Thanks to my betas lizziemagic from Miraculous Discordance (discord dot gg slash QwgKdUhJNJ) and KittyKyryi from Miraculous Fanworks (discord dot gg slash mlfanworks).

The party's over. Gabriel earns the tag. And Adrien fixates on the past.


The last guests had left the party, even Juleka, who was spending the night at Rose's apartment. Anarka had retired below deck, citing "old bones that couldn't rock as hard as they used to". Marinette was tidying the last empty glasses, the unfamiliar weight of her engagement ring prompting her to misjudge her grip occasionally now that she was wearing it. She was preparing to leave when she felt two arms wrap around her from behind.

"Time to get you home, ma-ma-ma-fiancé," Luka whispered in her ear.

Marinette hummed in acknowledgement before turning to break his hold. "What was that about anyway?"

"What?" Marinette barely caught the momentary flicker of guilt crossing Luka's face before he schooled his expression to one of confused innocence.

"We agreed not to say anything about the engagement. Tonight was supposed to be for the band."

Marinette had been on her way out the door that morning when she opened it to see Luka leaning against the frame with an open ring box in his hand and that question on his lips. She had said yes before fully considering what it meant, so surprised she had spoken without conscious thought. Marinette's response was an automatic reflex, agreeing in the way she would for any other request from those closest to her.

She had asked Luka to hold off on the announcement because she didn't want to take the focus off Kitty Section's farewell, but it was just an excuse to hide her doubts. Now he had told everyone so publicly Marinette felt locked in. Like she couldn't back out. Not that she wanted to – not at all – but she had so much to consider in making that decision. There was her role as Ladybug, her duty to Paris, her partnership with Chat, and her responsibilities as Guardian. Marinette wished she had been given time to think through all the implications before saying anything to their family and friends.

Luka smiled down at her, but his expression was brittle. "I was so happy I couldn't keep it in," he shrugged.

Marinette raised a sceptical eyebrow, wondering if he sensed her conflicting emotions. "I know you're happy. I am too," she sought to reassure him, "but you promised to wait until after we told our parents."

Luka walked over to his guitar, sitting on its stand by the dais, picked it up and rested it across one knee. "I'm sorry, I just…," he trailed off, looking up at the stars as he strummed a few chords.

There was no doubt Luka was a gifted musician, but Marinette hated that guitar sometimes. Whenever a conversation got awkward, or Luka didn't want to answer a question, he would play a short arpeggio as if it explained everything. It was useless pushing for an answer when he did that.

After plucking a few more notes, Luka turned to face her again. "What were you talking to Adrien about?"

Marinette frowned, confused by the sudden change in topic. "I just asked how he was going now that he's out of the mansion."

"Your dad was attached to him most of the night."

"He said Adrien got some bad news. I don't know what it was, but it sounded personal." Marinette had no idea what it could be. She knew all his friends and would have heard if it was his father or Nathalie. Perhaps something had happened to his aunt or even his cousin? She had recognised his 'model smile' when he congratulated them earlier that night. Even though they hadn't spoken in a while, it was unusual for him not to confide in her. It was just like Adrien to keep problems to himself rather than spoil a celebration with their friends.

Luka gave her an odd look. "Both your parents seem to like Adrien a lot." His tone was just short of accusatory, but Marinette was familiar with the insecurity behind it. Even after all these years, Luka had never entirely shaken his jealousy over Marinette's former crush. It put a strain on their friendship with Adrien that she'd always regretted.

"Everyone but his own father likes Adrien," she laughed ruefully. "My parents virtually adopted him after he broke ties with Gabriel. They said he showed up at the bakery like a wet, bedraggled kitten looking for help." She stifled a giggle trying to picture it. "I don't think they realised that once they fed him, he would never leave."

"Does he still go around there all the time?"

"Oh, yes. Adrien has dinner with my parents at least once a week. He'll often drop by just to say hello. They seem glad to have the company since I moved out." Marinette regretted not seeing her parents more often, but she had been too busy establishing her own boutique and fighting akumas to visit as often as she wanted.

Luka looked downcast. "I don't remember the last time they had me over for dinner," he said, avoiding her gaze.

Marinette reached for his shoulder. "That's because you haven't been here, silly. We should both go see them. Soon," she promised. Marinette looped her arm through his, "Now, I'm exhausted. Time for you to walk me home, M. Fiancé." She rose on her tiptoes to peck Luka on the cheek.

Tom's pep talk at the party had fortified Adrien enough that he was able to offer Marinette and Luka his congratulations and leave with the remains of his dignity intact. He even managed to keep up appearances for most of the following week, although a few of his colleagues noticed he was more subdued than usual. The first cracks in Adrien's composure only appeared when he next visited Gabriel at the mansion.

Nathalie scheduled weekly lunches between Adrien and his father to maintain at least nominal contact between them. It wasn't lost on Adrien that he saw Gabriel more often since moving out than at any time while they lived under the same roof. He hoped Gabriel would make some effort to work on their relationship after the initial shock of his departure had worn off, but if anything, it was worse than ever. Many of their shared meals passed in silence, and certainly nothing of a personal nature was ever discussed. On the rare occasions when Gabriel initiated a conversation, he was all business. He picked out undetectable flaws in Adrien's most recent shoot, quizzed him to see if he kept up with the latest industry trends, or gave breakdowns on developments in this or that department at the company as if Adrien was even remotely interested. It was clear to Adrien that his father expected he would come crawling back eventually after exhausting what Gabriel liked to call his 'bout of youthful rebellion'.

Adrien was in no mood for pleasantries today. He was usually able to keep a lid on the resentment he felt for his father so that it simmered quietly under the surface, but every so often his anger would boil over. It typically happened when Adrien discovered some ploy by Gabriel to exert his influence where it was not wanted, and he had been stewing on his lost opportunities with Marinette since the party. "Did you keep sending me away to stop me from dating her?" Adrien demanded as he burst into Gabriel's office.

His father did not even look up from his meal, giving no sign he had heard Adrien enter. "Good afternoon, Adrien," he finally responded, speaking as if to a child.

Adrien glared at the top of Gabriel's head before taking a seat. "Good afternoon, Father," he ground out between clenched teeth. "Did you keep sending me away to stop me from dating her?"

"To whom are you referring?" Gabriel rarely gave anything away, but Adrien liked to think he knew his father well enough to detect when something was off about his tone. He would bet Plagg's entire camembert supply that Gabriel understood exactly who he meant.

"Marinette. It must have been obvious, even from your distant vantage point, that I had feelings for her," Adrien spat out. "Are you going to tell me it was just a coincidence that I was whisked out of the country whenever I came close to acting on them?"

Gabriel finally raised his head to look Adrien in the eye. "I presume you are referring to Mlle. Dupain-Cheng. She was a promising talent even in adolescence. It would not have done you or the company any good if you were tied too closely with anyone at that age. Likewise, it would not have done her reputation any favours if she was tied too closely to you before establishing herself. When the time comes for me to acquire her, I do not want there to be any question that the decision is based entirely on merit."

Adrien scoffed, "Everyone can see she has talent to burn–"

"Even a hint of favouritism would reflect poorly on both her and the company," Gabriel interrupted sharply. "Since you claim to be her friend, I expect you would be more concerned about that. Your pursuit of her was ill-timed for both of you, and it would have been impossible to recruit her after you inevitably ruined whatever relationship you had. It was fortuitous those opportunities arose for you when they did."

After a short pause, Gabriel continued. "I hear the young lady is recently engaged, so the point is moot."

That was all the confirmation Adrien needed. Gabriel valued the sanctity of a prospective hire more than his son's happiness. If that meant greasing a few wheels to stop Adrien from ruining the master plan, then so be it. He wasn't even sure why he was surprised.

Adrien had driven home after lunch, fuming over his conversation with Gabriel. Despite Plagg's best efforts to distract him, Adrien spent the afternoon in his apartment pondering how his own blindness and Gabriel's unyielding need for control had repeatedly conspired to sabotage his most important relationships.

Towards the end of lycée, Adrien realised his teenage infatuation with Ladybug was unhealthy for their partnership. As well as he thought he knew his Lady, and there was no doubt he knew her better than anyone in Paris, there would always be an impenetrable barrier between them for as long as the masks remained. His unshakeable faith in her subconsciously led him to build an impossible pedestal of expectations that nobody could possibly meet. It all came to a head when Ladybug had been pushing him away, bringing in more and more temporary heroes and sometimes defeating akumas with them before he even had the chance to transform.

Feeling unwanted, Adrien eventually confronted Ladybug and accused her of forsaking their partnership. Months of barely speaking to each other had left him hollow, and he was on the verge of giving back his ring when his Lady broke down in tears. She admitted how overwhelmed she had felt since Master Fu passed on the Guardianship and the struggles she faced trying to maintain her civilian relationships with her growing responsibilities. When Adrien demanded to know why she hadn't come to him for help, a sobbing Ladybug recounted her visit to an alternate future where he had succeeded in getting closer to her. However, his discovery of her identity in that timeline came at a heavy price – becoming the akumatised monster that plagued her nightmares ever since.

The visceral nature of Ladygug's response that night finally cracked Adrien's illusion of her, forcing him to realise she was just as messed up as he was. His partner was operating with barely more information than he had and was unprepared to take over as Guardian without their mentor's guidance. Ladybug's actions made sense in that context, keeping rigid boundaries to protect herself from fears that had become a traumatic reality only she remembered. Unfortunately, despite her best intentions, she could not see the impact of her choices through the additional stress that was thrust upon her. With that understanding, Adrien forgave her when she promised to be more open with him. He, in turn, resolved to be more honest with her about his doubts and insecurities.

Adrien knew his love for Ladybug had been genuine, but ironically it wasn't until he let it go that they became closer than he would have ever thought possible. The duo slowly rebuilt their relationship, proceeding timidly at first as they learned to get comfortable with each other again. The renewed trust born from their open communication ultimately led to a steadfast friendship more rewarding than anything that had come before.

Some weeks following that particular revelation, Adrien was met with another in the form of his 'very good friend' Marinette Dupain-Cheng. It was as if a veil had been lifted, allowing him to see her clearly for the first time now that his vision was no longer obscured by a spotted red suit. Thoughts and feelings he had unknowingly suppressed suddenly burst forth, demanding attention. Adrien could no longer ignore the jumbling knots in his stomach when he was greeted by her nervous smile or his surprise at how she would still trip over nothing when he startled her.

He was fascinated when Marinette scrunched her freckled nose while concentrating, delicate tongue poking out the side of her soft pink lips. He admired her kindness and generosity, wondered at her intelligence and creativity, was amused by her rashness when angry, and wanted to protect her when she faced adversity. His chest was light when Marinette's laughter peeled out clear as a bell while chatting with Alya, and his pulse quickened when her bluebell eyes lit up with inspiration for a new design.

He was amazed that she always made time for her friends, ready to celebrate or commiserate with them about whatever was happening in their lives regardless of her other commitments. He looked on, dumbstruck when she stood up against perceived injustice and in sympathy when she sought to make amends if she was at fault. He was in awe of how their Everyday Ladybug encouraged those around her to be their best selves. And he desired her when he realised his cute classmate had matured into a beautiful young woman.

Adrien had already known all those things about Marinette, but they struck him afresh in the wake of his epiphany, taking on all new meanings. The fondness that developed when he first met her had steadily grown into a deep and profound love. Adrien noticed everything about Marinette, missed her warmth when she was absent, and could not stop his eyes from being drawn to her when she was in the room. He cursed himself for being ignorant of his feelings towards Marinette for so long, erecting a permanent friend zone around their relationship without realising it. Desperately he worked to break down that barrier, but to Adrien's dismay their timing was always off for some reason.

So many of his friends developed crushes on Marinette over the years, but Luka was the only one he saw her gravitate to regularly. They dated briefly during collège, while Adrien tried the same with Kagami in a futile attempt to move on from Ladybug, but had broken up for reasons Adrien still didn't understand. As far as he was concerned, Marinette's sporadic relationship with Luka rekindled itself at the worst possible times. Adrien originally planned on confessing his feelings to Marinette shortly before graduating lycée, but had to postpone when his father announced he was being sent to their Shanghai office for the summer before university. Adrien was almost sure Marinette felt something for him then but couldn't bring himself to put her on the spot when he knew he would be absent for the next few months. While Adrien was away, she reunited with Luka, and he thought he had missed his shot.

The couple split during university, and Adrien had tried to see Marinette as often as his schedule allowed. She always had a tender smile that made his heart skip whenever they met up, and Adrien thought he had been given another chance. He was working himself up to a confession when Gabriel unexpectedly sent him to study abroad for a year. After Adrien returned to Paris again, it was the same story – Marinette and Luka were back together, so Adrien smiled and mouthed platitudes of happiness for the sake of his friends. And then, out of nowhere, Luka and Marinette separated again just before the end of university. This time Adrien was determined to win her over, pulling out all the stops to woo his Princess. But disaster struck once more when Gabriel decided his son's initiation into the business side of the Agreste fashion empire required Adrien to spend two years rotating through the various corporate offices around the globe.

Two things happened when Adrien finally landed back in Paris, tired and jaded after his trial by fire. Firstly, he was heartbroken to learn that Marinette and Luka had reunited, and it appeared to have stuck this time. Adrien remained friends with them because Lord knew he had few enough that he couldn't afford to give any up. However, Adrien began to consciously distance himself from the couple in a vain effort to protect his fragile heart. He stopped seeing them one-on-one, saving their encounters for group dinners, parties, or band gatherings, so he had a buffer to distract himself from the hollow pit forming in his chest. Adrien thought he might be able to move on by minimising contact with Marinette, but that hope proved to be in vain. It was exquisite torture, wanting desperately to see her but being afraid to do so.

Secondly, Adrien finally decided he was fed up with his father's capricious and overwhelming demands. He resigned from Gabriel and moved out of the mansion the very same day. Although Adrien continued modelling freelance to pay the bills while he thought through his options, since it allowed him the liberty to work with other brands, Nathalie kept booking him at a steep premium that was hard to resist. Gabriel was nothing if not an astute businessman and did what he always did when power and influence failed – he threw money at a problem until it went away. If that meant keeping Adrien on as his star model in exchange for the near-terminal status of their relationship, then that was simply the cost of doing business.

Adrien turned these memories over in his mind on an endless loop, black waves of despair mounting higher and higher with each recollection. However, it wasn't until patrol that evening that he finally succumbed.