be here tomorrow, same Bug Time...
ADRIEN: I'd actually be fine with a hug, if that's okay?"
...Goddammit, Adrien. Way to kill the mood. Same Bug Channel, people.
