Chapter Nine: What now?

~Marinette~

Marinette detransforms in the locker room. She looks around for Adrien, but doesn't find him. She sighs to herself before sitting down on a bench to wait. He said he would find her after the akuma. All she can do is wait for him.

Ten minutes pass before Adrien finally walks into the locker room. His hair is ruffled and his eyes are puffy.

Marinette rushes to him, "Adrien? Are you okay?" She checks him over, not noticing anything off, aside from his face and hair, "Did the akuma get you?"

Adrien shakes his head and gives her a strained smile, "I'm okay, Marinette. The akuma didn't get me. I just. I don't know. It doesn't matter." He says.

Marinette looks at him incredulously, "Of course it matters, Adrien. You look like you've been crying." She takes his hand in hers, "You can talk to me. I'm here for you." She watches him shy away before she sighs, "It's okay if you don't want to talk about it. You don't have to tell me, Adrien. I'm still here for you. Even if I don't know what's wrong. I'm still here."

Adrien looks up at her, tears reappearing in his eyes, he pulls her into a big hug and cradles his head on her shoulder, "Thank you, Princess." He breathes.

Marinette blushes, "P-princess?"

Adrien blushes too, but holds her tighter, "It suits you.." He mumbles.

Marinette smiles, "You know, you might be right. You're not the only one to call me that." She chuckles.

They let the conversation drop and simply hold each other. Neither one says a word.

Marinette's not sure how long they stay like that before the locker room doors open and Alya and Nino walk in.

"Sorry to interrupt, Lovebirds." Alya says as Adrien and Marinette separate, embarrassed.

"A-Alya!" Marinette exclaims.

"Dudes, you've missed most of the morning." Nino says.

Adrien shakes his head, "That's impossible, it's only 9…" He checks the time on his phone, "It's 11:30!" He exclaims.

Alya chuckles, "We assumed you two left after the akuma. Turns out you were too busy cuddling in here." She says suggestively.

Marinette groans, "We lost track of time."

Nino snickers and whispers, "For a fake couple, you two seem pretty real to me."

Marinette blushes and Adrien shushes his best friend.

Alya laughs, "Relax. Everyone went to lunch. We were just coming here to grab my phone charger out of my locker." She says as she moves to do exactly that, "We weren't expecting to run into you two."

Adrien gorans, "I'm sorry I made you miss class, Marinette."

"You didn't make me miss anything, Adrien. I chose to be here with you too." She responds.

Adrien smiles warmly at her.

"Get a room, you two." Nino and Alya say together.

Adrien clears his throat and turns back to their friends, "Are you two okay? The akuma got you both."

Alya shrugs, "I don't really remember. Just like with other akumas. I only have a vague feeling of annoyance towards Nino."

"That's why she needed her phone charger. She was recording the akuma before we got hit, so maybe we can see what we missed." Nino says with a shrug.

"Be careful," Marinette says, "The akuma was called Heartbreaker, and she caused you both to say some pretty nasty things to each other."

Alya smiles and hugs her boyfriend, "No worries, Marinette. Our love is stronger than that. No matter what we said to each other, it was the akumas power, not us."

Adrien smiles at them, "I'm sure you're right." He turns to Marinette, "Anyway, I think we need to go. We have a photoshoot to be at."

Marinette's eyes widen, "Oh my gosh! I completely forgot about the photoshoot!"

Adrien chuckles, "It's okay, Marinette. I forgot about it too until I noticed the time. Do you need to run by the bakery to pick up your sketchbooks? Maybe we can grab a few pastries for lunch too?"

Marinette nods her head, "That's a great idea!" She grabs his hand and hurries out the door, "Let's go! Bye Alya! Bye Nino!"

~Adrien~

Adrien watches as Marinette collects her sketchbooks and art supplies into a bag while he eats a croissant.

"You don't have to rush, Marinette." He says. "Why don't you eat something?"

Marinette turns to him, "But we have to go, don't we?"

Adrien rubs the back of his neck, "Actually, the photoshoot isn't for another 2 hours."

Marinette drops her bag of art supplies, "What? But you said we needed to go!"

"Nathalie was going to check us out of school an hour early. We still have about 2 hours before that." He rubs his neck again, "I just didn't want to go back to class. I didn't want to face everyone." He looks away.

"Oh Adrien." Marinette says as she gets on her knees in front of him and takes his hands in hers, "I don't know what's bothering you, but if you need peace and quiet, I'm happy to help you." She looks towards her balcony, "You can sit on my balcony, or in here. I promise I won't bother you."

Adrien shakes his head and squeezes her hand, "I'd rather you stay with me, Marinette. I don't really want to be alone. I just. Need some time away from everyone else. Before we have to model for my father." He tries not to put too much venom into the word father, but some seeps in.

Marinette doesn't seem to notice, "Okay. We can stay here. I'll let my parents know."

Adrien stops her from getting up, "Wait. What if they say no?"

Marinette smiles, "I'll tell them you're giving me modeling lessons for the photoshoot and that we needed to get away from all the drama at school after the akuma. They'll understand."

"Okay." Adrien concedes and watches as Marinette exits her room.

Plagg flies in front of him, "Are you okay, Kid?"

Adrien sighs and places his head in his hands, "I don't know, Plagg. Do you think Ladybug's right? Is my father Hawkmoth?"

Plagg looks at his holder closely, "It does make sense, Kid. He fits the profile."

Adrien sighs, "What am I going to do? If he is Hawkmoth, what will Ladybug think of me? I'm his son, Plagg. I care about him. I don't want him to get hurt or to end up in prison…" He pauses, "What will Marinette think of me?"

"Kid, they won't think of you any differently. Ladybug doesn't know that you're Cat Noir. She won't know that you're his son unless she learns your identity. And Pigtails… Well, she won't abandon you. She'll stay by your side through it all." Plagg consoles.

Adrien shakes his head, "But what if she doesn't? What if she hates me because of him? What if she leaves me?" He chokes.

Plagg places his paw on Adrien's hand and places his forehead on his, "She won't leave you, Kid. Besides… This relationship isn't real."

Adrien winces, "R-right… It's not real."

Plagg shakes his head, "But you want it to be?"

Adrien turns away from his kwami and watches the trapdoor that Marinette left through, "I don't know, Plagg. I still love Ladybug. I love her so much that it hurts… But Marinette is special. She's kind and caring, and I feel so alive and so happy when I'm with her…" His smile falls, "But none of that matters. Neither one will want to be with Hawkmoth's son. They don't want to be with me even before knowing about my father."

Plagg rolls his eyes, "Just because ladybug has turned you down, doesn't mean that Marinette will too. You haven't even tried to be with her for real. And I already told you. Neither of them will hold your fathers actions against you. They care about you too much for that."

Adrien sighs and continues to watch the trap door. He doesn't respond to Plagg. He has to think about what his kwami said. Would Marinette really be with him for real if he asked? But he loves Ladybug. How could he be with Marinette when he's fully in love with another girl? But Ladybug doesn't love him and Marinette could. And Marinette is amazing and he cares for her so much. Could he love them both? It's all too confusing. And none of it will matter if his father is Hawkmoth. No matter what Plagg says, he can't see anyone accepting him as Hawkmoth's son. Because he wouldn't give up on his father. He would fight him, stop him, take his miraculous, but he wouldn't abandon him. He wouldn't stop caring for him. And how could someone care for a terrorist? After all the things he has done. How could anyone accept that?

Hawkmoth or not, he's still his father, and through all the good and the bad, he can't help but love him. Maybe things will be different. Maybe he can stop his father without his identity being revealed. Maybe they can live in peace if Hawkmoth would just give up on making the wish. Ladybug would know, but maybe she'll accept that solution. Maybe she'll help him keep their identities a secret, and maybe then, Marinette wouldn't find out. She wouldn't abandon him for it. But if he loves her. If she loves him. Would it really be okay to omit that truth from her? To hide a part of himself from her? Would she truly accept him as Hawkmoth's son? As Cat Noir? Would she accept every part of him? The good and the bad? Would Ladybug?

Adrien groans. There's too much to think about. Thankfully, Marinette returns to her room and distracts him from any more thoughts on the subject. Marinette is here. This is real. Nothing else matters. He can focus on her and everything will be okay.

He smiles warmly at her as she relays what her parents said. Everything will be okay. Plagg is right. This sweet, amazing, and kind girl would never abandon him. And if she did, he wouldn't survive it. So there's only one question left, what now?

A/N - I've made Plagg really wise in this Fanfiction. He's not usually the voice of reason, but I think that Adrien truly needs him to be in this situation. He needs the reassurances and the support. I hope you enjoy this chapter!