A/N: *pterodactyl screech* I am so sorry it's late! I suck at deadlines. But I did write this whole thing in like less than 24 hours total. I really enjoyed writing this chapter. Trigger warning: brief mentions of depression symptoms (nothing graphic) towards the end.
Also, please note that no other miraculouses were ever handed out in this au, in order to protect them.
Please enjoy and thank you for all the reviews so far! They give me life!
~marauderluverz (OtakuPrincess15 on tumblr)
Chapter 4: Am I Dreaming Right Now?
Adrien stared at where Ladybug had disappeared behind a building. "Did she really just wink at me?" he asked.
Plagg popped out of his relocated hiding place in Adrien's shirt. "Yeah. Dang, I thought Tikki would be better at controlling her chosen. Guess without us around she slacked off."
Adrien rolled his eyes but couldn't quite get rid of the smile on his face. He wished he could transform and go see her right now. Would she be as happy to see Chat as his friends had been to see him? She seemed to be doing pretty good on her own and six years had treated her well. He wasn't sure he'd still look half as good after doing all that work alone.
Right now, he wanted to chase after her and tell her how much he missed her. To hug her. To make sure she still needed him. But Plagg was right. For Chat Noir to show up only a day after Adrien arrived back in Paris, would be like putting a "Hi my name is Chat Noir" sticker on his designer shirt.
For now he'd have to settle for trying to help get civilians to safety. Then maybe he could check on the models from the shoot and make sure they were still safe.
In total the akuma battle lasted close to twenty minutes before Adrien saw the ladybugs swarm through Paris and realized Ladybug had successfully defeated the akuma. He made it back to the park and noticed that most of the set up had been packed away and the photographer was nowhere to be found. The models however were grouped around the fountain, with Sean at the center, head in his hands.
"Really, Sean, it's not your fault. It's mine. You wouldn't have had to defend me if I hadn't kept messing up," Maya told him. She was sitting next to him, staring at the ground.
"It's not on either of you that our photographer was such a jerk," one of the other models threw in.
"Yeah." The models all seemed to be in agreement.
Adrien stepped up next to them. "Actually, I think I should apologize."
The teens stared at him, surprised by his sudden appearance. "Wha-why?" Sean asked, finally looking up.
Adrien clapped his hands together. "Well, as the photographer's assistant and one of the adults here, I should've jumped in sooner. I'm sorry."
Sean shot to his feet. "Nah, man. You did what you could."
Maya nodded, "Yeah, you were the only one holding it together."
"Are you going to be doing more photo shoots?" one of the models asked.
Adrien blushed at the praise. He really didn't think he'd done much, if anything, yet they still seemed to like him. "If I have anything to say about it, I definitely will."
Marinette was exhausted by the time she landed back in the empty alley behind her office. She transformed back quickly and leaned against the wall adjusting her hat.
"Are you okay, Marinette? You're usually lucky enough to not have akuma attacks happen in the middle of work," Tikki said, helping to fix her chosen's ascot.
She took a breath, "Yeah, I'm fine. It's just been a long week." She stepped back inside of the office through a back door and headed for the break room. "I'll be fine after I rest a bit. I should have a few more-"
Another guide rushed into the hall, "Marinette, thank God! I was wondering where you were. Boss needs you on the next tour." The girl disappeared through a door.
"-minutes." She sighed, "Or I'll go straight back to work."
Marinette felt her foot twinge as she took another step in her ill-fitting shoes. If only being Ladybug was a paid job.
By the time four o'clock rolled around Marinette was sweaty and irritable as she climbed onto her train home. She hated how her job took her all across Paris whilst having to fake being cheery and listening to tourists who seemed to think she didn't understand them. True, sometimes she didn't, but after time she had started to pick up bits and pieces of common sayings. Especially the insults. For some reason, a lot of people seemed to assume she was pretty but stupid. She kindly gave those people ridiculous directions to their next activity that would cause them to walk twice as far as was actually needed.
Her co-workers were another reason she didn't enjoy her job. She grimaced as she thought of the nickname she had earned early on. Unlucky Mari. She was always the one asked to take the most unruly tours, to stay late, the one to get rained on frequently, and the only guide to be notorious for never getting to see Ladybug while on tours.
"Of course, I wouldn't get to see her when I am her," she grumbled as she stepped off at her stop.
Tikki peaked out of Marinette's bag and gave her a hopeful smile. "At least work is done for today. Now you can relax with Hugo."
"Yeah, you're right. I just need to make the decision that the rest of the day is going to be good." Marinette hit the button at the stoplight and waited for the sign to change so she could cross. It changed and just as she went to take a step, someone sped by and a splattering of muddy water covered her. She let out a groan. How was it that Chat Noir leaving seemed to give her his bad luck? She stared up at the sky. Six years without her partner had taken its toll on her.
Will he ever come back?
*Three days later*
As Adrien sat down at his traditional seat at the family dining table he was struck by how nothing in the dining room had really changed. Not that he had expected it to, seeing as how the rest of the mansion had stayed the same. He had only been seated for about five minutes when the doors opened and his father stepped inside. Adrien rose from his seat.
"Father," he greeted, taking a step forward.
"Adrien," his father responded. He enveloped Adrien into a hug that the younger man hadn't expected. "I missed you."
"I missed you too." He allowed himself to grip onto his father's jacket for a moment, enjoying the familial touch he had so rarely received after his mother's disappearance.
"Let's sit. Sorry to have kept you waiting," Gabriel said as they parted. He gestured to the table and they each took their seat.
Adrien settled in for what he was sure would be another silent dinner. He debated pulling out his phone to play that new game Plagg had downloaded. That was as far as he got though before a voice gained his attention.
"Would you care to tell me about your experiences while you were travelling?" Gabriel asked.
The younger man's mouth dropped open. "You want to know about that?"
A small smile appeared on his father's face. "Given that we haven't seen each other in several years, I assume it is normal to want to know how you occupied your time."
Adrien nodded, his own smile breaking through. "Of course!"
He began with his time modeling in various countries and continued until he reached his schooling in London. Adrien was amazed. Not only was his father listening to him talk about his life but he was actually engaged in the conversation. He was asking questions and most surprising of all, wasn't criticizing Adrien's decisions.
Could I possibly be dreaming? Maybe I slept through my dinner plans? He wondered as their dinner plates were replaced with dessert and coffee.
"And what did you think of the photo shoot you assisted with on Thursday?" Gabriel asked.
"All the models were really great. I enjoyed getting to work with them as a photographer," he answered warmly.
Gabriel hummed in response. "I'm glad to hear that, especially since they spoke so highly of you."
Adrien beamed. He had been complimented at work and his father had acknowledged it. That was something that certainly didn't happen very often.
"Also, we fired the photographer you worked with that day. The models and other staff complained about his behavior and mistreatment."
Adrien nodded, he knew how strict his father was with those types of things. "Do you have a replacement yet?" he asked, wondering who he'd be working with next time.
Gabriel nodded, "Yes, as a matter of fact. We will need you first thing tomorrow morning."
"Me?" Adrien sputtered.
"Yes, you will be taking care of all of Bastian's scheduled shoots and after that we will begin scheduling your own." Gabriel watched him, waiting for a reaction.
"I'd be happy to, Father. I won't let you down."
Gabriel touched his hand. "I didn't think you would."
Sunday evening found Marinette in the kitchen of her small apartment. She had gotten Hugo tucked into bed and after three bedtime stories, he was finally asleep. She sneaked out of his bedroom and back into the kitchen before pulling out a tray of double chocolate brownies Hugo had helped her bake earlier that day.
Tikki watched as Marinette set four brownies on a plate. "What should we watch tonight, Marinette?" she asked.
Marinette set two glasses on the counter. "I was thinking maybe something light. There's that new comedy on Netflix that I saved."
The kwami nodded, sneaking a bite of her treat. Marinette poured milk into the first glass before moving on to the second. "It looked cute with that girl who falls for her co-worker."
"Woohoo!"
Marinette's head jerked up toward the window in front of her and Tikki zoomed up to see through it as well. The sudden whooping had come from outside. But where?
Their answer came mere seconds later as a blur of black flew through the sky guided only by a silver streak that seemed to propel it. The figure let out another whoop. Marinette stared after him as he disappeared from view.
"Marinette! The milk."
She startled, lifting the carton to see a puddle of milk spreading across the gray counter top. "Sorry, Tikki." She threw down a dishtowel to cover her mess. "We have to go. That had to be Chat!" She moved to a clear space and stood still. "Tikki, Spots-"
"Wait!" Tikki yelled. Marinette froze, realizing what she had been about to do. For a second, she hadn't been Marinette the twenty-four year old single mom with grown-up responsibilities. For that second she had been Ladybug, the fourteen year old teenager who had been without her best friend for what felt like forever.
"I can't go anywhere." She let out a shaky breath and moved to sit on her couch. "Sorry, Tikki. I guess I just got a little ahead of myself."
Tikki nuzzled her cheek. "That's okay, Marinette. It's perfectly understandable. You haven't seen Chat in years and now when you do, you can't run to see him."
"Yeah. It's been pretty lonely out there." She hugged herself tightly, straining her ears for anymore whooping sounds from her partner.
Tikki thought for a moment, then flew in front of Marinette's face. "What about your next patrol night? Your parents will have Hugo. You can go looking for him then. I'm sure if he sees you out he'd transform too."
Marinette looked at her, insecurity filling her eyes. "He probably hasn't been back very long, right? He would've tried to find me if he'd been here longer."
Tikki hugged Marinette as best she could. "You know he would. You two are partners."
Marinette nodded. She stared out the window another moment before jumping up. If she sat on that couch any longer she would just get depressed again. She couldn't allow that now. Not now when she had Hugo to take care of. Hugo, who would be completely aware at four years old if his mom stayed in bed for a week straight.
She grabbed her and Tikki's brownies from the counter and flipped on the tv. "Let's celebrate." She bumped her glass of milk against Tikki's. "To the return of our partners and best friends."
Tikki grinned, even as the start of tears began to spill from her eyes. "To the return of Chat Noir and Plagg."