Days before the move…
Ladybug and Chat Noir sat together, hand in hand, on the edge of one of their favourite rooftops. The moon was high and illuminating the street below, full of tourists and busy shoppers on this balmy summer night. It should have been perfect, romantic even, but where the clouds were absent in the sky they hung heavy over Ladybug's heart.
She had been dreading her 18th birthday because it meant that moments like this would have to come to an end because she would need to focus her attention, and somehow her love, on the person who was her soulmate… and that person was not the one sitting beside her.
On your 18th birthday, the name of your soulmate appears on your arm. It didn't happen to everyone, but for those it did it meant you would get to share your life with a partner the universe had selected just for you. It was something many young Parisians dreamed of. Marinette had hoped that hers would say Chat Noir, but that hope had been dashed six months earlier when Chat told her he had a soulmate… and it wasn't her. Her devastation was compounded when she found out that her soulmate was none other than Adrien Agreste, a boy she hadn't really seen since in the last three years, and one she had hoped never to see again. Honestly, Ladybug didn't know how she was going to do this. If only it could have been Chat and not Adrien.
How ironic it all was! When Marinette was younger she would dare say she was infatuated with Adrien. He was the son of her favorite designer who later became a teen heartthrob as a model. She was sure many girls in Paris would have given their right hand to be Adrien's soulmate, but Marinette wasn't interested.
She still remembered the first day that he came to school at Françoise DuPont when he put a piece of gum on her seat like the self entitled rich brat he clearly was, just like his friend Chloé Bourgeois. She kept a pretty wide berth of him after that, even when their best friends started dating. It was a relief to Marinette when Adrien's father decided to send him to an elite boys school for Lycèe. How Nino ever stayed friends with him she never understood, but wherever Adrien was, she wouldn't be and she was sure the feeling was mutual since Adrien had made no attempt to contact her after finding out.
Ladybug looked up at Chat's profile. His slightly longer hair swept back in a small ponytail and his chiseled features glowing in the moonlight. He had only grown more handsome over the years and she would have done anything to have had her dear, sweet Kitty as her soulmate instead. He knew her and understood her like few people did. It seemed so cruel that her partner, the person she trusted most in the world, wasn't the one she was meant to be with forever. Out of all of Paris, how was it that they were chosen to hold these Miraculous, invariably entwined together as Yin and Yang, and yet not be soulmates. It defied explanation.
Ladybug rested her head on Chat's shoulder and let out a sigh. She felt him squeezing her hand a little tighter. "I know how you feel, Bug. I have to move in with my soulmate soon too and I'm really nervous about it because I think she hates me." He said, looking out towards the Eiffel Tower on the horizon. Ladybug patted his hand.
"I doubt it, Chat. I don't any girl could hate you"
"This one does." He said emphatically. "There was a misunderstanding some years ago that she never forgave me for. I haven't seen her in years, but I heard through friends she's pretty upset about it all. I guess I can't really blame her. I wish things were different." Chat brought his hand up to her chin, tilting her sad eyes towards his. "I had hoped it would have been you."
For a long time now he had daydreamed of Ladybug being not just his Miraculous partner, but his life partner too. He had never acted upon those feelings because they knew that there was a chance that they could be bound to other people. It was made all the more harder for him to find out his soulmate was actually a girl he used to know named Marinette Dupain-Cheng.
Adrien had already had six months to get used to the idea. If he was being honest, at first he wasn't all that upset to find out Marinette was his soulmate. He had hoped it would be his Lady of course, but out of any of the girls it could have been it definitely could have been worse. It could have been Chloé!
Adrien considered trying to reach out and talk to Marinette, but that changed though when he talked to Nino who was soulmates with Marinette's best friend. It appeared Marinette had the same opinion of him now that she did back in Collége and he didn't know what to do about it. Now the day they had to face was almost here and it just made him wish for Ladybug even more.
Ladybug took his hand from her face and turned her head away from him. "We can't say things like that to each other, Chaton. We are bound to other people, and we have to accept the fate that has been handed to us. We can't… we can't think of what might have been."
Ladybug stood up and walked to the far end of the rooftop. Chat stood too, watching her carefully from behind. "M'lady…"
"Are we hanging onto each other out of love, Chat? Or because deep down we are afraid of rejection because we don't have a choice in this." She said, trying to sound commanding. Chat knew her better than that though and could hear the waver in her voice. She was keeping her back to him so he wouldn't see the tears in her eyes. "You know that at the end of the 12 months at the Soul Club you aren't bound to stay together. The bond can be broken, but broken soulmates become lost and lonely. Maybe it's easier to love someone behind a mask, because we can still protect ourselves from hurt. Without it, we are just our vulnerable selves with someone who doesn't really want us."
Chat walked over to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "I guess there might be some truth in that." He sighed, his voice pained. "I just don't know how to do this, how to be with someone who doesn't seem to want to be with me."
"Just take it one day at a time." She said serenely, looking up at the full moon above them. "Fate has played its hand and we can either crumple and wallow in self pity, or accept it and try to move forward."
Turning to him, she gently cupped her hand around his cheek. "Knowing you is the greatest joy of my life, mon Chaton, and even though we can't ever be together the way we might have once hoped, I'll always treasure our friendship."
"M'lady…" Chat said, almost in a whisper.
"I'm going to try and give him a chance." She said with conviction, taking her hand from his face and holding his hand instead. "I don't know how, but I have to try. I had always hoped that I would find true love, like my parents did, but even if we never fall in love with each other, I hope he and I can at least be friends, and you should do the same for your soulmate too. For all you know, she might be nursing a broken heart too and is feeling just as lonely about this."
"What should I do?" He asked her. "How can I prove that I'm not the person she thinks I am?"
Ladybug thought for a moment. "Just be your wonderful self, Chaton. Show her the real you and that you understand this is hard for her and treat her with kindness and respect. Give her time. I know my soulmate will need to do the same for me."
Chat suddenly felt a pang of guilt. When he had heard how upset Marinette was about being his soulmate he assumed that she must have still held a grudge. So he had kept his distance from her, not wanting to upset her more than she already was. Thinking about it now though, maybe that had been the wrong way to go about it. It hadn't occurred to him that maybe Marinette was feeling the same way he did.
Chat gently brushed the hair from Ladybug's forehead and tucked a stray back behind her ear. "I'll miss moments like this." He said, smiling sadly. "I don't have many people I'm close to in my life, but you have always been the most important one in it."
Chat leaned his head down and kissed her softly on the forehead. Ladybug closed her eyes and leaned into his touch before wrapping her arms around him, the two of them relishing in this last moment before both their lives would change.
~~~~~
Moving in…
Marinette stood out the front of the Soul Club, one hand gripped to her signed forms and the other tightening on her suitcase handle. She was already running late, but her nerves were fixing her almost to the spot where she stood as she looked up at the 20 floors above her. This was it, this was going to be home for the next 12 months with Adrien Agreste as her reluctant roommate and she didn't feel ready.
It was hard saying goodbye to her parents and childhood home. She knew she would miss waking up to the smell of fresh bread, but her parents had been so happy for her that she didn't want to disappoint them. They remembered Adrien, and still saw him occasionally in the bakery. They had found him to be sweet and polite, not to mention handsome, and he often made her father laugh with his lame puns. He was everything a parent could ask for their daughter. Plus they themselves had been soulmates, so they were expecting nothing less than wedding bells in 12 months time. Of course, they knew nothing of her secret superhero life and the partner she had been so close to for so long. Marinette let out a heavy sigh. There was no point saying anything and disappointing them. This was her reality, and the sooner she faced it the better.
"Hey there girl, you finally made it." Marinette turned just as her best friend wrapped her into a bone crushing hug. "We were starting to wonder if you got lost or something. Here, let me show you in."
Marinette was grateful her best friend Alya was there. She had been living with her soulmate, Nino, for three months already. She was so lucky that the boy she loved turned out to be her soulmate.
Alya took Marinette over to the front reception counter where Marinette handed over her paperwork. The receptionist typed up her details into the computer before looking over her glasses at Marinette.
"Mr Agreste has already registered. I'll send him a text to come to reception. If you want to take a seat."
The receptionist indicated some lounge chairs in the lobby and Marinette and Alya sat down. Alya reached over and grabbed Marinette's hand excitedly. "Don't be so nervous girl. This place is really awesome and I know you will love it here. Adrien's been hanging out with Nino in our apartment this morning and we've been having a good chat. Honestly he looks about as nervous as you are. It's not like Adrien is a stranger to you. I mean you used to have a crush on him once right?"
"Don't remind me." Marinette groaned. "It was nothing more than a silly school girl crush like all the other girls had. I learned the difference when he showed his true colours." Marinette folded her arms and Alya shook her head.
"You're not still holding that gum thing against him are you? Girl that was years ago! I think Adrien's a little different from that now. Maybe you should talk to him before making such a quick judgment."
Marinette slumped forward. "Well it's not like he made any attempt to contact me, is it? Clearly he had better things to do than get acquainted with his new soulmate. Whenever he comes to the bakery, he avoids me and remember Alix's birthday party? He practically hid from me all night."
Alya raised an eyebrow at her. "The way you glared at him I would have hid too. Did you make an attempt to contact him at all?"
Marinette turned her nose in the air and frowned. "That's not the point." She pouted. "I was busy as you well know. Which reminds me, how am I supposed to sneak out as you know who with him in the apartment?
"Don't worry about it girl, I've got you covered." Alya winked, giving her a shoulder bump. "If you ever get into a jam, you just flick me a text and I'll bail you out. Our apartment is just below yours."
That was another reason Marinette was grateful Alya was there. She was the only person who knew Marinette was Ladybug, and her feelings for Chat Noir. Things were complicated enough as it was and it was good to know that someone had her back.
Behind them the elevator dinged and Nino stepped out with Adrien a few paces behind. "Yo Dudettes." Nino called out with a wave. "Welcome to the Club, Mari." Nino took off his cap and kissed Marinette on each cheek before slinging an arm around Adrien's shoulders. "You remember my best bro right? He was at Alix's party last month."
Marinette looked from Nino to Adrien and the blond gave her an unsure smile saying "hi". Marinette didn't expect that. In her mind she had envisioned someone more stiff and dare she say it, up themselves. From what she saw at Alix's party, Adrien had been the center of attention, more than the birthday girl. Wasn't that what he liked? She also hadn't expected how much more handsome Adrien had grown in the last 3 years. Sure she had seen him in tv and magazines, but he was far more impressive in person. Was she staring? She should not be staring.
"Um… How are you, Marinette?" He ventured when Marinette hadn't responded to his greeting. For a moment it looked like Adrien might try to kiss her cheek, so Marinette took stock of herself and held out her hand to him.
"Hi Adrien, it's nice to see you again, sorry I'm running late." She said in a very formal way. Adrien took her hand and shook it thoughtfully.
"It's no bother, really." He replied. "I was just catching up with Nino here. If you'll just give me a minute I'll grab the keys from reception for our apartment."
Marinette looked at him with surprise. "You haven't been up there yet?"
Adrien shook his head. "No, I thought I would wait for you and we could see it for the first time together. Is that alright? I did have my bag sent up already and I…"
"No it's fine." Marinette interrupted, waving her hands around. "It's um… it was really considerate of you, to wait for me that is. I mean you didn't have to wait but you did and you're nice… I mean you're being very nice… to me." Marinette gave him a too wide grin and felt like her face was heating up. Why he being nice? And why was she liking it? This is Adrien "brat who put gum on my seat" Agreste. He absolutely should not be making her feel flustered. Maybe this was all just part of an act for Nino and Alya's benifit. Yes, that must be it.
Adrien nodded and as he and Nino left to go to reception Marinette had to bite her tongue at Alya who elbowed her in the ribs. "Not so bad right?" The apprentice reporter chuckled with a wink. Marinette gave her a flat look. "Oh come on Mari, you could do worse than a model. I mean you are a designer after all, and his dad is one of the best designers in Paris. I think fate knew what it was doing when it made you two soulmates."
Marinette rolled her eyes. "Yeah, whatever. Right now I just want to get up to the apartment and shut the door to my own room and have some personal space."
Alya raised an eyebrow at her. "Didn't you read the brochure?"
"No, why?" Marinette replied, but before Alya could answer Adrien and Nino returned back.
"Babe, Adrien invited us up for a drink if you…"
"Oh, that's really nice of you Adrien." Alya jumped in with an awkward grin. "But we can't at the moment, remember Nino we have that thing to go to." She was giving Nino a pointed look, but the DJ just looked confused, lifting his cap to scratch the top of his head.
"The thing? What thing?"
Alya was giving him dagger eyes. "You know, the thing." Her teeth were practically gritted, moving her eyes between Marinette and Adrien. For their part they had zero idea what was going on.
"Are you sure Alya?" Marinette asked, almost pleadingly. "It would be nice if you could stay for a while." Anything to delay the inevitable of being along with Adrien..
Finally the penny dropped for Nino on what his girl was trying to tell him. "Oh, that thing." Nino said, trying to smile and looking totally fake. "Sorry man, we'll have to take a rain check on that drink. Maybe another time."
After saying goodbye to their friends, who were acting far more weird than usual, Adrien offered to take Marinette's bag before heading for the lift. An uncomfortable silence fell between them as they waited. "Um… so…" Marinette mumbled. "What level are we on?"
"Top one, level 20." Adrien replied.
"Right, penthouse. Should have known." Marinette internally cringed at how sarcastic that came out. She chanced a side eye at Adrien who actually looked hurt by it.
"I didn't pull the - don't you know who I am - card if that's what you're thinking." He responded, feeling quite indigent at the insinuation. "I asked for one of the balcony rooms and that was the only one currently available. I thought it would be nice to be able to get some fresh air. It can get a little claustrophobic otherwise with no open windows in a small apartment."
Awkward tension filled the air and Adrien was grateful when the lift doors opened and they could go in. Of course he couldn't tell Marinette the real reason he asked for a balcony was because it gave him easier access to get away as Chat Noir, but he didn't mind the fresh air aspect either.
"Do you get claustrophobic?" Marinette asked, her voice a lot more gentle than before. Adrien looked a little embarrassed.
"Sometimes." He admitted. "I don't like being closed in.
I didn't get to leave the house much growing up and it can make me anxious sometimes."
Marinette played with her fingers as the elevator doors shut and they began to move up. "So… are you okay using a lift?"
Adrien looked at her a little surprised. He wasn't sure though whether she was being genuine or just morbidly curious. "It's fine. As long as we don't get stuck then I'm fine." He replied in a matter of fact way.
"That's good then." She said, sounding awkward. Adrien noticed Marinette still wasn't really looking at him and they fell into silence. Adrien gripped his hand on her suitcase. This was going to be a long 12 months.
When the lift doors opened Marinette followed him silently to the end of the corridor. She felt bad for jumping to conclusions like that, assuming Adrien was using his status just to show off or get privileges. Unlocking the door, Adrien held it open for her and she walked through into the lounge room. There was a three seater couch and two arm chairs with a decent sized tv. The kitchen wasn't very big at all, but had all the essentials with modern appliances. Marinette saw the sliding glass door and walked out onto the small balcony.
There was a lovely view of the Parisian skyline, and being on the top floor meant less chance of anyone seeing her leaving from there. It was a bonus knowing Alya's apartment was the one directly below them. Turning her head to the end of the balcony there was a stand with three new floral pots sitting on them.
"I remembered Alya mentioned you had a balcony with a garden at your parent's place."
Marinette turned and saw Adrien leaning against the doorway. "It's not much, but thought maybe you might like having a little flower garden out here. I wasn't sure what flowers you liked so I got some yellow roses, pear blossoms and pink orchids. I hope they are okay, but if you want something different, just let me know and I'll get you something else."
Marinette couldn't help but be touched by the gesture. Not only had Adrien bought flower pots so she could have a new garden, but he had bought flowers that represented friendship. In his own way he was trying to say he wanted them to be friends.
"They're beautiful." She said with a genuine smile. She then looked away from him, resting her hands on the railing. "You've been so considerate Adrien. I… I didn't expect it.."
Adrien looked a little bashful. "You were expecting someone more up themselves?" He asked, leaning on the rail next to her. "Look, I know you were upset that I was your soulmate, and I guess you've read a lot of stuff that's been said about me in the media, but that's not the real me. My father has created an image he thinks works for him, not one that I want to be seen as."
Marinette looked back at the flowers on the stand. The image she had always held of Adrien, and the man she was talking to now seemed like two different people. "But the gum on my seat at school? You're Chloé's friend, how can…"
"I was only trying to take the gum off your seat." Adrien interjected. "It was Chloé who pulled that prank, not me. I tried to explain that to you at the time, but you shut me down pretty convincingly. Then Ms Bustier gave me detention and my father threatened to take me out of school if I messed up again."
Marinette looked at him with wide eyes. Adrien had his own eyes fixed on the ground, like the whole memory was too painful for him. "I wanted to stay in school, you don't know how badly I wanted to stay." He continued. "My mother had just died, and I was really lonely. I couldn't throw Chloé under the bus, she was like my only friend, so I just sucked up my punishment and tried to stay out of your way. I'm sorry you got stuck with me Marinette. I'm sure you would have preferred anyone else."
Marinette could feel a knot twisting in her gut. She had been so quick to assume that just because Adrien was rich and famous that he was exactly what she had constructed in her mind. This Adrien though, with sad eyes that he hadn't made friends with a girl he had just met, was nothing like she had taken him for all those years ago.
"Adrien, I feel like I should be the one apologising." She said, shaking her head. "Things were a little overwhelming for me back then, and I'd spent several years being bullied by Chloé. I just assumed the worst about you rather than listening to you. I'm sorry."
"It's not all your fault Marinette." He quietly. "We can't change what's past, but we could always start again."
Marinette finally met Adrien's eyes and was taken aback by the sadness she found in them. "I told myself I would give this… us, a chance and I was the one being rude. I wasn't upset at you really, I was just upset because…" She wrapped her arms around herself and closed her eyes. "It's because I was hoping someone else was my soulmate. I know from when we are young we are told not to form close attachments with anyone, to wait to see if we have a soulmate, but things don't always work out the way you think."
Adrien let out a long breath. It was just as Ladybug had thought, Marinette was hoping for someone else. "I understand Marinette. I had the same thing happen to me."
Marinette turned her head to him, tears brimming in her eyes. "You… you had someone you loved? Is that why you were avoiding me?"
"I do… did have someone I cared very much about, but I wasn't trying to avoid you because of that. I just didn't want to make you more uncomfortable than you already seemed."
At that a tear slipped from her eye and Adrien watched as it rolled down her cheek. Maybe he had misread her too. She always seemed to be so popular and well liked. Not because she was a celebrity, but because people genuinely liked her. But he had never seen her be vulnerable before like she was right now.
At the sight of her tears, Adrien approached her, still unsure of how close she was comfortable with him coming to her. Tentatively he reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's alright Marinette. There's no pressure here. It will take time for both of us to get used to this, but we can just take it a day at a time. I'm happy for you to have the bedroom though so you can have some space and I'll sleep on the couch."
Marinette suddenly stopped crying and looked up at him confused. "What do you mean? Why would you have to sleep on the couch?"
A moment of realisation flitted across Adrien's face. "You didn't read the brochure did you?"
Marinette frowned slightly in confusion. Alya had said that too. Truth was she was so upset and annoyed about the whole thing, she never bothered to read the brochure. Adrien indicated for Marinette to follow him and they walked back into the apartment. Adrien opened another door to reveal a very spacious bedroom with one king size bed in it.
"You mean there's only one bed?" Marinette gasped, her cheeks turning pink. "We're supposed to share?"
"Yeah." Adrien agreed. "It was in the brochure. Every apartment only has one bed in it, but like I said, you can have the bed."
Marinette looked up and down Adrien's 6ft frame then looked past him to the couch out in the lounge room. He wouldn't fit now and the boy was still going to keep growing.
"I can't let you do that. You'll fall off. Maybe I should sleep out on the couch."
"No it's fine, really." Adrien insisted. "I get up really early in the mornings to go to my father's office or photoshoots and you're studying at ESMOD right? This way I won't be disturbing you."
Marinette felt a little overwhelmed. Adrien really was a gentleman who had been going out of his way to make sure she was comfortable. Now she started to remember why she used to have a crush on him. No… wait…
"Thank you." She said quietly, playing with the ends of her ponytail. "Thank you for understanding."
"It's fine." He replied, giving her a reassuring smile. "I'll go out and get myself some dinner and let you settle in."
He went to leave when Marientte grabbed his arm. He stopped and looked back at her looking up at him. For the first time Marinette really looked at Adrien and she could see behind that strong facade he seemed to have had, there was a loneliness behind those emerald eyes, like he was used to being alone.
"Let me cook something for you. It's the least I can do after all the considerations you have made for me."
"You don't have to do that." Adrien said. "I wouldn't want to put you out."
Marinette waved his concern off. "It's no trouble. I've got to cook myself dinner anyway. Let me see what the place came stocked with."
Adrien followed Marinette out to the kitchen where she opened the fridge and the cupboards. The apartment came fully stocked for the first week, a gift of sorts for new soulmates moving in. "How does a chicken curry sound?" She asked him.
"That sounds amazing." Adrien admitted. "I've never cooked a home meal before."
Marientte almost dropped the packet of rice she had picked up. "Never? As in never ever?"
Adrien rubbed the back of his neck again. Marinette hadn't realised he'd had a nervous tick like that before. He always seemed so confident in interviews. It was kind of endearing really, and it reminded her a bit of Chat.
"After my mother died my father was too busy for that sort of thing. We had a chef most of the time for dinner. Usually I just ate in my room or with my father's assistant at the table."
Marinette was starting to see a different side to Adrien, one that the public had no idea about. She wasn't even sure Nino knew how bad things had been, at least he had never said, and she was right about him being lonely. Now she understood why he wanted so much to be friends, because he was already lonely enough. Marinette was his soulmate, and having a soulmate ment you should never feel alone. She softened her face into a smile. "Well then, I think it's time you learned. Come over here and get down that pot for me."
Over dinner the two chatted and began to open up more, finding things they had in common like playing video games. Aside from Nino, Adrien had lost touch with most all of the people he knew from François DuPont, but he was happy to learn some of them were in the same Soul Club building they were in and he hoped to get reacquainted with them.
When it came time for bed, Adrien wished Marinette a pleasant sleep and they parted ways for the night. Tikki however was giving Marinette a disapproving look as she brushed her teeth. While Marinette hadn't read the brochure, her Kwami had and she pointed out it explicitly stated soulmates must share their sleeping quarters in order to be more vulnerable with each other and strengthen their bond.
"I get that, Tikki. I'm just not ready yet, that's all." She said, rinsing her mouth out and drying her face. "I've just realised how wrong I was about Adrien, and I need some time to figure out how I feel about that."
Meanwhile, out in the lounge room, Adrien shifted around trying to get comfortable on the couch. After he had fluffed his pillows for the third time, Plagg came over and sat on his chest.
"You know what they said in the brochure kid. Sleeping apart is against the rules."
"Thanks for pointing out the obvious." Adrien grumbled. "It's fine, really. You saw how Marinette reacted at the idea of sharing the bed and I can't blame her. She's in love with someone else the same way I loved Ladybug. I've had time to get used to the fact that things have changed, but this is still new to Marinette."
"And what about you? You can't sleep properly like this and you have an early photoshoot in the morning."
Adrien shrugged. "It's nothing some concealer can't handle. I'm used to that. Besides, I want Marinette to feel comfortable around me, and if that means giving her some space, then that is what I need to do."
