HEADS UP.

So, with this turning more into Adrien is flawed fic, renamed it to A Romantic's Sting. Also, for personal reasons, moving onto Archive of Our Own. I will finish the fics I have up here, but everything new will be on Ao3.

Adrien slouched at his desk, staring down at the bee miraculous, leaning heavily on his hand. What once brought him great joy now kind of just… his feelings were spoiled. The bee miraculous laid still, gleaming beautifully, looking like it was mocking him. He reached out, running his finger over the smooth jewel, feeling the detail on it, the ridges and curve of it. It was beautifully done, it was the miraculous that gave him a chance to pursue Ladybug, to be with his love. But…

"Here, Honey."

Adrien glanced up, seeing Pollen smiling softly at him, holding out a cookie. "I heard you don't like cheese, I thought this could be a better alternative."

Adrien offered her a small smile and accepted the cookie, sighing as he leaned back, staring down at the bee miraculous. Pollen settled near it, wiping a dark paw over the gleaming comb. Glancing up to him, she said, "You'll be ok."

"Even after this?" He gave a dry chuckle. "After being really selfish."

Pollen smiled. "Acknowledgement is a solid step. Adrien, you are bound to make mistakes, to be selfish, and just," Pollen shook her body, "ruffle up some fuzz. It is bound to happen in some way. There's no avoiding it."

Adrien looked down, sagging in his seat.

"It's how you grow." Pollen tapped his nose, offering him a smile as she floated before him. "You make mistakes, you acknowledge them, learn and grow from them. Improve upon yourself. It'll make you an even better hero."

Adrien picked up the bee, considering Pollen's words. "I can make this better?" he asked.

"You can," Plagg confirmed, coming near and landing down beside them, looking up at Adrien lazily. "But it will be up to you on how."

Adrien frowned.

Pollen and Plagg darted away, the bee murmuring to the huffing cat. Alone, Adrien tightened his grip on the bee miraculous, his chance to be with Ladybug, to win her over. He dropped his hand, leaning forward and pressing his forehead into his palm.

He released a shaky breath, feeling sick, exhausted, frustrated, and… guilty. Licking his lips, he called out, "Pollen…"

The kwami drew near, gazing at him with her ancient eyes.

"Let's fly high."

Ladybug felt unsteady as she flew through Paris, heading for Parc Monceau, her brows furrowed.

Adrien had called her, asking to see her, his voice sounding grave and tired. It left her concerned on what was wrong, what could be bothering him. Was he ok? Did something come up? It left her fretful, stressing on what could be going on. He was just a day in and he was calling her sounding upset and her mind was flying at all the what ifs.

His father found out.

Or Chloe discovered him.

Adrien and Pollen had a fight.

Or maybe he's getting cold feet—

Ladybug landed at the park's entrance, stopping to breath in, and then released. "It's ok, it's alright," she told herself. "Don't freak out, maybe it's a small thing. Maybe it can be easily resolved. Yeah, it'll be ok. It'll work out."

With a small gulp, she wandered through the dark park, searching for Adrien. She paused when she saw him on a bridge, detransformed, looking down on something.

Feeling unsteady, Ladybug walked closer, her body feeling shaky, nervous on what was going on.

Adrien looked up, giving her a small, weak smile only for it to quickly fall away when she returned it.

She reached for him, her voice soft. "Hey, you ok?"

"Ladybug," Adrien mumbled, closing his eyes, enjoying her touch on his shoulder, the warmth seeping from her hand. "Hi."

She chuckled, her smile nervous. "Hi. So, what's wrong?" She glanced at his hand, seeing the little black box she had snuck into his bag. "Did something happen?"

"Yeah, I…" He sighed, clutching the box before he relaxed and offered it to her. "I, I'm sorry." She blinked at him, baffled. He nudged her hand, prompting her to take the box. "I have to be honest with you, Ladybug. I only accepted the miraculous to have a chance with you, not to be a hero. Not to help you, not how you want me too. I just, I accepted it to have a chance with you."

Ladybug sucked in a breath, drawing away from him, staring at him, mixed emotions and confusion running through her. Confusion, surprise, delight, hurt. Adrien only accepted it to have a chance with her, not to really help them. Not how she wanted.

She closed her eyes, tightening her grip on the box. She shook her head, gazing up at him, her stare set and firm. Adrien winced back, looking away.

"I don't understanding," Ladybug declared, staring at him. "Why can't you? You can do both. You can be a hero and, well." She looked away, cheeks going pink. "I care for the help, I care for you being willing to help me and Chat, not your reason for being a hero. And, well, being heroes should be the priority yes but… I wouldn't mind—"

"Ladybug. I can't be Stinger Bee, I… I can't do that to you, not anymore. I only accepted it to have a chance with you, I can't give you the help you need as Stinger Bee. I can't be your bee hero. You," he stopped, taking a shaky breath. "You need to choose someone else. I, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I did that. I'm sorry I deceived you and…"

"Then don't let it be a deception anymore."

Adrien went quiet, staring down at the ring on his hand, feeling frustrated. He gave a start as Ladybug came around to stand before him, presenting the box to him again. "It doesn't have to be that way, Adrien. You don't have to deceive me. I know you have potential, I know you can do this. You can be a hero, you can be an amazing hero. You're kind and your so patience and earnest and you care so much for others. You're so… genuine." She took his hand, setting the box in his palm, smiling at him softly as she gazed up at him. "You can be a hero, Adrien. I know you can."

"Sounds like you know me very well," Adrien murmured.

Her smile grew, soft and coy. "I'm a lot closer to you than you think. And that's how I know that you can do this. Your reason can change." She gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "I want to work with you, Adrien. You can do this."

For a moment, he wrapped his fingers around the box, a delightful warmth settling on his chest.

Keep it, his heart whispered. Ladybug wasn't so upset with him. She had so much faith in him. So much trust…

His gaze settled on the ring on his finger, the reason why he couldn't accept it.

He was Chat Noir. He was already helping her. As much as he wanted to keep the bee, be her partner and hero…

The bee miraculous was released for a third party member, so that they can have more help, not to give him the chance that he's been dreaming for.

He gazed into Ladybug's eyes, taking in the warmth and reassurance in those blue pools, the faith and trust she had in him.

He took the box away from her grasp, feeling his chest hurt as her smile grew with happiness. Adrien quickly looked away, setting the box on the railing, whispering, "I'm sorry, Ladybug."

Before she could stop him, he raced away, set to keep away from that little box, set to no longer deceive her and continue this.

"Adrien!" she called out and Adrien faster, his heart aching as she called for him, sounding so hurt and shocked. He ducked into the woods, falling to his knees, keeping out of sight, breathing hard. He listened to her call for him, listening to that hurt. He leaned back, biting his lip to resist answering.

When it went quiet, Adrien didn't move, just listening to his shaky breath and the soft song of the night.

"You ok, Kid?"

Adrien opened his eyes, seeing Plagg float before him, ears down. Biting his lip harder as his eyes started to water, Adrien shook his head, rubbing his eyes against his elbow.

It was for the best, he told himself, repeating it over and over again in a mantra. He couldn't do this, couldn't continue that. It was for the best…

And the kwamis understood, Tikki for sure did.

She was relieved the bee was returned and that they could find another to truly help.

But she still couldn't help but ache as she hovered close to Marinette, watching her holder cry into her pillows, face pressed against them as she wailed and gasped. There weren't any words Tikki could provide that would help, she knows that there weren't.

The kwami only drifted down, nuzzling against Marinette's back, whispering, "I'm sorry, Marinette, I'm sorry…"

It was for the best, Tikki agreed, but this still didn't make it easier. The kwami closed her eyes and pressed harder against Marinette, feeling her back jerk and rise. For the whole night, she stayed close, her quiet support.