The next morning Adrien woke up early for patrol. He has woken up like this on a usual schedule, but that usual schedule changed as he grew and travelled. He had to wake up Plagg, which was a huge struggle but bribed him with 5 wheels of Camembert. So now he was jumping through the brisk air in his leather catsuit to the place he agreed to meet Ladybug. When he arrived he already saw Ladybug sitting on top of the concrete railing of the bridge. He walked to where she sat and leaned, with his arms folded on the railing, next to her.
"Good morning Chat." Ladybug spoke softly. Chat yawned.
"Morning." They were both silent. The two heroines faced the sunrise from the water.
The orange light reflected off the water, almost crystal. Such a beautiful blue. 'Like Marinette's eyes.' Chat thought. A small smile curled on his face. He wondered what it would be like to be there. In the early morning, so early the sun wasn't fully in the sky, in front of the beautiful water, in a beautiful city with a beautiful girl. One that he admired so much and thought about non-stop.
Sure her and his civilian persona dated for almost 2 months, but they never did anything like this. They went on lunch dates and to the movies. They held hands and shared hugs. They played video games and ate cookies. They shared kisses. Dating Marinette was never planned. Actually, it was really planned, well in fact. During the time, Adrien was lacking the motivation to participate in the photo shoots he was scheduled to attend to, fencing lessons and his pronunciation was poor in Chinese. So, Mr Agreste planned an evening with a lovely lady. Adrien did not know who, but he knew they were spending the night out.
Marinette was contacted by Natalie, Adrien's personal assistant. She was told, that Mr Agreste was very pleased with the work she would do for contests and projects the famous designer held. Being the daughter of a baker definitely was something Gabriel thought about. But she had skill and potential. He heard good things about her from peers, and some things did stand out, like how she was late to almost every class. A designer would suit his son. Plus, her personality was something that would motive and leave a mark on Adrien. A bubbly and positive girl who was determined with everything she did and had a bright smile.
The same day Natalie showed up at Marinette's doorstep was the day Gabriel planned the date. Marinette was in shock and wasn't prepared. Natalie assured her that she had a dress for Marinette and if she needed anything else she would supply it.
When Adrien's date showed up at the restaurant he was definitely surprised. Marinette looked stunning. A navy blue dress covered in white floral lace decorated it. Her hair was down and was displayed around her neck with black flats to top it off. It might've not been that much, but in the time and setting it was definitely something. After the date, he asked her out again. She couldn't believe it. When she got home she was a squealing mess. The next morning at school Adrien wasn't afraid to display they were dating. Weeks went on like that. Welcoming kisses and walking hand-in-hand. But then came graduation. They were entering adulthood, so they had to know how to approach things appropriately. Leaving your girlfriend on one of the greatest days of their lives was not appropriate. Waltzing back into her life was not even close to appropriate.
"Chat?" Ladybug spoke after a long silence.
"Mm?"
"You do understand it was hard without you, right?" That caught his attention. Chat faced Ladybug, but she was still looking at the water.
"I do. I never expected it to be easy and I don't expect this to be either." They watched the water for a while longer and then searched the city in opposite directions making sure nothing suspicious happened or was to be seen. When they said their goodbyes and left it was around 7:30.
Marinette de-transformed and took the opportunity of wearing sportswear to run. She went for a slow jog back to her apartment. Marinette stepped into the apartment breathing heavily and her hair up in a ponytail.
"That was long." Alya commented at the table eating cereal.
"I went on the track around the river and on the bridge." Marinette said opening the fridge and took out a bottle of water, chugging it down. She walked to the cupboard and took out the cookie jar grabbed two choc chip cookies and made her way to her bedroom.
"You're going to spoil your breakfast with that sweet tooth." Alya said her voice louder than normal. Marinette turned around with a cookie in her mouth.
"This is my breakfast." She replied her voice muffled and crumbs falling to the floor. Alya laughed and continued eating.
Marinette went into her room with the door closed and kept eating her cookie. Tikki came out of her hair and appeared in front of her.
"Sorry I forgot my bag, Tikki." Marinette gave the tiny being the other cookie and Tikki nibbled on it.
"It's alright. You're just really fast." Tikki giggled. Marinette joined in on the little laughter and grabbed her towel hanging on her door. She stuffed the rest of the cookie in her mouth and went into the bathroom connected to her room.
"I-i'm going to have a shower!" She shouted from the other side of the door swallowing the food in her mouth.
"All bodies are different. Growth is different for everyone. The way someone's body grows affects the way you perform. In any industry-" The professor went on about the human body, naming different parts and physics. Marinette didn't really see the use of anatomy class since she already learnt about the human body. But design wasn't the only profession that involved the body.
Adrien kept hissing from behind Marinette's back and poking her with his pen. He's been trying to get her attention every chance he got and has been bothering her all day. If he ever brought up something she disliked she changed the subject or she had a reason not to talk, thanks to his bad luck. Adrien leaned forward.
"Psst, Marinette." He said over her shoulder. She didn't reply and just looked at the professor who moved her hands in big gestures and walked back and forth in front of the class.
"Mari." He whispered.
"What." She hissed looking forward.
"Can we talk after class?" He whispered still hovering over her shoulder and a little out of his seat.
"No, we can't." Adrien sighed and held his desk tight as he hung his head.
"May. We talk af-" The bell went and Marinette jumped out of her seat, in the process making Adrien hit his chin, biting his tongue. She left class grabbing her bag and swung it over her shoulder, not bothering with putting her book in her bag.
Adrien held his jaw and then realised that Marinette was out of sight. He quickly stuffed his books in his bag and left the classroom, stumbling out of his seat and down the stairs. At the class's doorway, he stood on his tip-toes and tried to look over people's heads as the room moved quickly with bodies of students in all directions. He caught sight of a dark bluenette haired girl and dashed through people.
"Excuse me. Sorry, coming through." He mumbled curving through the hundreds of bodies.
"Hey, watch it!" A girl shouted as she dropped her bag and her books went flying across the floor. Adrien looked back and saw the scene he caused. He turned around to who he presumed was Marinette and saw that she turned around to find the cause of shouting. They locked eyes and then Marinette turned and was out of sight. Adrien sighed and kneeled down helping the young woman with her belongings and apologized.
Adrien frowned, walking the hallway holding onto his one-strap bag. It's been a week since the day he stayed over at Marinette's apartment. He tried to talk to her then but she didn't want to and he respected that but he thought he had given her enough space. He couldn't get her out of his mind. The night he visited her as Chat he kicked himself for doing so.
He opened the door and his eyes widened when he saw Marinette sitting on the steps.
"Marinette?" She stood up and faced him.
"You want to talk?" Sge asked.
"Yeah, I do." He walked down a few steps.
"Then talk." She folded her arms over her chest.
"Not here." He walked down the few steps between him and Marinette. Adrien grabbed Marinette's hand and pulled her.
"Adrien, let go!" She tugged on her arm but his grip was tight. He dragged her along behind the school and under a tree. Mariette tugged free of her hand and rubbed at it.
"What!?" She shouted.
"I just want to talk! That's all." A minute passed, looking at each other. Adrien looked at her with pleading eyes and Marinette looked at him with fury. She crossed her arms over her chest again and nodded.
"Marinette... I never dumped you. I know I left, but I never dumped you. The day of graduation my dad told me that my modelling would go worldwide to promote his fashion line. I had to leave the day after graduation. I... I couldn't tell you because it just happened and I was leaving the day after-"
"The day after one of the biggest days of my life, Adrien. You couldn't bring yourself to write a letter, or shoot me a text or call me!" Her voice got louder as she spoke.
"I'm sorry. Marinette, please. I never meant to hurt you. I like you, Mari." He grabbed her hands and held them in his. Adrien looked down at Marinette who was looking at their hands.
"Adrien..." She looked up at him and he could see her dejected expression. "You understand we can never be like how we were before right?" She said slowly and each word dripped with sorrow. He wanted to tell her otherwise, that they could work out whatever it was. But he knew what it was, he knew it was him. He was the reason why. Adrien nodded slowly lips tight in a thin line.
"Let's start over, okay?" She pulled her hands away from his and as they went their separate ways Marinette didn't see the tears Adrien allowed to slip.
Classes finished and Adrien met up with Nino. He explained what happened when Nino pointed out he looked 'down in the dumps'. After he explained Nino tried his best to cheer him up by taking him out and making arrangments for when he should move in.
"We should have a housewarming party. You could meet a special lady and use your Agreste charm." Nino smirked.
"What 'Agreste' charm?" Adrien gave him a confused and offended look. 'Marinette IS the special lady.' He told himself.
"You know struck your model stuff." Nino rushed ahead strutting like on the catwalk. His hips swayed side to side dramatically and his face with duck lips.
"Oh my god!" Adrien leaned forward and put his hands on his knees with laughter.
"I don't look like that do I?" Adrien wiped a tear.
"No..." Adrien heard walking up to Nino.
"Thank god." Adrien stated as they started walking.
"...You look worse." Nino said under his breath
"I do not!" Adrien punched Nino in the shoulder. They could see Marinette seating on a park bench and Nino shouted her name. She looked up from her book and saw the duo. Marinette stood up with slight panic of Adrien's presence.
"Hey, guys." She smiled and turned her attention to Nino. "I have a design to finish so I'm not going straight home. Alya wanted to meet here but she hasn't shown up yet, so when you see her tell her I'll come home late." She packed up her stuff and grabbed her bag.
"Sure thing. We'll head over there now and I'll see if I can get a hold of her beforehand." Marinette looked at both of them and turned to leave.
"Kay, thanks. See you guys later." Marinette waved and walked in the other direction.
Nino looked at Adrien with sad eyes as Adrien looked at Marinette walking away. Nino slapped him on the back and Adrien sighed with a slight chuckle. Nino smiled and they walked to the girls' apartment with Nino's arm over Adrien's shoulder.
Marinette walked with her bag over her shoulder, looked down at Tikki and smiled. Tikki looked up at her miraculous holder with sad eyes and shook her head. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened her eyes she looked at Marinette with the best smile she could give. Marinette didn't like the look Tikki was giving her but non the less she returned it and then looked forward while walking.
Marinette walked in the park. Walking on the concrete path surrounded by trees and benches on the side every now and then. Grass laid out with flowers. In the middle was a statue. Funny enough it was another statue dedicated to Ladybug but not Chat Noir. Ladybug was in a kneeling position with her head down, in her new costume. There was a bronze plate in carved with words and a date.
'Fly away, become a new, we will be okay. Because we have you.'
September 23
There, Marinette stood in front of the statue smiling. Whenever she saw it she wanted to cry. The ceremony was extravagant, but it was sad. A month after she unlocked her new powers, a month after she almost died, a month after dozens of deaths, the statue was made and the ceremony was held. Not only for Ladybug but what she represents, what she stood for. Family members of the people who died spoke and Ladybug was present giving her condolences and a speech that touched and reached people in many ways.
Marinette closed her eyes and thought about the deaths of the citizens she couldn't save. A minute of silence for the ones who had passed when it was not their time.
Marinette opened the apartment door and saw all three of her friends on the couch. She closed the door rather loudly and everyone jumped snapping their heads in the direction of the sound.
"Woman! You scared the living death out of us!" Nino said with one arm slung over the head of the couch with a game controller in his hand. Then sounds of cheers filled the room, the tv screen flashed with the words 'Adrien Wins!'
"What!?" Nino looked back at the tv screen and then at Adrien.
"Ha! Pay attention to the game." Adrien teased. Marinette slipped off her sandals and kicked them in the air, hitting Nino and Adrien in the process.
"Woman!" They screamed at the same time.
"Sorry." She ran into her room and got to work immediately.