Notes:
Alright, friends. I am so very, completely, entirely sorry for the delay in the chapters. The holiday season seriously kicked my ass. But, I'm back. Also, I know this story is starting off slowly-a lot more slowly than I had originally intended-but it should pick up pretty soon. The set up is basically finished now. So, enjoy this longer-than-average (for me, anyway) chapter, and the promise of more soon to come.
The sun assaulted Adrien's eyes before he even opened them, the red glow behind his eyelids searing his brain like a branding iron. There was a sick taste in his mouth, and a smell like nail polish remover burning his nose, and his limbs felt heavy and sore, like he'd done a hard workout the day before, when he knew he hadn't. His first thought was that he must have overworked himself as Chat Noir, gotten injured. The suit healed most of the external injuries, if they weren't too bad, but he always felt stiff and achy the next day. The rest of it, though? The taste and smell? That reminded him of the two or three times he'd ever been drunk before. That would also explain why he didn't really remember what had happened.
All that seemed unimportant, though. He snuggled further under the blanket, burying his face away from the sun. The harsh light disappeared, and the smell changed, to something more like…he breathed deeply…baked apples and sugar. Adrien blinked, glancing down to see the deep blue hair tickling his nose, eyes following it down to where Marinette's face was pressed against his bare chest, the blankets pulled up to the top of her head. For a moment, he was frozen in complete confusion. He was…in bed…. with Marinette…in what was obviously not his own expensive super-comfortable mattress…How…?
There was movement in the corner of is eye. His gaze flickered toward it and saw Nino and Alya curled up together, a few feet away from a stirring Chloe. That was odd. Why was everyone there, together, not a sign of aggression in sight?
It all came rushing back to him.
His father is Hawkmoth—was. Hawkmoth was dead. His father was dead.
His father was dead.
And the world knew he was Chat Noir. He could see Plagg curled up on a pillow on the floor next to two other Kwamii. He glanced back down at Marinette—at Ladybug. He couldn't even summon a smile at that. Here he was in the arms of the woman he loved—both women he loved-and he couldn't be happy. Slowly, trying not to wake Marinette up, he sat, rubbing his eyes. There was…he was empty. He could feel it at the back of his mind, this crushing grief and rage and pain, but he knew it would overwhelm him if he let it free. There was something else there, too, a knowing, like a tickle in his brain. There was a fear of setting loose those feelings, a fear that stemmed from Chat Noir more than from Adrien. What had Plagg said? The Ladybug and Black Cat miraculous holders were more unstable? He felt the truth of that. So, he held it all back, until he was numb.
Marinette mumbled in protest as she slowly came to. She could feel the familiar ache behind her eyes that followed one of Alya's "rainy days." She knew better than to open her eyes yet; she could feel sunlight on her face. She worked though the previous day in her head, her body shifting in response to the sudden chill, clinging to the nearest heat source like—well, like a ladybug. She froze as her memories led her to the Eiffel Tower, and the fall. She flinched as she relived the sound of the body hitting the pavement, the keening sounds her partner had made, the cry when he had shoved Plagg away to reveal a broken Adrien. Holy crap! Adrien was Chat Noir! No, that didn't matter right now. What mattered was her recently orphaned friend. Quickly, she flitted through the rest of the night, several embarrassing confessions, a huge reveal to almost everyone that mattered to her. Then it all got a little fuzzy. She was definitely in a bed, not the floor, which was the last place she remembered being. She braced herself for that first agonizing glance of light, before forcing her eyelids open. Her head was resting on something firm and denim-covered. She followed the line of it up, turning her head. She froze for a moment as she caught sight of smooth skin over perfectly sculpted abs, but forced her eyes to keep moving, up and up, until they met Adrien's.
Under normal circumstances, se would have probably been adorable clumsy, probably jumped and squealed and blushed like crazy—in general, made a fool of herself. But there was something in his eyes that broke through the haze that usually covered her mind around him. It was like a crack in a windshield. His face was almost completely blank, but she knew him. She knew him. She could see the miniscule tremble of his shoulders, and the tenseness of is arms. She could almost feel the force of his jaw clenching. She could see behind that crack, and knew what was going on inside his head. This was Chat Noir. This was the strength and power, the sheer force of will of her partner; Chat Noir didn't know the word quit. There was still someone out there who needed Lady Bug and Chat Noir, and he couldn't worry about anything else yet.
He had separated himself again, like they'd promised years ago that they would never do again, for fear of breaking themselves down. Didn't matter now; he was already broken.
"Hey." Marinette said quietly, grabbing his hand.
"Was that all real?" Adrien asked in a dead voice.
Marinette tried to keep the pity she felt out of her expression; he did not want her pity. "Yes, Chaton. It was real." She wanted to say so much more—I'm sorry, I' here for you, don't shut me out—but she didn't. She couldn't They had work to do.
He bowed his head for a moment. His blond hair was mussed from sleep; like this, it was easier to see the resemblance to Chat Noir.
By then the others were stirring, groaning quietly at the collective hangover. Marinette winced as Adrien shifted a little, moving her head. "Coffee." She sighed, swinging herself up off the pull-out bed. She watched Adrien out the corner of her eye as she maneuvered into the kitchen to her coffee maker. He flexed his arms over his head, muscles moving smoothly. She could remember when they were in high school still; he had grown and filled out a lot since then. Sure, he had been gorgeous, but not this fit. Running around rooftops for five years seemed to have that effect on the body. She should know; her own body had been sculpted by the repetitive exercise and abuse of patrols and fighting. But, why was Adrien not wearing a shirt? She knew nothing had happened between them, not really, last night. It was probably just an automatic habit.
As the smell of coffee and the sound of the percolator dripping filled the air, they all took turns stretching and getting up. Marinette compulsively began to tidy up, removing the pizza box and the empty bottles, folding up blankets. Adrien wordlessly helped, putting the couch back together and stacking the pile of blankets on the floor. There was a deep collective sigh as the mugs were passed around, at that first sip of the rich liquid. You could say all you wanted about other magic hangover cures, but nothing really worked better than a strong cup of coffee. Then, there was silence. No one was sure just how to break it.
Finally, Marinette straightened her shoulders. "Everyone can take turns showering here. Then, we can go to the bakery for breakfast." There were grins at that. The Dupain-Cheng bakery was by and far the best breakfast they could wish for—fresh croissants, apple tarts, warm bread with hazelnut cream, anyone? "I…" She glanced guiltily towards Adrien a moment. "I need to talk to my parents, anyway. I think it's past time they knew…about me. That gives us a secondary base if necessary." The others shared a look, then nodded; it made perfect sense. "From there, we can discuss our next steps. So, if no one objects, I would like first dibs on the shower list."
"You do you, girl." Alya said. "I'll make more coffee." No one argued with that.
Marinette squeezed Adrien's hand gently. "I'll be right back, Chaton." He didn't respond. So, she gathered her clothes from her room and a towel from the closet, and shut herself in her bathroom. She leaned against the door for a moment and sighed. She couldn't even imagine what Adrien was going through at the moment, but she knew he was wrecked. And, she couldn't do anything for him but be there, hold his hand when he needed.
She stepped under the hot stream of water, letting the apples and cinnamon-scent of her shampoo overtake her senses and soothe away her fears. The smell always reminded her of mornings at the bakery; this was no exception. She was in longer than she had intended, but no matter how hard she scrubbed at her skin, she still felt…tarnished, dirty. Like the blood was still on her. In her mind, she knew that the blood never touched her, that her suit protected her, but still.
She finally stepped out of the steamy shower and slipped into her go-to comfort outfit: soft black yoga pants, a comfy sports bra, and a light pink cotton tank top. She left the room towel-drying her hair, signaling Alya it was her turn. When her hair was manageably drying in her signature pig tails, she looked out and saw Adrien on the couch, Chloe on one side of him, leaning her head against his side, an arm wrapped around each other. Silently, Marinette sat on the other side of him and matched her position. She met Chloe's eyes as Adrien's other arm settled around her, pulling her closer; the blonde's eyes were red-rimmed and a little puffy, and full of sadness, with a touch of fear. Marinette didn't like seeing that look in anyone's eyes, but she knew her own expression was probably identical. She reached over and took Chloe's hand, squeezing it gently. Chloe's hand twitched in surprise for a second, but she didn't pull away. Together, the three sat like that in their circle, taking comfort from their friends as they tried to come to grips with everything that had just happened.
Adrien and Chloe both had taken a shower the night before, and Nino's shower only lasted a few minutes, so, before long, the party was ready to go. Marinette pulled a light, black runner's jacket on, zipping it up. Then, she remembered that the press was out there, somewhere, hoping to pounce on the first exclusive interview with Adrien Agreste/Chat Noir. The bakery was only a few blocks away, but it would still be difficult to make it there without being spotted. She dug in her closet until she found what she was looking for: an oversized forest green pullover hoodie.
"Put this on." She said as she tossed it to Adrien. He looked down at it, then arched an eyebrow, a hint of a smirk on his face. Marinette blushed. "What? I like Attack on Titan. So, sue me." She said. On the back of the hoodie, the wings of freedom shone out proudly. I didn't wear the sweatshirt much; it had been a gift from my cousin a couple years ago. But, I did actually like Attack on Titan.
"Nothing wrong with it." He answered. "I just pictured you more…Garrison than Scout Regiment." My eyes widened in surprise. "Ladybug keeps the peace, and protects the citizens. And, if Paris were ever attacked by Titans, I could see you on the battlements giving orders."
"You know me," I said, grinning. "I like to be in the thick of the action. I wouldn't be on the wall; I'd be in the streets. Fighting right alongside my partner, of course."
Chloe spoke up. "I agree with Marinette. Ladybug's not just a fighter; she's a symbol for hope, just like the wings of freedom. She would be out beyond the walls doing everything she could to make sure that no one would ever get hurt again." My jaw dropped. She noticed and smiled. "What? Surprised I know my anime?"
"Surprised you can keep up with their geek-speak." Alya said, leaning into Nino, who was nodding in agreement.
"Chloe and I used to hang out watching anime all the time on the weekends. It kind of became our thing." Adrien said, expression falling again. "Dad didn't approve."
Marinette squeezed his hand, not sure how to respond. "Alright," She said after a minute. "Come on. I'm starving." Marinette and Adrien both drew up their hoods and hid in their jackets, looking towards the ground the entire way. Luckily, they managed to make it all the way to the bakery without notice.
"Mari!" her mother shouted as they stepped through the door. Marinette quickly threw her arms around her parents, hugging them fiercely. Her father looked a little worried, no doubt worried about her late-night call. "Is everything okay?"
Marinette pulled away and gave them a sad smile. "Hey, uh, do you think we can close the shop for a bit and go upstairs? We need to talk." They didn't argue; there was a note of authority in their daughter's voice they rarely heard, and something else, like fear, or apprehension. So, they put a sign on the door, and ushered everyone upstairs with a plate of pastries that they fell on like ravenous wolves.
"So," Marinette began nervously. How did one do this? Tell her parents that she'd been lying to them, sneaking out, ignoring all the normal rules of being a teenager, for years? "Um."
Adrien chose that moment to ditch the hoodie against the warmth of the Dupain-Cheng's apartment. Her parents gaped at him for a second, glancing back and forth between him and Marinette. "Honey," Her mother said cautiously. "You know that the entire city of Paris is looking for Adrien, here, right?"
Adrien shrugged apathetically. "They usually are in one way or another."
Mrs. Dupain-Cheng blinked in surprise at that tone of voice from such a usually warm, caring boy. Especially since said boy's father was just killed. On public television. Right before his eyes. "Well, Adrien, dear, everyone wants to make sure you're okay. We're all worried. Especially since you disappeared after…"
"It wasn't like he could just stay out in the open after his identity was revealed, mom." Marinette broke in. "Really, none of us can, now." She added as an afterthought.
"Are you in danger, Marinette?" Her father demanded, sitting forward.
That was it. The perfect opening to introduce the very sensitive topic. She hesitated, glancing between her friends. "Mom, dad…I—" After so long hiding her secret, it was like the words didn't want to be released, sticking in her throat. "I'm…always in danger. Because. I'm…I am Ladybug." She held her breath, eyes boring into her parents.
They didn't blink, didn't even look surprised. There was a silence. "Well, what does that have to do with it?" Her mother said finally.
"Wh-what do you mean? It means I've been flying around and fighting villains since high school and…did you KNOW?!" She shouted the last part, standing up in shock.
Her parents shared a glance. "Well, we aren't stupid, honey." Her mother answered. "Do you know how many times we would go to check on you only to find you mysteriously not in your room, despite the fact that there is no way you could have slipped past us. Or how many horrible excuses you came up with, or how many times we had to cover for you when the school didn't know where you were?"
Chloe laughed, covering her mouth as her shoulders shook. She laughed and laughed, and the others stared at her. "I told you!" She gasped between giggles. "I told you; it was so obvious!"
Alya smacked her palm against her forehead, closing her eyes in shame. "I'm such a horrible investigator." She muttered to herself. Nino wrapped a comforting arm around her. "I'm a reporter, and I missed the absolute biggest story of the century."
Marinette shook off her shock, prioritizing the issues she was suddenly facing. Her parents knew. That was step one. Now they needed to know the risks. She cleared her throat, making sure to recapture their attention. "Okay, here's what is going on. Adrien's secret is out. Mine is not. We can use that, to an extent, to allow for some protection."
"What protection do you need? Hawkmoth is—" Her father cut off his sentence abruptly, cutting his eyes to Adrien.
"Even if he is out of the picture," Marinette breezed past her father's nervous statement. "We have to deal with Queen Bee. She, like the rest of Paris, now knows Adrien is Chat Noir, and with his fame as a model, it isn't difficult to figure out who his friends and their families are. Especially when the media finally catches up. The four of us, especially," She motioned to the group in the room, "Are vulnerable from this point forward. And, so are you." Her parents shared a worried glance, but didn't say anything. "Maman, Papa, I think it's time for a vacation in the country." She said.
"I think you might be right." Her mother said slowly. "I've been meaning to visit your sister. I think we can spare a few days for a visit, don't you, love?" Her father nodded. "But, sweetheart, will you be okay?" She took Marinette's hands in hers and squeezed them.
Marinette pursed her lips and nodded. "We will be fine, Maman. And I will call you as soon as the danger has passed. I promise." She turned back to her friends, giving Alya and Nino a wry smile. "I would ask you two to take your families on a trip, too, but you wouldn't, would you?"
"Hell no, girl." Alya said firmly. "We aren't leaving you and Adrien alone."
Marinette shook her head. "Okay, then. Chole?" The blonde nodded in acknowledgement. "Your father's hotel is guarded and safe, right? Could they stay there? Could we all, actually? Temporarily?"
"I'll ask Daddy, but it shouldn't be too much of a problem. It won't be very safe from the media, though." She answered. Then her eyes lit up. "But, maybe Daddy can help us get a place for Ladybug and Chat Noir that can't be traced. A secret hideout."
Marinette placed a finger on her chin contemplatively. "That would be our best bet for the two of us. I still think Alya and Nino, and their families if we can't get them out of town, should stay at the hotel. It wouldn't be perfectly safe, but better than nothing." She nodded. "If you could arrange that, Chloe, we might be set. To the rest of Paris, it would look like Marinette Dupain-Cheng and her family went away for a bit. That will give me a lot more freedom to patrol and investigate." She fell silent for a moment before slowly nodding again. "Then, all that is left is to put it all in motion, and for Adrien and me to create our plan of attack." She met the blond's eyes across the room. But they weren't Adrien's; those eyes belonged to Chat Noir. Adrien had taken a back seat. His grieving would have to wait until Paris was safe; he would fall apart then.
"Then, I'm going to go try and convince my parents to leave." Alya said. Her voice was subdued, like she was just understanding the severity of the situation they were in.
"Me, too." Nino clapped a hand on Adrien's shoulder. "You gonna be okay here, man?" Adrien nodded sadly.
Chloe was already pulling out her phone. "I'm going to get the hotel and security past Daddy. I'll call everyone when we're set up." Her face showed no hint of the regal disdain it used to. She looked like she was as invested as the others in the room—like a true friend. Marinette realized that was exactly what she had become, as real a friend as Nino or Adrien, or even Alya. That thought brought a small smile to her face.
"You can stay here, chaton," Marinette said gently. "If you want." He nodded, sinking onto the couch wordlessly as the other three made their way back down the stairs to fulfill their tasks. Her smile fell again. It hurt to see him like this, but she was lost as to what she could do to ease his pain. "Here," She snapped open her purse. "You can keep these guys company." She said as the three Kwamii flew out and set back down on the coffee table.
"Oh my." Marinette's mother pressed a hand over her heart.
"Oh, yeah. Maman, Papa, I would like to introduce you to Tikki, Plagg, and Nooroo." Each of them waved and smiled as they were introduced. "They are the spirits of the Miraculous that give us our powers. Well, us, and Hawkmoth."
"Nice to meet you," Her mother said, a little breathless.
Marinette quietly ushered them into their bedroom, grabbing a large suitcase from the bottom of the coat closet on their way and shutting the door. She sighed, feeling worn out already. In silence, her parents began rifling through drawers and through the closet, carefully stacking them in the open suitcase on their bed. Without warning, Marinette threw herself at them, her father catching her in a bear hug. Her mother stroked her hair gently, kissing the crown of her head as her father murmured soft words. "I wish you didn't have to leave." She whispered.
"We don't, you know. We could stay at the hotel with your friends." Her mother sounded as unconvinced as Marinette felt.
"You do, though." Marinette's voice told them just how torn she really felt. "Adrien's secret is out. Mine could be next, and if anyone found out..." She nodded again. "You really do have to go. I hate it, but you do. I couldn't stand it if anything happened to either of you because of me. I wouldn't be able to fight like I need to, either, if I know you're here and in as much danger as the rest of Paris." They didn't argue with her, trusting her judgement. She realized that she hadn't sounded like Marinette. It was Ladybug's voice coming from her lips—her stronger, more resilient, no-nonsense, duty-driven other half. She released her parents and wiped a few stray tears from the corners of her eyes. "I'm going to go get a bag for me as well. We want to make it look like I left with you. It's only a matter of time before Queen Bee comes here."
Two cabs arrived at the Dupain-Cheng bakery at 4pm on the dot. Marinette hugged her parents goodbye inside the shop, then stepped out with them, her backpack over her shoulder and a small suitcase rolling behind her. Keeping her backpack with her, she slid her case into the trunk and slid into the backseat next to her mother, her father sitting in the front seat. In the bustle of loading the trunk, Adrien slipped out, hidden within the depths of the hoodie, and into the second cab. They pulled away from the curb together. To the rest of the world, it looked like Marinette was leaving with her parents. But, 3 blocks into their trip to the train station, both cabs pulled over, and she made a quick dash to the second one, leaping in next to Adrien, and the two cars parted, one heading to the station, and the one with the two heroes heading towards Le Grand Paris to meet the others. Marinette pressed her face against the glass, watching her parents' cab disappear into the Paris traffic. There was a sinking feeling in her chest, a feeling like it was the last time they would see each other. She tried to shake it off; of course they would see each other again, just as soon as they defeated Queen Bee. She turned back to the front, reaching across the seat to take Adrien's hand, a single tear falling down her cheek.