The Wicked
Chapter Two: Solace and Revelation
Sitting on the ledge of a gravel-coated rooftop, Adrien watched the clouds pass in front of the sun. The cold wind continued to blow, though it was weak. Since his return to his human form, Plagg comforted his partner, until the Kwami heard Ladybug arrive. "Hey, Ladybug," the black cat happily called out.
"Hi, Plagg," the ladybug Miraculous greeted her newest friend. "Tikki, Spots Off." Returning to her human form, Marinette let Tikki float up to her shoulder as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small box. "I know you love cheese, so I picked you up a cube. That way, you and Tikki can have your snack together."
The two Kwami's thanked Marinette, graciously accepted their treat, and flew to the ledge nearby to begin eating and catching up. After so many years, so many struggles, and so many fearful, lonely nights, the childlike spirits were finally together again.
"How're you holding out, Adrien?" the dark-haired young woman asked as she crouched down at her friend's side.
Finally looking away from the city below him, Adrien stared into Marinette's bluebell eyes, his own reddened, moist, and sticky. The young man then raised his trembling hands. "…I killed something today," he bitterly sobbed. "I-I've never…I've never used my powers to hurt or kill anyone before. I'm sorry."
"It was an accident," Marinette warmly answered as she placed her left arm around her friend and rested her hand on his shoulder. "There was nothing you could have done to stop it, Adrien. Faceless is back to normal, the mayor's safe, and we stopped another Akuma."
"But…what if this happens again?" Adrien sobbed, his voice cracking and truly vulnerable. "And," he choked out. "What if it's not just a bird that time? W-what if it's a man, a woman…what if it's you, Marinette? I…I don't want these hands anymore. I don't want…"
Marinette's mouth opened slightly for a second, only for her to close it and smile as a gentle breeze passed through the ribbons in her hair. "You don't need to worry," she assured her suffering friend. "I won't let that happen. We're a team, and that means we look out for each other." Adrien continued to sob, holding both hands out in front of his face. Suddenly, Marinette grabbed his wrists, pulled his arms down, and held on tightly yet gently. "…You're a good person, Adrien. You've done so many good things. I can't imagine what you're going through. When we were young, you told me your power was a curse. You said you destroyed everything you touched, like a fire." The dark-haired girl slowly opened her hands just enough to hold each of Adrien's. Her fingers moving between his, the blond young man felt the one he had known and the one he had dreamed of for so long, holding his weak, shaking hands. "You're not a monster. You're not a weapon. You're a hero, with a power that scares you. And you don't destroy…You purify, just like I do. Your Cataclysm cuts through walls that block us, items that the Akuma infected, and chains that could hold us. You're stronger than you think, Adrien. I wish you could see that. I wish you could see how beautiful your powers can really be."
Silence filled the air as Adrien began to shed tears of warmth and redemption. His heart slowly grew lighter as his guilt faded. Marinette continued to hold his hands as he lowered them onto his knees. Each young hero stared into their partner's eyes as the cold breeze grew warmer. For years, Marinette had dreamed of the day she could talk with Adrien, telling him everything she needed to, and to have him listen and understand. For years, Adrien had dreamed of the day Ladybug could see him for who he truly was, and to love him for or in spite of it. Neither had imagined the heavenly moment would ever come, yet here they were. For a moment, among the endless battles and countless struggles, there was solace and peace through understanding and truth. Marinette and Adrien finally smiled at one another, their doubts and fears fading.
"Ew, you don't think they're gonna kiss, do you?" Plagg blurted out in disgust.
"Plagg, be quiet!" Tikki scolded her old companion.
Marinette and Adrien quickly pulled their hands apart, their faces hot and blushing heavily, chuckled at themselves, and desperately thought up something to do with their warm, sweaty hands to take their minds off the moment.
"So, uh…are you gonna head back to school with me?" Marinette finally stuttered, breaking the awful silence and awkward giggling.
"Well, uh, I was gonna just stay here and sulk, but…" Adrien scrambled to collect himself, wiping the last of his tears away. "Maybe it'd be better if I keep myself busy. Besides, we'd get to spend some more time together…You know, like we usually do." The two blushed yet again and turned their faces away from one another.
"Um, you should probably drink some water," the dark-haired young woman added. "You know how crying dehydrates your skin."
"Good point," Adrien replied before opening his water bottle and nearly emptying it. "Thanks, Marinette." Marinette closed her eyes, smiled, and let out a brief, supportive breath of acceptance in the form of a "hmm." As the young woman began to walk towards her Kwami, she heard her friend's voice rise up yet again. "Marinette?"
Oh my gosh. Is he gonna kiss me? Marinette's mind began to race. I mean, I've dreamed about this, but I don't think I'm ready now. I mean, Adrien's the boy of my dreams, but Chat Noir is more like my goofy, annoying little brother. And what if he only likes me as Ladybug and can't stand me as Marinette? But, if he's kissing me as Marinette, that must mean he likes me! But does he still love Ladybug? This is so confusing. I thought things would make more sense if we knew each other's secret. But now, it's just a great, big…
"Marinette?" Adrien repeated with some concern in his voice.
"Yeah, what's up?" Marinette quickly snapped out of her awkward debate.
"The bird that died…what did you say it was?"
"…An albatross," a grave weight appeared in the young woman's words. "It's a bird that usually flies over water. They, um…have a legend about it."
"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner?" Adrien replied, catching his friend off-guard.
"Yeah, that's the one," Marinette answered. "I didn't know you were so poetic, Mister Agreste."
"Well, my dad used to have me read a lot of classic works when I was younger," the young man explained, though his voice was slowly adopting the gravity of his friend's. "That one just stuck with me… Now I feel like something terrible is coming."
"I know," Marinette sorrowfully declared as she waved Tikki into her purse. "I tried to stay strong, but I can't help but worry. Albatross don't normally show up in places like that. But you didn't kill it for fun or even on purpose. We're probably just superstitious."
"I hope so," Adrien said as he collected Plagg. "But, maybe we should watch our backs. I'll call you after school, if that's okay?"
"Sure," the dark-haired young woman happily replied. "And, if it would make you feel better, we could stay close until school lets out."
"I'd like that," the blond young man warmly accepted. "I just hope Alya has a good cover story for us. Oh, and how'd things go with the mayor?"
"Faceless is taking a paid vacation, and our fair mayor promised not to come to him with last-minute paperwork unless it's absolutely necessary," Marinette explained. "Turns out he started carrying that photo in his case because his work keeps him away from his family so much."
"I think we know the feeling," Adrien answered. "Thanks for taking care of that, princess. And, um…thanks for taking care of me."
"Well, you've done the same for me," the dark-haired young woman warmly replied. "As long as we're working together, I'm sure everything will be okay."
Deeply comforted and reassured by his friend and partner's words, Adrien smiled and instinctively hugged Marinette, his arms wrapping tightly but lovingly around her back. Startled at first, the young woman quickly calmed herself, closed her eyes, and placed her own arms around her beloved's back, pressing her head against his neck. The two held one another for a minute, as if guarding one another from the very forces of darkness.
"Marinette?" Adrien spoke up after a moment, though he didn't dare break their embrace.
"Yeah, Adrien?" Marinette replied, her voice gentle.
"I'm glad we have each other," the young man earnestly confessed as his world seemed to grow warmer.
"So am I," Marinette whispered just loud enough for her friend to hear.
Despite their intentions, Adrien and Marinette never returned to school, due to a case of minor food poisoning, as reported by Alya. The redheaded young woman stopped by the Agreste residence after school to drop off Adrien's homework, though she was met by Nathalie at the door. Despite the woman's professional and almost warm reception, Alya felt a sense of unease and left soon after to drop off Marinette's homework. Meeting Tom and Sabine in their bakery, the young woman repeated the story she had given to Marinette via text message, and offered to spend the night to comfort her friend and help explain the work.
"Mari, I brought you some homework," Alya called up as she made her up to Marinette's bedroom. "Are you feeling any better?" Once she was inside, the African American young woman closed the door and looked at her friend. "So, you and Adrien skipping school together, huh? I got the alert on my phone saying Ladybug and Chat Noir stopped the criminal in a few minutes. Care to explain?"
"…It was amazing," Marinette heavily blushed. "We even hugged! But…it wasn't all good. After we stopped the Akuma, Adrien got really upset."
"Nathalie," Adrien sheepishly approached his maid and secondary legal guardian. "Do you have a minute?"
"Of course, Adrien," the woman happily replied, though her formal tone failed to disappear. Turning away from her work, Nathalie looked at her charge with genuine interest.
"Um…I've had some time to think, you know, being sick and stuck in my room," the blond young man nervously explained. "And…there's this girl at school."
"Miss Lila Rossi, right?" Nathalie recalled.
"Um, no," Adrien answered, his body language suggesting vulnerability and an heir of discomfort. "We actually broke up a little while ago…I-I had feelings for someone else. But now, there's this girl I've known for a really long time. And she's really sweet and pretty…and I really want to tell her how I feel, but I don't really know how I feel, you know? I've only ever seen her as a friend, but things changed, and I'm looking at her in a whole new light." Nathalie listened intently, following and relating to the young man's story on levels she had yet to discuss with most of her peers. "I mean, she's always been there for me. When I was sick today, she sat with me and kept me company…She kind of reminded me of my mom for a minute. But, I feel like I can see her as, like, in a romantic way now. I think she knows kind of how I feel, but I'm not sure. How do I tell her that, though? I mean, I appreciate her so much, and I want her to know how special she is to me. But…"
"So you can finally talk to him, but you still haven't told him how you feel?" Alya declared upon listening to her friend's story. "You know how he feels about Ladybug."
"Yeah, but that's Ladybug," Marinette tried to explain herself. "I don't know how he feels about me as Marinette. I mean, he was worried and upset, and I was there for him, but what if that's just something friends do? What if that's all he sees Ladybug as now? Should I really tell him or wait for him to tell me…Should I ask him?"
"What should I do?" Adrien and Marinette asked in harmony, though they were so far apart. Appropriately, they were each given a similar answer:
"It might be best to write your feelings down and read them over before you say anything to her," Nathalie instructed Adrien. "That might help you make sense of things. Then, if you decide to tell her, which I feel you should once you're ready, you'll be able to express yourself."
"It sounds like you're afraid," Alya declared to Marinette. "Thinking things like, 'what if he doesn't like me back? What if he decides Marinette isn't as good as Ladybug? What if I start acting all awkward around him again?' I say you're just as strong as Marinette as you are as Ladybug. So, put on your big-girl panties and tell him. Stop acting like you and Ladybug are different people."
Marinette and Adrien each took a second, took a breath, and continued to think things over. Fighting criminals and Akumatized seemed so simple compared to understanding their feelings and taking chances in the name of love. Letting out a sigh, Marinette and Adrien thanked and hugged those they turned to.
As the night went on, Marinette felt an unpleasant feeling reenter her heart. "Alya," she finally spoke up. "If this feeling I have is real…you know you might be in danger."
"I don't care about a curse or bad omens, Marinette," Alya sharply declared. "You're my friend, you're having boy-troubles, and I'm here for you. Besides, you, Tikki, and I have each other's backs. I need to go take a shower, but I'll be right there if you need me."
"You're the best, Alya," the dark-haired young woman declared. "I feel safer already. I promise I'll always be there to protect you. Just, don't use up all the hot water again, okay? I need to take a bath before it gets too late."
"No problem," Alya answered with a smile. "Gotta make sure you look and smell nice for your new boyfriend." At that comment, Marinette tossed a pillow at her friend.
"One last thing, Nathalie," Adrien declared before leaving his surrogate mother-figure's room. "Could you not mention this to my dad, please? You know how he gets."
"I won't say a word, Adrien," Nathalie promised, her voice lighter than usual. "And, thank you for coming to me."
"You're welcome," the blond young man beamed. "If you ever have trouble with anything, I'll be here for you too." Please, be safe, he prayed.
As Adrien departed from the room, the purple-haired woman's smile faded as her eyes shifted towards the floor. "If only it were that simple, Adrien," she sorrowfully whispered.
With the sun completely out of sight, Paris seemed to settle into a state of rest. The cold breeze continued to sweep through the city, but at a calmer speed. The City of Lights shined in the gentle darkness of night as its citizens gazed at the heavenly, pale moon above them. Having dried off from her bath, Marinette sat atop her bed in her pink and white pajamas while Alya brushed her hair, just like they did their childhood sleepovers.
Suddenly, Marinette heard her phone playing "Miraculous" by Clara Nightingale. "That's probably Adrien," she declared, jolting forward slightly.
"Do you want me to leave the room?" Alya continued to tease her friend.
"Give it a rest, Alya," the dark-haired young woman chuckled before accepting the call. "Hey, Adrien. Are you feeling better?"
"Yeah, I think so," the blond young man answered as he sat atop his bed. "You really helped calm me down. I'm just taking it easy right now. How about you?"
"I'm still a little tense, but Alya's been taking care of me," Marinette answered with a smile. "I'm glad you're not beating yourself up anymore. I hate seeing you broken up like that, but I'm glad you opened up to me. That…it means a lot."
"Thanks," Adrien warmly replied. "I, uh…It's great to know I can trust you. You've always been a great friend to me, Marinette. Just…thank you. I feel so much better with you around me."
"…I feel the same way, Adrien," Marinette answered as her cheeks began to grow hot and red. "You know, I…you're just the best. I've gotta get to bed, but thanks for calling me. Take care of yourself, okay?"
"You too," the young man replied, though he had so much more he wanted to say. "Goodnight, Marinette."
"Goodnight, Adrien," the young woman warmly replied, though she had so much more she wanted to say. Hanging up, Marinette held her phone close to her heart, closed her eyes, and let out a heavy yet joyful sigh. Alya's warm hand touched the girl's shoulder before turning into a hug. "I know I didn't tell him. But, this is good for now. It's all good."
Locked in a warehouse, the broken windows lining the ceiling letting in the cold of the night and the light of the moon, Kim Chiến Lê, Aurore Beauréal, Jalil Kubdel, a blue-haired young woman named Bethany Whilt, who spent most of her time fixing her makeup in a fractured compact, and Jean Duparc sat atop a filthy couch, waiting for their time to come. Each of them appeared uneasy, due to anxiety, fearfulness, anger, or troubling thoughts. In time, they would force Ladybug and Chat Noir to return that which they had stolen so long ago.