Adrien

Waves rolled around the lake, whispering their quiet song. Like the tender touch of his Lady, they calmed and soothed, enveloping his soul in the comforting blanket of serenity. Moonlight reflected on the water, illuminating the garden. The perfect hideaway for a couple of lovers. Night-blooming flowers on the clearing around him shone brightly, their beauty overshadowing the grandioseness of the moon. A melody woven from the sounds of insects and animals filled the air, the whole area exploding with the lights of the fireflies. A fairy tale brought to life by their imagination.

Adrien breathed in deeply and closed his eyes. She'd be here soon. He would hold her in his arms, close to his heart. He would kiss her lips and breathe in the scent of her. He would never stop looking into the boundless blue of her eyes. His skin tingled at his memory, fingertips throbbing with an urge and desire.

Footsteps echoed from behind him. He turned around, a smile on his lips even before she came into view.

Walking down the hill, the love of his life almost floated above the ground in a red summer dress. She always wore red. Different outfits every day, but always red. Sometimes with black accents, sometimes with golden embellishments. He loved it. His Ladybug. His Lady Luck. The only woman he had ever truly loved. The only one he'd ever adored.

"Chaton!"

Ladybug ran down as soon as she spotted him. Jumping into his arms, she laughed as he twirled her around. Their lips met the moment he put her down. Gentle, soft, and loving, and yet… the most intoxicating and thrilling thing Chat had ever experienced. She always left him breathless. No one would ever be able to replace her.

"I missed you," she whispered against his lips.

"I missed you too." He rested his forehead against hers. "How was your day?"

She stiffened and hid her face in his chest.

Chat held his breath. Who dared to upset his Lady? The only girl who used to bully her had moved away years ago. Was it the guy who took her on a date this evening? Chat pressed his lips together and pulled her closer. "Did something happen… on your date?"

She shook her head. "No. I chickened out and cancelled at the last minute."

Chat let out a breath he wasn't aware he was holding. "You did?"

She cuddled closer, muffling her answer in his shirt.

Perhaps he should be feeling sorry for the guy, but Chat couldn't find that in himself. His hold on her tightening, he closed his eyes, placing another kiss on her hair. His. Even if her awake-self didn't know that yet, this incredible woman was his just as much as he was hers, and hers alone. "Then what got you upset?"

Ladybug turned her head to the side so he could hear. "He's a nice guy and a good friend. I hate to upset him, so… I might have agreed to make it up to him. Some time down the line when he comes back from his trip."

"Another date?"

She silently nodded.

Chat held her closer. "That's okay, my Lady. It's just a date."

She shook her head, raising her eyes full of tears to him. "How is it okay, Chat? How is me going on dates with other guys okay?"

"It's not your fault—"

"I wish so badly I could remember this… remember you when I'm awake. I feel like a cheating asshole, even if out of forced ignorance."

Chat grabbed her face and turned her to face him. "You are not a cheating asshole! Never say that again. You're amazing and beautiful. You're talented and brave. You're a wonderful person, my Lady, and it isn't your fault you're stuck in this with me. Please, don't blame yourself for this. If anyone's to blame here, it's me and my stupid curse, but not you. It never was your fault, and it never will be."

He pulled her back to himself, gripping her close because as much as Chat Noir believed in what he was about to say, at his core, Adrien Agreste in all of his forms was a selfish man and wanted Ladybug all to himself.

"I wish you could remember me, my Lady. I really do. I wish we knew each other beyond this dreamland. But we don't, and out there you, not by any fault of your own, don't even know I exist. So, no one can blame you for dating others. I don't. I never will. This whole situation is cruel and unfair to you, and I'm so sorry. I'm sorry I pulled you into this. It's my fault. Not yours. And I would never want you to feel bad for something that's out of your control."

Her eyes full of tears, she reached out to gently cradle his jaw in her hand. "You're as much a victim here as I am."

"It's my family's curse—"

"And you didn't choose to be born into your family, did you?" A faint smile on her lips, she lay her head against his furiously beating heart. "We both are victims here."

He hummed, closing his eyes, melting into her touch.

"I love you, Kitty. I hate this double life arrangement, but I love you. And don't worry. Knowing myself and Luka… the most that could happen is handholding… and that's if we ever make it to a third date."

Chat gasped, barely holding back a chuckle. "How lewd of you, my Lady! Hand holding! I'll die of jealousy."

Ladybug giggled and playfully pushed him away. "We've done way worse than that, so you have no room to complain." She climbed atop the nearest fallen trunk and settled down, sending him a teasing smile. "Perhaps we're looking at this from a wrong angle? Maybe we should be happy for me instead of freaking out? I'm finally going on my first date with a nice guy. That's something to celebrate, no?"

"Really?" The arch of his eyebrow bent as he walked to her. "As understanding as I am about this, do you really think I could celebrate my girlfriend going on a date with someone who isn't me? I should be jealous. I am jealous and because of that, I'm going to crush your little date and steal you away."

She laughed, grinning at him. "And how are you going to do that? You don't even know where I live. Nor my name. Nor where I am going on a date."

Chat took her hand and pressed his lips to her knuckles. His eyes never left hers, enjoying the pretty pink flush spreading across her cheeks. He loved that even after years of dating, countless kisses, and all the flirting, he still could make her blush with a simple peck to her hand. "I was hoping you'd tell me."

"Haven't we tried that already?"

With his signature smirk on his lips, Chat leaned closer. "Ah, but you're the cleverest person on this planet, my Lady. I'm sure with you on the task we can figure out how to finally lead me to you."

She stared at him for a few moments, an adorable frown creeping over her features and creasing her forehead. "You're serious."

"Very."

"Didn't you say not until next summer?"

"My plans have changed. I'm heading out as soon as I wake up."

Her eyes widened, lips slightly parting. "Chat, I swear if you're pulling my leg right now… "

"You wound me, my Lady," he purred, leaning closer. "I do not say things I do not intend on fulfilling. Name the place and I'll be there tomorrow."

"Seriously?"

He raised one of his hands and placed another one on his heart. "I swear on everything sacred to me."

She watched him with her eyes filled with every emotion on Earth. A moment later, her eyebrows knitted in concentration as she switched into her "thinking" mode. Chat loved when that happened. "Figuring Stuff Out Ladybug" was one of his favourite Ladybugs, rivalled only by "Blushing Ladybug" and "Kissing Him Ladybug".

"Okay, let's see. What have we tried and failed to tell each other over the years? First and last names, addresses, city names. What else?

"Exact current locations," Chat added. "I once fell asleep in the garden and tried to tell you that. Didn't work out, but I had no issues telling you about it afterward."

"How about my university's name then?" She opened her mouth and froze in place, her pupils rapidly shrinking in size, eyes bulging round. Her body stiffened, her chest rapidly rising and falling.

Chat grabbed her hand. He knew the feeling, the dread, the cold that gripped her heart. Pulling her against him, he held her tight, slowly drawing circles on her back. "Shhh. Let it go. I'm here. You don't need to tell me anything. Let it go."

She took a minute to compose herself, melting against him with a sigh. "How is that very personal? There are thousands of students at my school."

Chat chuckled. "I'm sure we can outsmart it somehow. We never really tried that hard before."

"True to that," she echoed, pulling slightly away. "So how do we beat the damn thing? Any ideas?"

"How about we start with what I already know about you? For example, I know you live by the sea."

"I do. How did you figure that out?"

"You often comment on how you spend a lot of time on the beach, all year round. Sometimes, you'll meet sunrises there because it feeds your creativity, but your favourite times are sunsets. You said they were breathtaking at that one particular beach, the name of which I never learned."

"You remember all that?"

"I remember everything you've ever told me, my Lady."

His lips on her hand, Chat watched her blush with satisfaction.

She didn't hesitate to pull him down and crush her mouth against his. Her breath hot against him, lips dancing across the tender skin of his, Chat barely remained standing on his feet. His heart threatening to jump out of his chest, he grasped her, pulling her closer, trying to deepen the kiss. She cruelly pulled away just before he could do so, with a smug grin on her face.

"How do you like the taste of your own medicine, Chaton?"

"Love it," he whispered, trying to catch his breath. "Can I have more?"

The sound of her laughter was invigorating. She flicked his nose with that tiny finger of hers and popped a "No" with her lips. "Not until we figure this out. Work first, Kitty. Play later."

Ladybug plopped down on the grass. Chat followed her, stretching his limbs wide as he lay down. His eyes closed, a satisfied grin split his lips. He'd stay like this forever if he could. Being with his Lady was his favourite time of the day.

"We need to somehow narrow down your search area."

"It's on the French Riviera."

"Yup, French Riviera…"

He creaked open one of his eyes to look at her when she failed to continue. She watched him with her eyes round, lips parted.

"I… said it? French Riviera? French Riviera! Chat, I can say it!"

He prompted himself up on his elbows, a curious frown on his face. She did say it. She tried to tell him before but never could. Just as he wasn't able to tell her he lived in Paris. What happened?

"French Riviera," Ladybug repeated once again. "I live on the French Riviera. Chat, I can say it! Can you hear it? I live on the French Riviera."

"I'm not sure what's going on but I like it. Let's try something else. I live in—"

Bone-chilling terror gripped his chest, sending a cold shiver down his skin. A warning. Should he proceed, he'd be ripped out of this reality before a single sound would slip his lips. "Seems to work only for you, my Lady. Tell me something else."

"You live in Paris." Ladybug smirked. "I figured that much out. My town's name is—" She froze again, closing her eyes in irritation. "I forgot how much I hate this feeling."

"I do live in Paris. Nice job—wait… I live in… Paris?"

She gaped at him. "Say that again?"

"I live in Paris and my name is—" A numbing hand of fear to utter a single sound clasped at his core. His stomach churned. Chat barely suppressed a gag. The most unpleasant, almost painful, feeling in the world. He wasn't risking it. A step back. This was why they stopped even trying to share anything too personal years ago.

"Okay, I think I know what's going on," Ladybug said hesitantly. "We still can't give away our personal information, but if one of us figures something out and says it out loud, then it isn't a secret anymore, and we can talk about it."

"That… makes sense?" Chat nodded.

"It's the loophole we needed."

He swore under his breath, falling back onto the grass with a groan. "Of course there is a loophole. There's always one. We should've figured that out a long time ago."

"We never needed it much before. We weren't going to look for each other until some time in the future. And neither of us wanted to risk waking up and losing precious time together."

As always, she was right. "Especially because we'd be forced to wait until the next night to see each other again."

She returned his smile. "But now that we know about this loophole, all I have to do is to give you a few unique facts about my town, and a quick Google search will help you find the name."

"Throw in there a few hints about your school and classes, my Lady. I'll have a lot of free time once I'm in your town, so might as well enroll in a few courses and spend more time with you."

She indulged him with a kiss but kept it short. Ever so efficient, always putting responsibilities before her personal desires, yet somehow keeping the perfect balance between the two. He loved that about her, even if his cravings for her affection complained.

The first rays of the sun glided up the impeccable whiteness of her pillow. Adrien quietly walked closer, a bittersweet pang in his chest. She looked radiant as always. Flawless skin, rosy cheeks, gorgeous blond hair. The most radiant green irises behind her closed eyelids, the exact shade of which was sadly starting to slip his memory. Months spent bound to this room did absolutely nothing to diminish her beauty. Just as the doctors were helpless to wake her up from her slumber.

"Good morning, Mom."

His hand reached for hers. He didn't expect an answer, but holding her hand helped him keep himself together.

"I'm sorry for such an early visit, but I'm going away. Father allowed me to go search for Ladybug, so I thought I'd come by to say goodbye."

He lightly squeezed her hand, his eyes focused on her face. Calmly and steadily breathing, she looked like she was simply sleeping. Adrien swallowed down the knot in his throat and blinked away his tears. What was the point of all the power he possessed when he couldn't even help his own mother? He'd give anything to wake her up, to see her smile, to look into her eyes, to hear her laugh. At the very least, to learn what had happened to her, and if there was anything that could be done.

Another reason he needed to find his Lady as soon as possible: if his suspicions were true, perhaps she was the only one who could help them.

"Adrien?" The door creaked open, Nino looking in. "May I?"

Adrien nodded, his eyes locked on his mother's face.

"We have the location, and finished all the prep for departing."

"Good."

"Max is finalizing our rental. He'll enroll us in the university in an hour or so. Their office is still closed."

"L'université de Françoise?"

Nino nodded. "The only one in town, which is a surprise in itself. Dupont is a small resort town. A population under ten thousand with a ton of tourists present at any given time. Why would they need a university at all when Marseille is close by?"

"Dupont started as a university town," Adrien replied. "It's a branch of Sorbonne University here in Paris, and from what I learned, they didn't want their campus in a busy port. A quiet nearby location was more appealing."

"Okay." Nino nodded. "We also pinpointed the most likely courses she'll be taking. You can choose from the list on our way, unless you want to stay for breakfast here and let Max—"

"No." Adrien cut in. "We're leaving now. I have only until the end of the year, and if Father changes his mind, I'm screwed. I'm not risking it. We should be gone before he's up."

"Shouldn't you be able to deny a new order, though? You can argue back now, can't you?"

Adrien clenched his fists so tight that his knuckles turned white. "Arguing back and negotiating isn't the same as denying. If he were to order me to marry Lila tomorrow, you know I'd have no choice. Not until he formally releases me from my bonds, so, let's not risk it."

"Then let's not waste any time."

Adrien turned back to the woman in the bed. Leaning down, he gently kissed her forehead. "I'll see you around New Year, Mom. Get better by then." With a final squeeze of her hand, he closed his eyes for just a moment whispering a quiet "I Love You" before following Nino out of the room and out of the palace for the first time in years.