Author's Note: I began writing and uploading this story before the episode Gabriel Agreste came out; although there are some references to Season 4, what happened in Gabriel Agreste and any implications taken from it (and I'd imagine probably other episodes in season 4) didn't happen in this fic.
You're leaving?" Ladybug asked.
The shock in her voice surprised Chat Noir. For a moment, he mistook it as something else; worry, disappointment. But that wasn't it. She was just caught off guard. If the past few weeks taught him anything, it was that at the end of the day, Ladybug didn't need him.
"Just for a few weeks." Chat shrugged it off. The thought of leaving her, of not seeing her every day, made his heart sink. But she couldn't know that. His love for her did nothing but deepen the rift between them. Little by little his actions dug it deeper. Backing away from her was the only thing that stopped its growth.
"Where are you going? Is it far away?"
He'd love to tell her about his travels, but couldn't. She might realize everywhere he went was a stop on Gabriel Agreste's fashion tour. Or maybe she wouldn't. Chat had no idea if she cared about fashion or kept up with celebrities, or what she thought of Adrien Agreste. If she thought of him at all, outside of him being the only person to fail after she gave them a Miraculous.
I could never fall for someone I didn't really know. Alya's words echoed through his brain daily. When she had said them on her balcony, after Chat accused her of having a crush on him, he did not think much of it. He didn't know who Ladybug was under the mask, but he knew her. He loved her. Then came her secrets, her distrust, her leaving him behind. Chat began to think that Alya was right after all.
"I'm going to Iceland," he settled on.
Ladybug eyebrows were covered, but Chat could tell by the way the mask crinkled she furrowed them in confusion. "Iceland?"
"Yes. I have family there. There's kind of an emergency going on."
Ladybug put a hand on his shoulder. Despite everything, her touch still made his heart jump. "Is everything okay? Do you want to talk about it?"
He shrugged her hand off. "I'm fine. Just a lot going on." Chat fiddled with his ring for a moment. Part of him wanted to turn and leave now. Plagg was all he had now, but this was about more than him. "Do you want to take my Miraculous?"
"Your Miraculous? You're coming back, aren't you?"
"It'll be a while, and I won't be able to help you. You can give it to someone else."
"Don't be ridiculous, Chat, you're irreplaceable. I wouldn't want anyone else by my side."
She looked at him. The bluebell eyes he loved so much glistened under the stars. For a moment, it was like it had always been. Just them. You and me against the world, M'lady.
"Yeah, you say that."
"What does that mean?"
Chat stood from the edge of the building. "Nothing. I should go." He turned to leave.
"Chat," Ladybug called after him. "I don't know what's wrong, but you know I'm always here for you. Don't you?"
He looked over his shoulder. She was smiling at him. In the past that would have made him melt. "Yeah, sure."
It had been five weeks since Adrien last saw Ladybug, and it would be another few days before he could see her again. During the mind-numbing photoshoots or the repetitive interviews, his thoughts always wandered back to the last time he saw her. Her sad smile as he turned away. Guilt crept into his chest. They were partners, of course she was sad to see him leave.
But whenever the akuma or amok alerts went off on his phone, there she was, smiling into the camera after a victory. Sometimes alone, sometimes beside Rena Rouge or Carapace or whatever hero-of-the-day she had chosen. Everything was fine; the villain defeated, the miraculous ladybugs fixed everything. The lack of Chat Noir made no difference. Adrien put his phone away without even finishing the latest Ladyblog post about the giant sentimonster Ladybug and Viperion had taken down. I wouldn't want anyone else by my side.
"Don't you just love London, Adrien?" Lila said as she leaned across the middle seat toward him.
Adrien shrugged. "I guess. I prefer Paris."
"Oh, yes, Paris is better. But London has its charm too. I've been to London a few times myself to visit some family here. Did you know my great grandfather was classmates with the Queen?"
Lies again. Adrien had to admit, sometimes her stories could be entertaining, though he might just be starved of human contact. Still, her stories were absurd enough to be funny sometimes, especially when they weren't hurting anyone.
Gabriel sighed from the front seat, though it didn't stop Lila's tale. Adrien had realized at the beginning of the trip his father did not care for anything Lila had to say. Despite that, Father was always kind to her; quick to praise and reward. Very un-Gabriel Agreste things to do.
"What are we doing today, Father?"
Gabriel did not look up from his tablet. "I have some meetings to go to. Nothing that concerns the two of you."
"Oh." Adrien fell back into his seat and crossed his arms. "Guess that means we'll be stuck in some hotel room?" Adrien bit his lip at his own words. Father didn't like backtalk. It had been a long trip, and Adrien was tired of waiting around.
"No. I've arranged for the two of you to stay with your aunt for a couple of days." Gabriel watched Adrien from the mirror. "Unless that doesn't sound fun to you, either."
Adrien flinched at his father's words, but Gabriel did not say anything else. It had been a long trip for everyone. "No, that sounds nice. Is Felix going to be there?"
Gabriel's eyes left the mirror and turned back to the screen. "I'd imagine so. Is that going to be a problem?"
"Is that your cousin? Do the two of you not get along?" Lila asked.
"I don't know. When we were kids Felix and I used to be close. But the last time I saw him, things didn't go so well. But I think we left it on good terms, don't you think so, Father?"
"I think things will be interesting, to say the least."
"Adrien's in London!" Marinette exclaimed as she pushed her rolling chair away from her desk. The kwamis scattered around her room flew up in surprise and crowded behind her. Marinette had been reading the latest news about Gabriel Agreste's travels. On her screen was a picture of Adrien and his father walking off of a plane in London. "I have to get ready. If I leave now I can make it there around noon!" Marinette zipped around her room. She threw clothes from her drawers and dug through boxes for jewelry and perfume; the best of everything she could find.
"You're going all the way to London just to see Adrien?" Barkk asked.
"She went to China last time." Tikki shrugged.
Marinette opened the chest in her room. It was filled to the brim with gifts, all for Adrien. "I haven't seen Adrien in weeks! I'm sure he's been lonely, having no one to talk to but Lila. Ugh." She pulled out a package with a large bow. She knew exactly what was inside of it, a hand-knit sweater that would pair well with the scarf she had given him for his birthday months ago. "I'll have to find him another present for his thirty-fourth birthday, but this will be the perfect reunion gift for Adrien."
Tikki flew up beside her. "I'm sure he'll love it, Marinette."
"Ooh, let me see!" Mullo said as she grabbed hold of the green paper bunched at the corner of the box.
"No, me!" Pollen joined in at the other side.
Marinette tore it away from them and held it over her head as if that was out of their reach. "Sorry, I won't have time to rewrap it. Come on Tikki, we have to go."
Tikki nodded and dived into Marinette's purse.
"Oh please let us come with you Marinette!" Ziggy begged, "I just love romance!"
"Yeah, I want to go too!" Daizzi said.
"No, you all have to stay here. I'll be back soon."
The kwamis started to whine, but Marinette knew if she left they'd stay put. With a final wave, she left them through her trapped door.
The car pulled onto the side of a quiet street. A large brick house sat before them. It was not as grand as the Agreste mansion, but Adrien almost preferred it. Sometimes the mansion felt more like a museum than a house, filled with things he was not supposed to touch and rooms he hardly went into. But this was a home.
Amelie waited for them by the curb. She smiled as the car approached. For a second, Adrien felt a wave of sadness wash over him. Amelie was great, but she just looked so much like his mother it hurt to see her. Adrien tried to push that feeling away.
The car stopped. Gabriel turned to the Gorilla in the driver's seat. He wasn't needed, the car could drive itself. "You'll stay with them," Gabriel said.
The bodyguard nodded and got out of the car. A moment later, he opened the door on Lila's side.
Amelie ran to her. "Hello! You must be Lila, it's so nice to meet you!"
"Hold on for a second, Adrien." Gabriel ordered. "You can shut the door."
Gorilla did as he asked. Even with the door shut, Adrien could hear Amelie and Lila.
"I'm sorry if I sounded rude before, Father. Are you upset with me?"
"No, that's not what this is about." Gabriel turned as much as he could seat to face Adrien. Even after all these years, Adrien still could not read his father's face. He always looked upset. "There's something I wanted to give you."
Gabriel held out a silver ring to Adrien. Adrien recognized it instantly. One of his parents' wedding rings. As far as Adrien could remember the two of them wore the rings constantly. Adrien let his father drop it in his hand. His father wasn't wearing his own, but Adrien was sure the one he held was his mother's. He wasn't sure why he thought that, they looked the same. But somehow he just was sure it was hers.
"I think it's time you hold onto your mother's ring," Gabriel said. "It was important to the two of us, and her family. I've been thinking it's time for it to be passed to you."
Adrien wasn't sure what to say. He slipped his ring on his finger, the hand opposite from his Miraculous. Then he leaned forward and wrapped his arms around his father as best he could in the limited space of the car. Gabriel pulled away in surprise.
"Thank you, Father," Adrien said.
Gabriel nodded. "Of course. It's time for me to go. Be careful with that."
"I will, I promise," Adrien said as he climbed out of the car. Before he could shut the door, Amelie stuck her head in.
"You're not getting out, Gabriel?"
"No, I'm too busy. Take care of Adrien, I have to go."
Gorilla forced the door shut. He and Amelie backed away and watched as the car drove away.
Gorilla had taken their bags from the trunk. Lila had packed far too many. Both she and Gorilla had their hands full with them. Adrien carried his suitcase and duffel bag.
"Let's get inside, so you kids can put your stuff down," Amelie said as she led them toward the house. "Oh, there you are! I was wondering where you ran off to, Felix."
Felix stood on the steps. He said nothing but held open the door as they walked through. Lila smiled at him as she passed. Felix did not look at her or Adrien.
"You have such a lovely home!" Lila said once they were all inside.
"Thank you, sweetie. Let me take you to the guest room so you can put your stuff down. Felix, why don't you take Adrien to your room?"
Amelie showed Lila and the bodyguard down the hall. Felix was already halfway up the stairs when Adrien turned back around. Adrien quickly followed.
Felix's room was much smaller than Adrien's, but it was still plenty big for the two of them. There was a comfortable-looking couch where Adrien assumed he'd be sleeping. Everything was neat; his bed perfectly made, everything well-arranged on his desk and bookcase. It was almost too sterile, like a showroom no one lived in.
"You can just put your stuff anywhere," Felix said. He was still in the doorway.
Adrien looked around. He doubted Felix would be fine with him just dropping his bags with how neat everything was. "Are you sure? I can put them—"
"Whatever is fine. Make yourself comfortable." Felix turned to walk away.
"Wait," Adrien called. Felix stopped and looked back over his shoulder. "Is something wrong? You're not still mad I didn't go to your dad's funeral, are you?"
Felix rolled his eyes and disappeared down the hall. Adrien let him walk away this time. He dropped down onto Felix's bed.
Plagg flew out from Adrien's shirt. He stretched and yawned. "You know, all this traveling sure does make me hungry." Plagg spent most of the trip hidden away, but the few times they were alone, he always brought up food. Plagg had eaten his way through Adrien's camembert stash after the first week, and there was no chance to restock. Adrien was able to sneak him plenty of other food, but none of it was good enough.
"I don't know what to do. Felix is acting like he hates me."
"So? Who cares what that cheese squisher thinks of you?"
Adrien sighed and shook his head. "I know he acted like a jerk the last time I saw him, but Felix and I used to be close. He was my only friend besides Chloe. I was hoping we could be like that again."
Plagg was already digging through Adrien's bag, looking for some of the snacks they had hidden. "Who cares? You have plenty of friends without him."
"Do I? Because I haven't heard from any of them since I left." Adrien glanced at his phone again. There were no messages, just as he expected. Nino had tried to call him a few times in the beginning, but he gave up after Adrien missed too many. The others hadn't even tried.
"What about Marinette? She sent you that message after your last fashion show.
Adrien shrugged. He opened the message from Marinette. She'd sent him a few, each one after a fashion show. She watched them all online and was excited to talk about them. Her messages were not as long and babbling as she usually talked, but they were still sweet. It was nice to hear from her, but each message made him question more and more of their conversations in person. She was always nervous and as if she was in a rush to get away from him.
"Marinette is just interested in fashion, not me. I have no one. Ladybug doesn't even need me."
"Oh come on, now you're just talking nonsense. Besides, you've got me." Adrien smiled slightly at that.
"Thanks, Plagg. Come on, we should join everyone else. Maybe Amelie has some cheese I can steal for you."
"She better!" Plagg said as he disappeared into Adrien's shirt again.