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Shan drove the girls to the airport and paid for their tickets. Marinette argued about how she could've paid for their tickets but her uncle didn't back down. The bluenette is grateful for everything the officer has done but feels guilty for being a nuisance. Marinette has been a real burden to those surrounding her since finding out the truth.
She wants to somehow repay and apologize to the people she's troubled.
"Will we ever see you again?" Tikki asked Shan. The man pursed his lips in thought before nodding, "Yeah, I'm sure you will."
The redhead's face brightened, practically glowing with joy. Shan would never admit out loud how adorable the seven-year-old is. He can almost feel her happiness rub onto him. The edge of his lip even twitched up for a millisecond. There's just something about Tikki that makes him a bit more serene.
A weird feeling, but a nice one all the same.
Shan looked at the teen, who is being unusually quiet. Even if they have only known each other for a short amount of time, Shan can tell Marinette is an involved person and always strikes for a conversation.
Yet, she silently sat deep in thought and twiddled with a brochure.
"Are you alright?" Shan awkwardly asked, not the kind of guy who knows how to comfort people. Shan usually leaves it up to the other officers to make sure the victims are okay and safe. It's one of the parts of his job he was never good at but it doesn't mean he can't start trying right now.
Marinette stopped messing with the brochure and looked over at Shan.
"Not...really," she quietly answered, feeling overwhelming the teen, "I'm just worried about what is going to transpire once we get home."
Tikki frowned before leaning her head against the elder girl as a way of comforting her. Shan hummed, unable to find his next words so he just continued to listen.
"They're going to be really mad at me for running away with Tikki to another country, just to find answers. I wouldn't blame them for my choice in risking my and Tikki's safety. For being dumb and not thinking it out before leaping in," Marinette said, regretting the choices she's made, "I'd say the one good thing that came out of this trip...was you, Uncle Shan."
Shan didn't know what this feeling in his heart is. It's like a warm, melty sort of thing he couldn't describe (although, his first thought was butter in a microwave but didn't want that to be the comparison). A gentle touch without any physical contact. Somehow, that small sentiment made Shan want to try and better himself in comforting the bluenette.
"Yeah, they'll be furious with you," Shan agreed, making Marinette wince, "In my line of work, I've dealt with runaway kids. Each one has a different story of why they did it, whether it's from being abused or assaulted. Others are mentally lost, scared and confused. They let their emotions get the best of them."
Marinette still didn't see Shan's point in his speech. It kind of made her feel a little worse, sounding more like an excuse than a reason. Yet, she didn't say anything and let Shan continue.
"Sometimes, it doesn't end well for some people," Shan continued, reflecting on his past, "Most of the time, it's not like that at all. Sure, they'll be furious and you'll probably get punished..."
Marinette shrunk in her seat, not looking forward to going home and making her feel worse.
"...but," Shan concluded, "they'll be really happy that you returned home safely."
The bluenette mouth is slightly agape and eyes widened. Any doubts or worries she felt before being washed away. The idea of returning home sounding...nice. Marinette smiled a little and nodded, needing to hear those words.
"They'll be mad..." Marinette thought, "...but I'm just glad that I'll always have a place to return too."
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Adrien reached the bottom of the stairwell, standing in front of the bulky iron door. Shakily, he opened it and revealed the very intimidating hall with shelves lining its walls. The blonde moved his flashlight around the area, scanning for any remaining items left behind.
Yet, it was like there was nothing in here. The place is practically cleaned out dry of anything illegal, weird, and dangerous. Every shelf is empty, not a single trace of a forgotten needle or shard of glass. Even the snake's body was removed, the alcohol and shattered jar cleaned up. Although, the nasty smell still lingered.
Adrien didn't waste any time walking to the other side of the short hallway. He paused outside the final door leading to Hawkmoth's main office. The blonde isn't prepared to reenter the room where his missing mother's body was found. A horrifying and traumatic event that will stick with him for life.
"Of course..." Adrien thought, "...when will I ever be prepared?"
Never, he'll never be prepared.
Adrien opened the door, ripping off the band-aid in order to carry on. If he hesitated, he might have had second thoughts and make an escape out of this creepy place. If his intentions didn't mean much, he wouldn't look back and wonder.
He wouldn't be here if he hadn't overheard his father—the truth. Now, it's time to finish up the rest of the truth and close this chapter of his life.
Adrien shined the flashlight into the room, scanning the empty walls that used to be covered in various papers and maps. The desk still sat in the corner but not a single thing is left sitting on its wooden surface.
No boxes. No jars. Nothing else is left remaining in the room except for the one wall dedicated to his mother and the safe.
"There it is," the blonde thought, feeling sweat forming on his brow. He didn't think his heart could race any faster until seeing the safe. Whatever is on the other side is bound to be a ghastly sight. Adrien can't think of anything more terrifying, assuming the worst has passed after finding his mother's remains.
Yet, the blonde is starting to think that it might just be a close second to whatever is inside the secure, metal box.
Adrien finally entered the room, looking around for any hints to crack open the safe. He walked over to the desk, checking it for any clues or means to help. He even went as far as taking out the drawers and scanned them all around. Every nook and cranny was searched.
Even so, he found nothing.
Adrien huffed, beginning to wonder if this was all a wild goose chase. His eyes wandered over to his mother's shrine. Biting down on his lower lip, the teen approached it and studied every detail.
Adrien had to look away for a moment to regain his composure and wipe away the misty feeling in his eyes. He shakily sighed, "What am I even doing here? This is so stupid. If I get caught, the police will think I'm helping my dad."
Adrien returned his longing gaze to the portrait of his mom gently smiling.
"Mom, what am I supposed to do? I need your help. What's dad hiding? Do I even want to know?" Adrien asked.
No response.
His gaze turns downcast, lips thinned out. Adrien knew there isn't going to be a reply but somehow was hoping for one all the same. He grimly kneeled until he is level with the words.
Emilie Agreste
Beloved wife and mother
June 12, 1982-August 4, 2010
Adrien's eyebrows scrunched in confusion upon realizing something. The blonde dug deep into his memories of the day Emilie Agreste disappeared.
Adrien and his mom had visited the park that nice day. He remembers flowers were starting to bloom, dancing in the breezy wind. He wanted to pick some for Mother's Day but his mother told him not too. Then, the two went somewhere else afterward. His memories are foggy but a glimpse of the two materialized in his mind. They were sitting in somewhere that looked like a...waiting room?
Adrien doesn't recall much after that but has enough information to acknowledge a certain detail.
The memory took place during the springtime. The date vividly tattooed to his brain, April 11.
August 4 is not the day Emilie disappeared.
Although, the year is correct. A question remains, why is the date incorrect? Did Gabriel keep his wife captive for months in his lair until committing the deed?
Adrien didn't want to imagine the rest of the details of what could've possibly happened. Yet, this is as close as a lead he's going to get. He stood up and walked over to the safe.
"I assume the police already tried the dates on the wall," Adrien murmured to himself, staring at the 6-digit number pad, "So, I'll use the only other date that hasn't been tried yet."
He typed in the date Emilie disappeared.
"041110," he spoke under his breath, typing in the numbers. Once finished, he pressed the confirmation button.
Click!
The word "open" digitally blinked green and beeped two times. The sound of mechanical clicking and rolling gears came from inside the safe. The metal door jutted open slightly, welcoming the person who managed to crack its password.
Adrien's eyes widen in disbelief.
"I...I actually did it," he thought, "I opened the safe and in one try!"
The blonde didn't know whether to cheer in victory or quake in scared anticipation. He has no clue what will lie beyond the other side of this final door.
This final secret.
At first, emerald eyes closed.
Adrien gulped, fingers grasping the side of the cool door. He slowly pulled it open, preparing himself for whatever he will see. Many ideas raced through his mind of the worst-case scenarios again. He wants to turn back before he regrets seeing whatever is inside. Yet, he's come too far and knows he'll regret not finding out if he runs away.
"You're so close, Agreste," Adrien quietly encouraged, a slight tremble in his voice, "Don't be a coward."
The door is wide open.
Adrien peeked open an eye, looking at the bottom of the safe. Two objects are within the metal containment. An age-old journal sat on top of a blue cooler. The blonde winced seeing the cooler, something about it being unsettling.
"You know...I thought there would be more considering how big the safe's door is," Adrien thought, trying to get his mind off of the cooler. He reached down and grabbed the journal. He brushed off the dust splayed on the cover before curiously opening it.
February 16, 2003
Things have been...bittersweet in my life. My designs have been rejected for the third time and I haven't dared to tell Emilie yet. She seems so happy and I don't want to ruin our recent discovery. I've found out I am going to be a dad.
Adrien frowned, skipping a few pages forward. There are more entries, some long and others short. There are times where they talked about his downfalls, achievements, some health issues, special events, and so forth. Nothing in the journal is really interesting until a certain date caught his eye. He felt his mouth go dry and stared at the familiar date.
The date his mother disappeared.
Adrien's lips thinned before reading the messily written entry.
April 11, 2010
I didn't mean to do it. Emilie just came at a bad time, saying she wanted to tell me something. My memory is foggy, only remembering that I was blinded by my anger. Lately, we've been plummeting into debt so I drowned myself in alcohol to forget for a bit.
Emilie didn't know about any of it. She didn't know about the debt, my drinking, my other business I'm trying to run to get the money we desperately need. I hid it all just to keep that smile on her face and not to worry her. I'm doing this all for her and Adrien.
I didn't mean to hurt her. I didn't mean to physically release my rage. I didn't mean to swing the empty bottle and hit her in the head. It's not my fault she came at a bad time. It's not my fault.
Then, I found it.
The thing she wanted to tell me.
An ultrasound picture.
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