Author's Note: Hi, so I randomly found this account again today. And although it's been years, and much has changed not only within the world of miraculous, but also within my own life, I kinda found myself wanting to come back to this. So, I can't remember what my original idea for this story was. But imma try it. Idk this will probably be… less than ideal. But I am going through a rough time, and I need something that feels easy. I can't promise that this will be following any kind of regular update schedule, but I will try my best.
Marinette forgot how amazing this feeling was.
She felt skeptical at first- the world hadn't seen Ladybug or Chat Noir in nearly a decade, and she certainly didn't want to be spotted for fear of breaking her own rule about the use of the miraculous. She was supposed to be the new guardian, after all, and it had been her decision to renounce her title of 'Ladybug' and instead entrust the miracle box to Alya, who had been keeping it safe all this time. But all her worries and anxieties evaporated into the cool night air as she swung carefree from building to building.
She was confident, she was athletic, she was free-
She felt 14 again.
Maybe, deep down, she always knew she would do this again, otherwise why not just give the Ladybug miraculous to her capable and accountable best friend? Being Ladybug was a privilege and a responsibility that she had carried with her throughout her formative years, it was as much a part of her as fashion designing, she could never give up those memories.
No matter how hard she tried.
Her breath appeared in flumes of fog in front of her face as she landed, light as a feather, atop a building not far from the Eiffel tower- in fact from her spot, she could perfectly view it in all its shimmering glory, softly reminding Parisians that there was magic to be found in their city. She made her way to the edge of the roof, dangling her feet precariously over the side. Marinette let out a sigh that turned into a choke as it lilted from her throat, like lumps of milk gone sour.
This was where she and Chat Noir would meet for patrol, all those years ago. This was where they said goodbye.
She tried not to think about her fun-loving (pun-loving) companion over the years, she could only remember how painful it was to leave him behind knowing there was little to no chance they would ever see each other again. She had been insistent on protecting their identities until the very end- and she knew how much that hurt him. She couldn't help it- she was the one who was closest to Master Fu, she was the one who knew the pain of seeing the light behind his eyes, the precious memories of the miracle box- and of Marinette herself- go dark. She watched him leave her, the only person who had ever known the complexities of her true identity, without even recognition of what he had just lost. She couldn't let that happen to her, or to Chat Noir, she could never let those memories go, it was easier to just let him go instead.
But now, sitting here on a perfect Paris night, peering out at the scenic horizon and the purple that dusted the night sky, she missed him more than ever.
And as if to answer her prayers- or perhaps to ruin her best-laid plans- fate delivered her heart's desire.
"...L-Ladybug?"