Marinette shot up in her bed, gasping for air. She looked frantically around, but soon took in the familiarity of her room. A sleepy Tikki looked up at her from her pillow.
"Are you alright Marinette?" The kwami asked, although she already knew the answer.
"It was just the same nightmare again Tikki. I'll be alright. I might just go and get a drink of water."
It had been just over a month since the Akuma at Chloe's after party. It hadn't been a particularly bad akuma, but Chat had taken a heavy blow while protecting her. She had always hated seeing Chat get hurt on her account, even though she knew the Miraculous Ladybugs fixed everything, but it seemed so much harder now knowing it was also Adrien. He had been distracted during the fight, his mind clearly elsewhere. She felt that it was something to do with the phone call he had gotten just before that from his father, but after the akuma had interrupted them she hadn't had a chance to ask him about it. When she saw him the following day he hadn't mentioned it, instead making his way to her father in the kitchen and immersing himself in the bread dough. Kneading the dough seemed to have been therapeutic to him so she didn't like to interrupt, but he seemed testy when his father was mentioned, so she left it.
On top of that, she had also broken her own rule after only a few days. After telling Adrien it would be safer for Ladybug and Chat Noir to remain professional, she kissed him. It wasn't a little kiss either. Her overwhelming sense of relief at seeing him alright again had her crashing him into a wall and she pressed her frantic lips onto his. Chat, of course, didn't hold back either. In her defence, she thought they were hidden from public view, but she should have known her best friend better than that. Alya has just gotten a new long range camera which she eagerly put to 'good' use. The steamy images became the lead story on the Ladyblogger and until the perfume advertisement was released, was the most downloaded image in Paris.
There had been one revelation though during that akuma fight. Neither of them needed to recharge after using their special powers. The akumas that came after that were not necessarily stronger, but more complicated, like Hawkmoth was just checking how long they could last. Now that they were adults, they had the same longevity as him. Tikki said that it would apply to all the miraculous holders so it did give Marinette some comfort that if it ever came down to a showdown, their team would be at its strongest. Maybe the time to end the reign of Hawkmoth will be sooner rather than later. She hoped so.
Returning from the kitchen she felt a cold shiver run down her back thinking about the nightmare again. They weren't new, she'd had them on and off over the years, but the intensity of them was stronger now, because her own feelings were stronger. Tikki told her the nightmares were simply a projection of her own fears, but that didn't make Marinette feel all that much better about it. She had always known that falling in love Chat would bring with it it's own set of difficulties, and was one of the reasons she had tried to keep her feelings for her partner platonic. That of course became impossible once she knew who he was and Adrien would always put himself in danger before he would ever let anything happen to her. She hated it, she hated watching him sacrifice himself for her, she hated seeing him get hurt and take the hits, but she also loved him all the more for it.
Marinette started making her way back to her bed when she heard something that sounded like a snore coming from her balcony. She thought maybe she was hearing things, but catching Tikki's eyes she knew her kwami had heard it too. Opening the hatch she gasped at the sight of Chat, curled up asleep on her deck chair. What on earth was he doing here in the middle of the night? Quietly she moved over to crouch down in front of him. She didn't want to have to wake him, but she couldn't very well leave him there like that. Gently she ran her fingers through his hair and he softly began to purr. "Adrien." She whispered. "You need to wake up now Chaton." Chat began to stir, his eyes blinking open before he sat up with a start.
"I'm sorry." He apologised, rubbing his eyes. "I couldn't...I didn't realise it was after midnight when I came and you were already asleep." He averted his gaze away from her. "I didn't want to wake you and I...didn't want to go back. I felt better just being here near you." She could see tears starting to form in his eyes. She placed her hands on his shoulders.
"What happened to you mon minou?" She asked, wiping a stray tear away with her thumb. "Was it your father?" Chat nodded slowly, his head lowered.
"We got into a fight, a really bad one. If it hadn't been for Nathalie stepping in when she did..." He leaned forward, dropping his head onto her shoulder. She patted his head behind his cat ears as his arms snaked around her waist, holding her tight.
"Come inside Kitty. I'll make you a warm drink and we'll talk." She sat back looking at his face with an encouraging smile.
"I don't want to wake your parents. I couldn't explain…"
"They're not here remember?" She interrupted. "They catered a wedding out of town yesterday and they stayed overnight there. I'll be opening the bakery in the morning, but I'm not planning on going back to sleep now until I know you're alright." Adrien nodded and quietly dropped his transformation. He was still dressed and had clearly not been to bed at all.
"You okay kid?" Plagg asked, floating up and around Adrien's face with concern. He was joined by Tikki who had been listening to everything and looked equally concerned for her counterpart. Plagg seemed extra focused on the side of Adrien's face.
"I'll be fine now Plagg." The blonde responded. The Cat Kwami ruffled up with all his fur standing on end.
"I'm going to Cataclysm that arsehole into his next life." He growled. Adrien cupped both his hands and around his Kwami, rubbing his head soothingly.
"It's alright Plagg, settle down. You could Cataclysm half of Paris with that temper. You go hang with Tikki and relax for a while." He handed Plagg some camembert and the two Kwami's left to find their own cozy corner.
Marinette took Adrien's hand and led him down to the kitchen, sitting him at the kitchen table. He held her hand up and kissed the inside of her wrist, and unspoken thank you in his eyes. Although she was still in her pajamas, neither seemed embarrassed by that fact. Marinette placed out some leftover pastries for Adrien, which he hungrily devoured. She wondered if he'd even had any dinner. They stayed in relative silence as Marinette warmed the milk over the stove and stirred in the chocolate. Adrien watched her as she worked, his heart so full of love for her. Despite what had transpired with his father, he felt incredibly lucky. Here it was, almost 3am and she is making hot chocolates and wanting to look after him with her messy bed hair and pink fluffy slippers. He couldn't help smiling to himself at how natural and domestic it felt, like they had done this for years like an old married couple.
Adrien could easily imagine this being his life. Waking up early in the morning and having a quiet breakfast with Marinette before starting on the fresh bread and buns. He would run the store while she made her designs, maybe with two or three little ones running around the bakery. Oh and a hamster, although Plagg may not appreciate the competition. No more modelling, no more fame, just a quiet ordinary life. Well as ordinary as being the holders of creation and destruction could be. Then at the end of a long day, it would just be the two of them again in the quiet of the evening, and he could hold her and kiss her and…"
Marinette came over and sat the drinks on the kitchen table. The two sipped them quietly, the rich, warm liquid calming him down. Adrien reached out and held her hand, giving it a slight squeeze. She waited for him to talk first and could see in his face he was still trying to process what had happened and how he was going to tell her. She had now also become aware of a red mark on the side of his face.
"My father...I don't know what's happening to him, but I don't even know who he is anymore or why he seems to hate me so much." Marinette frowned slightly and reached out with her other hand to touch his face. He flinched slightly before leaning into her hand.
"Tell me what happened Adrien. You know I'm always here for you." She said softly. Adrien took both of her hands in his, turning in his seat to face her.
"It started on the night of Chloe's party. He called and told me off for kissing you in public, saying it was unprofessional. I had to remind him that you were my girlfriend and not an employee so I can kiss you wherever and however I want." Marinette blushed slightly and he had to smile at that. "A week later, he then said that if I didn't make you take the summer internship, then I was to dump you and find someone else who would 'fit in' as he put it." He kissed her hands. "I won't ever be doing that, I promise you. He seems to want to try and drive a wedge between us, but I won't let him. I told him I would walk out first before I gave you up." Marinette didn't know what to say. She knew over the last few weeks something had been wrong between Adrien and his father. Despite being his girlfriend for over a month now and the overwhelming success of the new fragrance campaign she had thought it odd that Gabriel had never wanted to see her. Adrien had spent every free moment he had at the bakery, but Marinette had not even been invited for a lunch or a dinner with Gabriel. In fact, she had seen more of Nathalie than his father.
"Adrien, I'll take the internship if it's going to cause trouble for you." But the blonde shook his head.
"I don't want you too Bug. He's become hard and cruel and after what's happened, I don't want you anywhere near him. Tonight he demanded I take up a new modeling schedule after he had promised me I could step back from it to work in the office. When I refused he threatened to lock me back in my room and cut me off from everyone. I lost it a bit, yelling at him that I was an adult now and that he can't control me anymore. He then started yelling that if he couldn't be happy then I shouldn't be either." He began to choke back tears. "I got angry and said that he was just jealous of us because I was capable of something he wasn't, being able to really love someone. That's when he backhanded me and said I didn't deserve to look so much like my mother. Nathalie then stepped in to restrain him and I stormed out." Marinette moved to sit across his lap, wrapping her arms tightly around him as he cried into her shoulder. Her heart was breaking for him. This wasn't right. Marinette understood that Gabriel missed his wife, but he was now taking it out on Adrien. He even seemed to have despised the fact that Adrien looked like his mother, and she hated Gabriel for it.
Once Adrien began to calm down again they made their way back up to her room. The two Kwami's were curled around each other on Tikki's pillow. Plagg's ears twitched as they entered the room, but he didn't stir. Marientte sat up on her bed and patted the spot next to her for Adrien to sit. She took his hand in hers, intwing their fingers together.
"So what are you going to do now?" She asked. Adrien sat back into the pillows stretching out his legs.
"I don't know. We just seem to be more distant than ever. I mean, he didn't even come to our graduation last week." Marinette dropped her head. Everyone had noticed that Adrien was the only person who didn't have a parent there. Nathalie came, of course, showing all the pride a mother would have held as Adrien was named the highest achieving student of the graduating class. She told him his own mother would have been so proud of him, and it brought tears to his eyes. Marinette's parents too celebrated with him, as well as messages from his cousin and Aunt, but his father? Not a word, and it hurt Adrien more than words could have expressed.
Marientte leaned over, laying her head on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. Adrien laid his head on hers, rubbing her arm up and down with his hand. She was sick and tired of seeing the hurt in her Kitty's eyes from that man.
"I don't know what I would have done without you m'lady." He said softly. "My life was so dark and empty after my mother left. Growing up I didn't really have anyone else, except the occasional visit from Chloe or Felix. But suddenly then there was you. This amazing, beautiful, talented girl that crashed into my life and into my heart. I wasn't lying when I said to Luka I would give it all up for you Marinette. You're more important to me than the fame, or the money." She sat up to look at him. Adrien held her face between his hands as he looked into her bluebell eyes. "I would die a thousand deaths before I let anything or anyone come between us."
Marinette didn't have a chance to respond before his lips crashed into hers. It was heated, and maybe a little desperate, but he needed it right now. He needed to be loved, and she met his fervour with equal vigor. They were walking a tightrope, and they both knew it. It would be so easy just to fall into the abyss together. Pulling away from each other breathless, he traced a thumb over her lips before closing his eyes and pressing in forehead against hers.
"I better go." He said breathlessly, the energy in the air vibrating between them. "If I don't go now, I might lose the will power to."
"You don't have to go." She whispered. He laughed a low chuckle.
"Don't tempt me Princess." He mumbled against her neck as he lightly pressed a kiss there, causing her to shiver and gasp softly. Did she have any idea what this was doing to him? His senses were becoming clouded by the smell of her hair, the softness of her skin and the smooth velvet of her voice. He wanted her desperately, his pulse racing as he let his head fall onto her shoulder, sighing. "Every part of me wants to stay here with you, but it wouldn't be the right thing to do, not tonight." He looked back up at her, gently tucking her hair behind her ear, her eyes offering him all her love. "This isn't how I want it to happen. Besides, I better get back before Nathalie misses me." He lightly pressed another kiss to her lips before calling Plagg over.
"Do we have to kid? I didn't even get any cheese puffs." Adrien rolled his eyes.
"We'll be back in a few hours. You can have some then. Claws out."
Marinette followed him up onto the balcony, her heart still beating wildly in her chest. There was just the faintest glimmer of daylight breaking on the horizon. Chat turned to her, holding her hands he kissed them both on the knuckles before looking back at her. "You deserve better than this broken stray, Marinette, but you'll always have my heart." Marinette looked up at him, letting go of his hands and holding his head instead between them, tears brimming in her own eyes.
"Don't say that Kitty. Don't you ever say I don't deserve you." She pleaded, searching into his cat eyes. "You are the only Chat Noir I ever want, because without you, I could never go on as Ladybug. I love you Adrien Agreste, don't you ever forget that." She pulled him down into another heated kiss, Chat carefully caressing her back, being mindful of his claws. When they finally parted, she looked at him earnestly. "If your father ever touches you again, you come straight to me. Day or night. My parents would never turn you out." He smiled at her before taking to the rooftops, returning back to his own room.
A few days later, Gabriel Agreste stood alone in the vast chamber, the only illumination coming from the light within the glass sarcophagus that held his wife, Emilie. It was mid morning, but he would be leaving soon and he always visited her before he left. Behind him came the rhythmic clacking of Nathalie's heeled shoes as she approached him. "Your train has been booked Sir." She said solemnly. "How long will you be gone for?" Gabriel clasped his hands behind his back.
"Technically only about 48hrs, but officially 4 days. The akuma's are about ready to harvest so I will use this little interruption to my advantage." Nathalie looked away from him. A member of the board of directors had died suddenly in London, meaning Gabriel had to attend the funeral as a matter of face, but his lack of empathy was almost palpable. This was going to delay the opening of the London expansion and he was clearly irritated by it. "Where is Adrien?" He asked with a sharp edge in his voice.
"He's with Marinette." Gabriel grunted in response.
"He spends a lot of time with her doesn't he?" Nathalie wasn't sure whether the tone in his voice was sarcasm or contempt.
"Can you blame him Gabriel?" She bit back. "You told him to get a girlfriend and then you threaten their relationship. The two of you have hardly spoken since that fight the other night and Adrien has become even more protective of her." Gabriel looked at her with a twisted smirk on his face. Nathalie was starting to lose her composure. "You hit him Gabriel, you're lucky he stayed here at all."
"I have to be sure Nathalie. You can't tell the strength of a bond until you try to break it." He replied in his monotone voice. Nathalie looked at him with disgust.
"You can't be serious? Why would you even do that? I can assure you that Marinette is no gold digger if it's the company you're worried about."
"I'm well aware of that, thank you Nathalie. The fact she keeps turning down all the offers I have made is testimony to that. But if my plans are to succeed, then I need to be completely certain of Adrien's feelings towards her. How far is he really willing to go?" He laid a hand on top of the sarcophagus, staring longingly at the body within. "What would he be willing to give up?" He said mostly to himself, but Nathalie heard it.
"Gabriel what is this about? You have been talking about this plan of yours for weeks now, but I still have no idea what it is. What aren't you telling me?" Her voice was beginning to rise, but Gabriel looked at her with that stone cold stare.
"Soon Nathalie, all will be clear soon. After the expansion opening it will be time, I'm sure." He turned to her with an intense stare. "Do you think there is any truth to the rumours about the extent of their relationship?" Nathalie raised an eyebrow at him.
"If you mean those stories Lila spread about them in Adrien's office then no. Adrien was brought up to be a gentleman, and I believe his caring nature would never permit him to use a female like that. He's a romantic at heart, much like his mother." Her eyes dropped down to the sarcophagus. Gabriel scoffed to himself.
"So it's love then is it?"
"Yes Gabriel, it's love." She spat the words at him, her anger rising. "You know, that emotion you seemed to have forgotten about. Your son is in love, desperately in love with his whole heart and soul, with a girl that has made him happier than he has ever been. It doesn't require a physical act for that to be obvious and you...you won't even talk to her or acknowledge how important she is to him." Gabriel turned from her looking back at Emilie.
"I think it's best that I keep my distance. I don't need emotions confusing the course." He then turned on his heels, departing from the chamber.
Nathalie stood for a long time staring at Emilie, Gabriel's words ringing in her ears. "What would he be willing to give up?" She felt knots in her stomach. "Emilie, I don't know what he's doing." She said, placing her hand on the glass. "But I'll keep Adrien safe. I promise you, if it takes my last breath I won't let Gabriel hurt him again." Her phone buzzed with a message from Adrien's bodyguard upstairs. Since Adrien was spending the day at the bakery, there was no need for his bodyguard to accompany him. Nathalie was happy to give him all the time in the world with Marinette and her family.
Returning up to the ground floor, she found the bodyguard seated at the surveillance cameras. Gabriel had already left via a taxi for the train so there was no one else left in the house. As Nathalie approached she could see the concerned look on the bodyguard's face. "What is it?" She asked as she approached the desk. The man pointed to the screen on the monitor. It was dated a few days ago with a timestamp of 11:30AM. Nathalie narrowed her eyes in on the image. "Wait, is that Adrien's room?" She asked. The guard nodded. That was strange. Adrien had never had a camera pointed towards his bedroom before. "How long has this been here?" The man held up 5 fingers. "Five days?" She clarified. So, less than a week. She could see on the footage Adrien walking around his room, apparently talking to himself. Looking at the date, she figured out it was the night of his fight with his father. The fact he was also holding a bag of ice to his cheek supported that fact.
The bodyguard then fast-forwards the footage to 12:17AM. Nathalie leaned in as Adrien opened his window and a bright light engulfed him. She gasped, covering her mouth as the image of Chat Noir then jumped out the window and into the night. Adrien was Chat Noir. The enormity of that realisation hit her like a ton of bricks. Feeling her legs become weak, she sat down in the seat beside the guard. Adrien is Chat Noir. Gabriel had been fighting against his own son all this time. And she...oh God it didn't bear thinking about. She looked back at the bodyguard, his own expression looked almost sympathetic.
"You knew didn't you?" She asked. He nodded his head. Of course he would, she thought. He would have noticed over 4 years Adrien disappearing during Akuma attacks, he was closer to Adrien than anyone. He had been keeping his secret for years and Adrien didn't even know it. He had tried to protect both Adrien and his superhero self without giving anything away. Now though he wasn't just protecting one secret but two.
Nathalie fast-forwards the footage again to see Chat Noir returning at around 5:03AM. The transformation drops and she watches as he holds up something which then floats away. Obviously his kwami is being fed. But where would he have gone in the middle of the night like that? He was clearly upset when he left, but now he seems calm. Would he have gone to see Ladybug? It was then that a second realisation hit her. "Marinette...she's Ladybug." The bodyguard's eyes never changed as he looked at Nathalie. In a way he looked relieved that somebody else knew the secret and he would no longer have to bear this burden alone.
"Has anyone else seen this footage?" She asked urgently. He shook his head. Good, Gabriel doesn't know anything. "Alright then. Erase everything and anything else that might come up that could give them away. I fear we might be walking on dangerous ground now." She took out her tablet, scrolling through her calendar. "Adrien and Marinette are due to attend the London store opening. It should have been the end of this week, but most likely will be next week now with the funeral tomorrow. That gives us about two weeks." She looked at her watch. "I have a meeting with a real estate agent I need to get to. You might as well know that I'm buying my own apartment and I intended to hand in my resignation, but this complicates things." She looked at Adrien's bodyguard earnestly. "I know I can trust you to keep an eye on them. We need to get Adrien away from his father. I believe something terrible is going to happen, and we have only 2 weeks to plan for it."
The bodyguard nodded as he began erasing the footage. Nathalie figured she would have to do something to that camera to put it out of commission. What Gabriel was hoping to achieve by spying on Adrien like that she didn't know, although he did seem to have an almost unhealthy obsession with the exact nature of Adrien's relationship with his girlfriend. Ladybug, she reminded herself. It all made so much more sense now why the two of them were so close, and why whatever Gabriel was planning, even more dangerous.