A/N: Still technically on hiatus guys. Just posting this to procrastinate writing for Nano.
He told himself years ago that it would never happen. But as he looks across the street, his heart skips a beat.
And there it is again.
That indescribable pull, the rest of the world dropping away so only the two of them exist. His heart pounds in his chest, his feet moving without his permission. It's her. He knows for reasons he can't explain, that it's her. It's his Princess. After all these years he's found her again.
"Dude, what are you doing?
Then suddenly, the world returns.
The light changes colors, traffic begins to move and the people littering the sidewalks continue on their way. When he can see across again, she's gone just as quickly as she came.
"Adrien?"
"Sorry Nino, I just...nevermind." Adrien shakes his head, trying to clear it.
She had been there...right? He saw her. She's here in Paris.
"Adrien, do you want me to take you home?" Nino asks in concern. "You look a little green."
"No, I'm okay. You'll be late for work if you do that." Adrien waves him off.
"My boss would understand me extending my lunch if you're sick."
"I'm fine, go."
This is a lie, of course. They both know it, but Nino nods and leaves. This is not a new lie between them.
Adrien has never truly been fine. To an extent, Nino had never been fine either. Nino, abandoned at birth, and Adrien whose parents died in a car accident, both grew up in the foster system. They were placed in multiple homes throughout their childhood, but never found a place to land. For a few years Adrien and Nino had lost touch with each other, through sheer luck they found each other again on social media.
If it wasn't the shuffling between homes, it's the dreams.
Sparkling blue eyes haunt Adrien in the night. Sometimes filled with joy, others with hatred or horror. Who the person is or what the dreams mean, he does not know. The dreams have been with Adrien for as long as he can remember. Each time he awakens, he finds tears streaming down his face. They fill him with such joy, but great sadness. As if he keeps having near misses with a long lost friend.
Not even Nino, his best friend from childhood, knows of these dreams. Sometimes Adrien considers telling Nino, but how could he without sounding insane? How could he mention that he desperately misses a girl he met half a decade ago, without seeming obsessive? Adrien knows Nino isn't one to judge, but this? This would be pushing the limits of that.
"A few more years, and we won't be shuffled from home to home," Adrien sighs. "This is the third time this year."
"At least you have a large trust fund waiting for you when you age out of the system." Nino pats his shoulder. "I'm in trouble if I can't find a job and get money saved."
"I'd trade the trust fund in an instant for a chance to know my parents."
"I know, I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it. And Nino, I'm not going to just-oomf." A girl bangs into Adrien, dropping her things in the process.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going," The girl apologizes as she gathers her things.
She looks up, her eyes meeting Adrien's, and there's an instant connection. Adrien offers his hand, helping her stand, while not once breaking their eye contact. Adrien finds himself smiling as words slip from his mouth without his permission,
"Don't worry about it princess."
One.
Two.
Three.
The girl's cheeks turn a deep red as she seems to process his words, she yanks her hand back, turns on her heel and runs away.
"Smooth. Real smooth," Nino says between bouts of laughter.
Adrien drops his school bag the moment the door shuts behind him and collapses onto the floor. Coming back to an empty house is not something new for Adrien, not all of his foster homes has loving parents, but today it's abnormally depressing.
Why?
Why?
He had found her! She was right there, across the street! He just wanted this one thing. This one small thing of meeting his princess again, and he was given a taste only to have her taken away from him again.
Adrien bangs his hand on the floor, the silver ring on his finger digging into his skin. It's not fair. Call him childish, say he shouldn't be having these thoughts when he's a twenty year old, but Adrien doesn't care. It's not fair. Why can't things just work out for once? He just wants to be with her, even if it's only for a small time.
'I just want a chance. Whatever cruel gods are out there, you've already taken my family. Please, please, just give me a chance to be with her. You owe me this. Just….let me meet her once more.'
"Well it's about time, kid." A voice says from above his head.
Adrien jolts up to find a small black cat like creature with a large head and small body floating in front of him.
"Who, who are you?" Adrien wipes the lingering tears from his face. "Where did you come from?"
"The name is Plagg, I came from your ring, which is an ancient magical object. And I'm here to help you get your girl."
"Magical Object? Help me get my girl? What are you talking about?"
"I believe you call her 'Princess' in this lifetime."
"You know about her?" Adrien gapes.
"I've been watching, unable to do anything because you wouldn't call for me." Plagg explains.
"What are you?"
"I am a fairy, created by the gods to help unite you with Ladybug."
"Who's Ladybug?" Adrien's head is spinning.
"Your princess. Ladybug, My Lady, Princess, you have called her all of these throughout the life times," Plagg states, "You are an ancient soul who has been reincarnated many times for the sake of finding your mate."
"So that girl….the reason I felt connected with her is because…"
"You've met and fallen in love with her many times." Plagg nods, folding his arms. "Your souls recognize each other, even if your brains can not."
"And how do you come into this?" Adrien tilts his head to one side.
"As I said, the gods created me to help you find Ladybug. I reside within the ring until I am called. Sometimes the ring has ended up with another or you did not call for me properly."
"So you couldn't help me in those life times."
Plagg flies closer to Adrien, his mouth set in a line. "I have failed you many times in the past. But I promise you Adrien Agreste, this will be your last cycle."
