Ladybug stood on her railing and looked towards the Eiffel Tower. And just as it had been in Nino's picture, it stood before her. A proud symbol of France, and glowing bright green. She wasn't sure how Chat Noir was able to change the color of the Eiffel Tower, but he always managed to do so. Her heart fluttered. It had been a long time since he'd called to her this way. It had all started after a particularly nasty akuma had broken down all communication for the city. It had been dark, and they had a plan, but no way for Ladybug to know when Chat Noir was in position. He told her not to worry. He would figure something out. And then a few minutes later, the lights of the Eiffel Tower blinked on and off for a few seconds. They defeated the akuma, and established an emergency line of contact.
The next time it happened, they had been swarmed by the press and video cameras alike. If they ran together they weren't quite fast enough, and they stood out too much. The only choice was do drop transformations and run away. But Ladybug was so adamant that they not know their secret identities, that they had to split up. Later that night when she was standing on her balcony, wishing desperately that she could talk to Chat Noir about their plans, the Eiffel Tower slowly shifted between white and green. It was no longer just for emergencies.
After that it had become his calling card. She made him promise not to use it too often, or the press and La Papillon would catch on. But, whenever the Eiffel Tower was lit up only green, it was him. Looking back, he probably did it too many times, and if anyone was really looking, they would have figured them out. But, there were nights when she and Chat Noir had spent hours talking and laughing and patrolling the city. And she had promised to always come when called.
She wasn't sure why he wanted to see her this time, but she couldn't find it in herself to complain. They hadn't seen much of each other since their return to fame. Or really at all since she gave up the superhero life seven years ago. She grabbed the yo-yo from her waist and took off to the tower.
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Chat Noir sat on a ledge inside the Eiffel Tower. It was high up enough that he couldn't be seen from below, but he had a nice view of the ground below. He had found a place tucked safely between two beams, where the decorative lights didn't shine too brightly in his sensitive eyes, but where the stars could still see him. He had missed the stars of Paris. He had spent to many years traveling from place to place, that he took for granted how much he loved this city.
He was starting to get worried, he had been here for almost half an hour, and still no sign of his Lady. Maybe she didn't live close anymore. Or perhaps she had been taken or had run into trouble. There was always the possibility that she was no longer interested in seeing him, or having him be her partner. If the incident with Fashion Disaster was any indication, she was much better off on her own. He sighed, but they had been so close when they were younger. He had been hoping to cling a tiny bit to that kinship. He was hopeful that she would come to him tonight, and at least tell him she didn't need him in person. Maybe she was just waiting for him somewhere else on the tower, even though this was their spot. He was about to stand up and jump from the tower to go looking for her when he heard her sweet voice call up to him.
"The stars sure are lovely tonight." Her voice chimed.
He beamed and leaned over the edge of his perch, "There are legends about the stars, you know. Legend says they watch the earth, and bless young lovers who meet beneath their gaze."
Ladybug smiled, and tossed her yo-yo. The red and spotted toy looped around a bar near him and the string pulled tight. Chat Noir watched with eager eyes as Ladybug appeared over the edge. She smiled sweetly at him, with just a touch of sass at the corners of her lips. Her blue eyes sparkled and he thought he might just die right there. No need to go back to his apartment. And forget his hopes of attending Police Training on Monday. He could die happy now that he'd merely seen her. He smiled bashfully away from her for a moment, he was hopelessly in love with her.
She touched down, and the yo-yo retracted quickly to her waist. She sat down, "Good Evening, Chat Noir. Your made up fairy tale about the stars is just as romantic as it was when we were kids." She shot him a playful look.
Ladybug watched as a million stupid and useless things tried to escape from his mouth. She frowned a little. He cleared his throat quietly, "Good evening, my Lady."
She smirked, "What? No comment about my disliking your romantic ideas?"
He frowned, "You would have just shot me down anyway." He let out a breath, "And you've already shot me through the heart, so no need for that." He flicked his green eyes to meet hers with a playful grin.
Ladybug rolled her eyes, "Whatever girl ends up with you Chat Noir, is going to have to live with your puns and your bad jokes for the rest of her life, and I pity her."
"They haven't driven you away yet." He raised his eyebrows, suggestively.
She laughed lightly, "I guess that's true. I may find myself in a bit of trouble then." She smiled at him, attempting to flirt back. But after a moment, her smile faded and she sighed, "I should be honest with you, Kitty-cat. I-" she choked a little, "My heart is, not really up for falling in love right now." She looked away, "So while I really appreciate how nice and sweet you are, it's probably even less realistic that I will love you the same way you claim to love me now than it was when we were kids."
Chat Noir frowned, "My Lady if someone …"
She put up her hands, "No, no. I," she shrugged, "I brought it upon myself I guess."
Chat Noir frowned deeper.
She sighed, "But don't you worry about it, my green-eyed friend, I will be okay."
"You'd probably be better if you let a real man take care of you." He huffed.
She pushed him lightly, "Chat Noir."
"I'm a man. And I'm a good guy. But not good enough for you to love," he put his arm over his forehead, "My heart is shattered. I shall never love again." He cracked an eye and looked at her. He couldn't help but smile.
She was looking at him like she always did. With enough love and friendship that he almost didn't even feel worthy to be sitting next to her. Like the light of goodness that came from her might shine so bright that he would burn away. At the same time, she threatened to reach over and push him from this ledge at any second if he pushed her too far. She would only tolerate his nonsense to a point. He knew the danger was there, but he couldn't stop himself.
"You'll be fine. Don't cats have nine lives?" She teased.
"I still have all nine of them left, and I shall love you more in each one." He gushed.
She relaxed, leaned back on the cold metal, and expertly diverted the conversation to another topic, "Enough about me. I may end up telling you all of my secrets if we keep this up." She held up her hands, gesturing to the brightly flickering green lights, "What's this about? What's up?"
Chat Noir got serious, "I know I joke a lot, and you might think I'm annoying, but I need you to know that I'm always here for you. It doesn't matter how far or what the danger, I'm here. I will be there."
Ladybug looked at her feet, and after a moment of silence she looked back at him. He was almost angry with her. She sighed, "This is about Fashion Disaster isn't it?"
Chat Noir frowned, "You fought her all by yourself. I didn't even know there was an akuma or that I should have been with you until I saw the news broadcast this afternoon. You could have been hurt, you could have been stranded! And what if your transformation had dropped, you could have been seen." He stopped before his worries got the better of him.
Ladybug sighed, "I'm sorry, Kitty-cat, I wasn't thinking clearly. I was on the phone with an old friend was she was attacked by the akuma. I can only feel lucky that I was able to save her. If she hadn't called me, I wouldn't have known there was an akuma either." She looked at him, "It had nothing to do with not needing you, and everything to do with saving a friend in trouble. I'm lucky I was able to defeat her alone."
Chat Noir huffed, "That doesn't change the fact that you still fought her alone. I don't feel comfortable letting you sprout wings and fly off whenever you think you need to fight the forces of evil all alone." He narrowed his eyes at her.
He watched as a pink tint sneaked out from behind her mask. She touched the fabric of her suit at her elbows, and smiled sheepishly at him, "To be fair, I had no idea that I could fly. The whole 'having wings' thing was just as surprising to me as it was to you. And, I'm going to be covered in bruises. I think I hit every possible thing on my way out of town."
"An even better reason to call me." He huffed.
She reached up and pulled her fingers through her long hair, "I know. I was just so caught up in the moment, and so frustrated about needing my wings and not knowing how to use them. I'm sorry, Chat." She looked at him.
Chat sighed, he couldn't stay mad at her. He couldn't even pretend he was going to be angry at her. The only emotion he felt besides undying love, was worry. Worry that she would be hurt or need protecting, that she might find herself in a place where she couldn't save herself and he wouldn't be there. Worry that if she got much stronger, she wouldn't even need him. Worry that she might realize just how wonderful she was, and what a mess he had become, and how terribly unmatched they were. He only wanted to protect her and care for her.
Ladybug watched as his feeble anger slipped from his grip. She felt the guilt start to creep into her lungs. She did need him, and she was going to give him a complex, if she hadn't already.
He looked at her, "I'm just glad you're safe."
She moved closer to him on the small ledge, until their shoulders and legs were touching, and then leaned her head on his shoulder, looking up at the stars past the green lights, "I am. And so are you. And somehow in the whole messed up world, the universe decided that I got to have you, no matter how undeserving I am."
Chat Noir blinked, and looked down at Ladybug, "Pardon?"
Ladybug settled closer to him, and he felt his neck and ears start to warm. The contact was familiar, and something they always did, not only for warmth but also because they cared for each other. Still, it felt a little different now that they were older. She folded her arms across her chest loosely, "I think I have messed up my entire life. And not in the 'teenage my whole life is falling apart' kind of way. But in a real way, that's going to take a long time to get over. I thought that maybe since the akuma disappeared that I could find myself, follow my dreams, and the whole world would be rosy. But I just got myself into a position where I was so blind to reality that I destroyed everything to keep up an illusion. And yet, in the turmoil of everything, I got to keep you. My handsome Kitty-cat. I don't know your real name, or what you do for a living or where you live. I can only feel grateful that you still want to be with me."
Chat Noir was quiet for a moment, letting everything she'd said soak in. In a strange parallel of lives, whoever she was behind the mask was having a very similar experience to his. He had the passing thought, that maybe they'd had little to no success outside of Paris because they were supposed to be together. And now that they were together again, life would be easier. He almost said this aloud, but thought better of it as soon as he opened his mouth. He closed it again promptly. On top of probably being able to understand his life better than anyone, she had pretty much just said that she needed him. Not quite as a sidekick in the battle to save Paris like he'd wanted, but as a friend. The heat creeped from his ears and under his mask across his cheeks. He didn't really know how to react. So he asked the first thing he had thought.
He smirked, "You think I'm handsome?"
She turned to look at him with annoyed and playful eyes.
He grinned to show his exaggerated canine teeth, "Is that a yes?"
Ladybug caved, "Yes, Chat Noir. I think you are handsome. I have always thought you were handsome."
He puffed out his chest to hide the hammering of his heart. She thought he was handsome. It was a step in the right direction.
She laughed at his reaction, "You are also my closest friend, Monsieur."
Chat Noir leaned back and put his hands behind his head, leaning on the metal beam, and crossed his ankles, "And you are mine, My Lady."
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Ringing. It always came back to the ringing. Ringing, ringing, ringing. Adrien looked up from his pillow, where he had finally landed after staying out late as Chat Noir with Ladybug. They had talked until the sun had started to come up over the horizon, and they both realized they would be in a lot of trouble. It wasn't like their teenage days where an all nighter was easily slept off. Staying out late meant that they were both going to be dragging for a few days. It was worth it last night, but now he was regretting it a little. They no longer had parental curfews to meet, only adult responsibilities. He looked to the chair next to his bed that he was calling a nightstand. His phone was ringing. He didn't recognize the number. He almost rolled over to ignore it, but remembered. It was Friday.
His eyes shot open and he sat up quickly, grabbing at the phone and answering it. He set it to his ear hastily, and tried to sound calm, "This is Adrien."
"Adrien!" A cheery voice called through the phone, "I'm so glad you answered the phone, because I have some excellent news for you. You did it! You made the cut, my friend. Welcome to the Police Force! Well," he laughed, "the academy class, anyway."
Adrien beamed, feeling more excited than he thought he would over this news, "Really?"
"Yep! And I did you the honor of enrolling you in the academy class that starts on Monday. You're welcome, Pretty Boy." the voice teased, "This is Antoni, by the way. In case you already forgot what my voice sounds like. So, I feel like since I watched all those girl ogle at you at the park, that I can call you a pretty boy."
Adrien laughed, "I've been called worse."
Antoni's brisk laughter filled his ears, "This is a story I need to hear, but later. For now I have more phone calls to make. So I'll just see you here at the precinct on Monday at 7:00 AM sharp. Don't worry about anything except you and your ID, we'll get you set up with uniforms and supplies when you get here."
"I'm looking forward to it." Adrien nodded.
"Excellent. I'll mark it down here." Antoni paused, "Oh! And Rodgers bet me 20 that you wouldn't join. I don't know why you wanted this information, but you asked for it, so there it is."
"Thank you." He smiled.
"My pleasure, Mr. Agreste." Antoni laughed, "That feels weird to say. Anyway, I'll see you on Monday. Enjoy your last weekend of freedom!"
Adrien rolled his eyes, "Thanks Antoni, I will."
The phone clicked off. Adrien took the phone away from his ear and looked down at the small device. He had really done it. He had done something all on his own, without his father's permission or his prodding. Nathalie hadn't pulled any strings, Chyna hadn't hacked into anything, and he still made it. He hadn't needed to tell anyone. He frowned.
He also had no one to tell about this exciting news. His first reaction was to text Robyn, but quickly set that thought aside. He would just have to be happy for himself.
He sighed, angry with himself. It's not like he'd had anyone to tell when he'd been a part of the world that revolved around his father. He was still just as lonely, only a hundred times more free. It had just been easier to tell himself that he wasn't lonely when he was surrounded by people. He shook his head, his blonde hair whipping at his ears, there was no place in his new life for mourning his old one. He had made his choice, and he was satisfied. He was happy in a world where his father didn't exist and Ladybug did.
He was going to be a police officer. He grinned, and scratched the top of Plagg's head with his finger. Plagg twitched only a little, and curled back up in a ball on the pillow.
"You hear that, Plagg?" He whispered, "I did it."
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"I mean it's a total outrage, mom! I've worked for them for almost a year, and they told me that I couldn't stay after I graduated!" Hayley roared into her cell phone, scaring a few birds near the fountain in the park.
Her mother's voice sighed, "Honey, I highly doubt that it's about you. You are a fantastic chef and a phenomenal baker. I'm sure they have their reasons. You shouldn't be so quick to be so angry with them."
Hayley fumed, "But they've never given me any indication that they wouldn't be keeping me until now. They never outright said that I would be staying, but they made it pretty clear they wanted me around. They turned down dozens of applicants this past semester because they wanted to keep me on. And now, out of nowhere, they decide that I can't stay after I graduate?"
"You can't know everything that's going on in their lives. Give them the benefit of a doubt. You love the Dupain-Chengs. You tell me so every time you call me. You go on and on about how kind and sweet and smart they are. What happened?" Her mother hummed.
Hayley sighed, "I don't even really know! I mean, I guess all that's changed is that their daughter, who is THE Marinette Dupain-Cheng by the way, has been around a lot. But I mean it's her family, so she's allowed to be there whenever she wants."
Her mom clicked her tongue, "It sounds like you're making a muffin with enough batter to make a cake, my dear. I know change is hard, but it's for the best. Staying in a bakery that's already established means you are growing the name of someone else. You could open your own bakery, or work in a high class restaurant. There is so much more out there for you than a small bakery in Paris."
Hayley felt her eyes start to sting, she was going to start crying, she could feel it, "But mom," the tears spilled from her eyes, "I really like it at the Dupain-Cheng bakery. It's such a quaint place. It's homey and sweet, and the customers are always so nice. I don't even care that all I make are eclairs. I love it. I just wanted to stay, and now I have to find something else."
"Honey," her mother's voice cooed from the other end of the line, "I know it's hard. I know how much you love that bakery. You've grown so much, and learned so many things, but sometimes we have to let go of things we love to find something even better. I have no doubt that you will find something that you love even more than the Dupain-Cheng bakery."
Hayley wiped her eyes with the cuffs of her jacket, "I know. I'm just really upset over it, right now."
"And that's just fine. Be upset. Endings are sad and terrible. But you can do this." Her mother's voice encouraged her.
"Miss Cheng wrote me a really nice reference letter. And Mister Dupain gave me a copy of his bulgarian creme recipe. The more I think about it, maybe the more they are trying to help me grow and not kick me out." Hayley sniffled.
"And there she is. That's my Hayley, finding the good in everyone and in everything. I have to go and pick up Jacob from school now, but I'll be home in about an hour if you want to call back." Hayley could hear her mother shuffling through her bag to find her car keys.
"I think I'll be okay. I have to go home and look for some jobs, I guess, and finish filling out my graduation paperwork. Thanks for listening." Hayley smiled.
"Always," she heard her mother smile, "I love you like chocolate frosting."
Hayley felt her heart warm at the old phrase from her childhood, and smiled, "And I love you a whole tray of brownies."
"Chiao, Honey, I'll talk to you later."
"Bye, Mom." Hayley listened to her mother take the phone away from her face and press the disconnect button on her phone. Three short beeps in her ear told her that she was no longer connected to her mother through the phone. She took the phone from her ear, and slid it into her pocket. She looked up at the trees in the park, and frowned. She knew in her heart that it would be okay in the end. But, right at this moment, she was sad and angry and five different versions of anxious about the whole thing.
Where was she going to find another place that would make her feel like it was more about baking and less about business? Where else was she going to find someone as sweet as Tom? She closed her eyes. The answer was nowhere. Nowhere was going to be as great as the small bakery on the street corner.
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"I'm sorry, what?" Marinette hummed.
Sabine sighed, "Can you pay attention please? This is very important. Your father and I have a serious question for you."
Marinette groaned, "I'm sorry Mama, I didn't sleep very well last night. My eyes won't stay open."
Sabine raised an eyebrow, "Didn't you turn in early last night?"
Marinette lied through her teeth, "Yes, but being in my bed doesn't mean that I fall asleep. And even once I fall asleep there is no guarantees of staying asleep."
Sabine looked at Marinette with worried eyes and the raven haired girl set her head on the table, her long hair falling over her shoulders. She started to rethink her husband's idea for the bakery. Marinette was going through enough, she didn't need her father's expectations on her shoulders. Sabine considered for a moment, but came full circle. She should not make choices for Marinette before she asked.
Marinette sighed and pushed herself up from the table, "No excuses." She sighed, "I will pay attention, I swear. What did you want to talk about, Mama?"
Sabine folded her hands together, "Your father and I would like to offer you the apprentice position at the bakery. It would be more than just helping out for something to do. You would run the shop in the front, taking orders and filling them, as well as taking orders for larger baking jobs, like wedding cakes and party size cookies. We would teach you to run the bakery while I run the business side and your father bakes all of the sweets. We would pay you like we would any employee."
Marinette suddenly felt very awake. She had told her parents long ago that she didn't want to inherit the bakery. She wasn't interested in sweets and rolls. They had respected her choice then, why wouldn't they now? Maybe they felt bad for her, since she'd flipped her life upside down.
"I don't want you to do this just because I am down right now." Marinette looked away.
Sabine reached across the table and took Marinette's hand, "Not to frighten you, but it has always been your place to inherit this bakery. If your father had his way you would be his personal assistant, and someday when you are married, that you and your spouse will live in this house, and work in this bakery and the Dupain-Cheng name will forever be associated with bread."
Marinette paled, "Mama, I've told you and Papa before that I don't want to be in charge of the bakery."
Sabine laughed, "I know. But we are not offering you this job because of pity. We are offering the job because you have proven that you work hard, and your father might think that giving you an opportunity to work will make you want the bakery."
Marinette sighed. They were pushing again.
Sabine squeezed her hand, "You don't have to want the bakery. But if you'd like a job, we're offering you one."
"I will think about it." Marinette smiled, "but I don't want you hurt yours or Papa's feelings. I don't want to inherit the bakery."
"I know. And I'm not offering you the bakery, I'm offering you a job." Sabine smiled.
Marinette laid her head across her arms, feeling her hair tickle her skin. Her mother's hands were still wrapped lightly around hers. She looked at her mother, "I would love a real job, Mama. I'll do it. But only until I find my way, then you're on your own again for finding someone to run the bakery for you."
Sabine retracted her hand, and stood up quickly, "Excellent. I'll let your father know. First day is Monday." She leaned back in Marinette's direction, "You should go take a nap, love." She disappeared around the edge of the doorway.
Marinette looked around the kitchen. It was a pretty slow day. There were their regular customers and a few small orders, but nothing they couldn't handle without her for a couple hours. And if they needed her, they would know where to find her. She peeled herself from the counter, and trudged her way up the stairs to her front door.
She smiled. She had always loved that her house was like a secret hideout above the bakery. Everyone knew where it was, of course, but it was quiet up above the noise of the city, and the light that came through the windows was just lovely. And now, rather than feeling like a old classic apartment, it felt like a house. They had remodeled the entire inside of the building a few years ago.
The bakery had needed a space upgrade and the house needed some touch ups too, so they saved up, and Marinette pitched in a lot of her designer's pay and royalties, and her parents basically gutted the whole place and built it up again. The bakery now extended all the way the the back of the property, making it almost twice the depth that it had been before. Customers didn't see the difference, but behind the quaint storefront was now an industrial kitchen with large ovens and refrigerators. It was a baker's haven back there.
But along with the bakery her whole house got bigger too. All three floors were expanded and remodeled to make the space feel more open. The insulation had been replaced, so that the heat of the bakery didn't warm the house too much. It also took away their need for three separate doors for them to get to all the levels of their home. Now all three levels were connected by stairs inside.
Marinette pushed open the door to her home, and breathed in the soft smell of freshly vacuumed carpet and waffles, which had been for breakfast this morning. She wandered up the stairs past the guest room and up the next set of stairs to her room. She pushed the door up and open, and walked up into her space. She smiled. It was a good space.
She made her way up the last small set of stairs to her loft, where Tikki and her bed were waiting for her. She kicked off her shoes, and they tumbled down to the main floor. She then flopped down to her bed, and fell asleep before she could tell herself to lay straight. That would be the last time she let herself stay up late with Chat Noir.