Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir or Hetalia. All rights go to their creators.

Chapter 15: Catching Up

Arthur was aware of the faint beeping of something before he opened his eyes. He took in the white walls, monitors that showed his heart rate, and the IV stuck in his arm to recognise that he was in a hospital.

How did I get here?

His last memory was being on Notre Dame de Paris with Ladybug as he made the wish for his mother to come back to life.

Did it work?

He wanted to get up and out of this hospital bed to see the fruit of his labor. He sat up and threw off the covers, only to feel a little dizzy from moving so suddenly.

Arthur flopped back down onto the fluffy pillows of his hospital bed, he huffed, forced to be stationary for now. He reached down to grab a remote that was hanging precariously off of the bed by his ankles. He briefly wondered where they put his clothes, only wearing this sort of open dress type sheet to cover himself aside from the blanket.

He turned on the television and was grateful to have landed on the news.

His heart dropped into his stomach to see that they were reporting on the death of his mother. Apparently it had happened just two nights ago at his birthday party, which Arthur doesn't remember having. He was shocked to also learn that she had been found just three months ago according to the news report.

The news switched topics to the accusation and possible prosecution of Francis and Ludwig for crimes of terrorism as supervillains Paon and Hawkmoth respectively. A full investigation would be conducted within the upcoming months before an arrest would be made.

Ladybug and Cat Noir briefly appeared to speak about the accusations. Although there was something off about both of their appearances. Arthur didn't have red eyes nor was Ladybug taller than him.

Who the bloody hell are those charlatans?

Then the curtain was pulled back to reveal a man of African descent wearing hospital scrubs.

"You are awake! That is good news. I'll go get the doctor." He quickly left out the way he came.

The doctor, a woman of East Asian descent, wearing a white coat entered the room. She looked over his vitals. She said that his was a bizarre case, but they said he had been in a three month long coma, but was just brought in two days ago. She was going to bring some food for him and run a few tests to see if he would be healthy enough to be discharged.

A three month long coma that happened to coincide with his mother's sudden reappearance. There was probably another explanation that the doctor didn't know about.

Arthur bit his bottom lip, and briefly wondered where his band mates were.

Do they know I'm in the hospital? What time is it?

Arthur didn't even want to entertain the thought that Kiku might visit him. It would just make him sad that he'd hurt his beloved again and that Kiku had every right to decide he wanted nothing to do with him ever again.

Arthur twiddled his thumbs and the male nurse from before brought him a baguette sandwich, a fruit cup, and a bottle of water on a tray. The table was rolled over and the food was placed in front of him.

Arthur thanked the nurse before he left again. He took a few tentative bites before devouring the sandwich like he'd never eaten before. He gulped down the water before he remembered he had to breathe.

As he was eating his fruit cup, the telly turned to some sort of nature documentary, the curtain was pulled back: Feliciano, Matthew, and Kiku stepped into the room. Feliciano was leading the group.

"You're not gonna believe what happened!" Feliciano said, running over to his bedside.

"Feli, Arthur just woke up." Mathiew said going over to stand right next to him, "I don't think this is the right time. You don't want to cause him any stress."

Kiku stood a ways back, looking just as uncomfortable as he felt.

"But we've got to catch him up! What do you want to know first?" Feliciano held up his fingers to give him the list of options, "The whole "you were replaced by a sentimonster" thing or the "your mom died" thing or the "your family members are supervillains" thing?"

"I was replaced by a sentimonster?" Arthur almost choked on a piece of pineapple in his fruit cup. To which Mathiew rushed over to swat at his back so he wouldn't choke. He coughed as Feliciano grinned at him.

"I was hoping you'd choose that one. They think Monsieur Bonnefoy is Paon and that he created a sentimonster of you while you were in a coma." Feliciano leaned in really close, so close they were mere millimeters apart, "Just to throw us off. But we were too smart for that." Feliciano leaned back and smirked, tapping his head.

Mathiew, having glanced at Kiku who still hadn't moved from his spot in the farthest corner of the room, tugged his shirt. "Feli let's take a trip to the water fountain, ok?"

"Why? I haven't gotten to the good part!" Mathiew made a motion to Kiku, Feliciano furrowed his eyebrows briefly before he grinned again, "Ahhh, I got it now!~"

Mathiew guided them both out of the room, moving the curtain aside briefly.

Arthur avoided Kiku's gaze, embarrassment washing over him like a sheet. He looked down at his hands, twiddling his thumbs again.

"I would understand if you came as a courtesy to keep up appearances for our classmates. I-I know I betrayed y–" Arthur felt something knock against him, before he was being crushed in a tight embrace.

"You lied. You said you wouldn't abandon me and you did." The words were muffled against his chest. Kiku was… hugging him?

"I-I don't know what happened."

"Exactly what I said would happen." Kiku squeezed him even tighter if that was possible, "I-I was so scared, a-and hurt and angry."

"A-are you saying that the wish killed me? I-I've been dead?"

Kiku didn't respond. Arthur could feel the other boy trembling as silence settled between them.

Now Arthur understood, he'd proved Kiku right, and made himself look foolish in the process. I'm really bad at this superhero business, I messed with the forces of nature and karma bit me in the arse.

"This is our last goodbye isn't it?" Arthur heard himself say, his tone devoid of any feeling. He'd screwed up so bad this time, Kiku had to be done with him, he was probably going to start telling him off right now.

Kiku pulled back from him, eyes glossy, but expression unreadable.

Kiku put his hands on either side of Arthur's face, and stared right in his eyes, "I love you."

Arthur was confused.

"But I-I didn't get to see her again, and I-I died. You warned me, but I betrayed you anyway."

"Yes you did, but I was able to meet your mother and so did all of your friends. She cared a lot about you, and was willing to set things right." Kiku stroked Arthur's cheek with one of his thumbs.

Arthur frowned, "I still don't understand. I messed with the forces of nature for my own selfish gain, you should be furious with me. Disappointed even."

"And you paid the price for it. But I realized that we shouldn't be held back by my insecurities. I'm sorry that I wanted to hide our relationship." Kiku let go of his face and grasped one of Arthur's hands in his own, "You deserve to be loved."

Arthur's cheeks warmed with blush. His heart rate made the monitor beep at how high it was.

Kiku stepped back upon glancing at it. He frantically apologized in Japanese.

Arthur tried to calm himself down, "N-no, no you didn't do anything wrong. I-I should be apologizing to you."

Kiku shook his head, "I should have thought about your feelings, your guardian was your worst enemy, that had to have scared you."

Arthur pressed his lips into a hard line, hands bunching the sheets as he clenched his fists. "I shouldn't have let my emotions cloud my judgment, as you said." He averted his gaze to the chair on the opposite wall. "It has only ended badly for both of us."

"Arthur, your emotions aren't the problem. It's hiding them that is. You and I aren't the same, it's wrong of me to expect that of you." Kiku said, placing a gentle hand on his forearm.

Kiku was being patient with him, but Arthur couldn't help but think that he was just going to continue to hurt Kiku, and that was the last thing he wanted to do.

"I think we should break up. We're going to different Universities right? I-I wanted to go away to London. Hawkmoth's been defeated, we really don't need to be heroes anymore." Arthur was surprised he wasn't crying, he sounded so convincing.

Kiku sighed, "You're always trying to run from me, but if that is what you wish." Kiku removed his hand from his arm, "If you need anything, let me know."

Then Kiku gave him a nod and left out the way he came.

00000

"Nein. You're forgetting the memory erasing part. They made us forget about the Miraculouses and the fact that we had heroes and villains in the first place." Gilbert said to Feliciano, who was sitting next to him. "It made it kind of hard to figure out why you seemed so…different." Then Gilbert returned his gaze to Arthur.

Arthur had been released from the hospital a few weeks ago. Tino had offered to let Arthur stay with him and his husband Berwald until Arthur was off at University. Bonnefoy as a brand was filing for bankruptcy as many of its investors and shareholders pulled out amid the Hawkmoth and Paon allegations. The police had conducted a search and found the peacock and butterfly miraculouses.

Arthur, Gilbert, and Feliciano were currently at Maximo's eating ice cream. Gilbert had just given him his miraculous back. Kiku had asked Gilbert and Alfred to fill in for them while Arthur was in the hospital and until he got back on his feet.

"We're just glad you weren't a sentimonster the entire time! Alfred was so shocked when the sentimonster turned into dust, he thought he killed you!" Feliciano hit the table with his palm. He had cherry ice cream with vanilla swirls and silver sprinkles.

Arthur's mother's funeral was last week, he couldn't even look at Francis or Ludwig anymore, replacing him with a sentimonster to fool everyone was the last straw.

Gilbert was licking his grapefruit and tangerine ice cream with vanilla and cinnamon swirls. "You look so out of it, Eyebrows."

Arthur had been in a state of numbness after breaking up with Kiku. He'd shut down, not allowing himself to feel anything. Not even shedding a tear at the funeral. It was as though this was some illusion of reality, and none of it was real.

Arthur's ice cream was peach with chocolate and blackberry swirls.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Gilbert asked him, ruby red eyes filled with concern.

"Oh! I also have a number you could call if you want to talk to a professional." Feliciano said, pulling out a receipt and a pen. He scribbled a number on the back.

"You have therapy sessions?" Gilbert asked him.

Feliciano shook his head, "Lovi said he needed it after Grandpa died. I took it from him because I thought Arthur might need it too!"

Feliciano slid the receipt toward him.

Arthur stared at the paper before looking back up at Feliciano, "I'm fine. I'm just not letting myself get overwhelmed." He slid the paper back toward him.

"You know we don't believe that right? With all of the things that happened to you last month I know Feli would be bawling his eyes out."

And not you?" Feli asked.

"Nein because I'm strong. I'd be comforting you though." Gilbert said with a smirk.

Arthur didn't take the paper even as Feliciano slid it back over to his side.

"Why'd you break up with Kiku? He wasn't even upset with you!" Feliciano asked.

"Feli! Don't just ask him that!"

"No, I will ask because you're all sad and won't talk to anyone! And I want to know why you're putting yourself through this, when nobody wants to see you like this."

Arthur frowned, Feliciano didn't understand. Feliciano didn't understand the burden he had to carry as a superhero, and how much he had hurt Kiku.

"If I keep things separate, then no one gets hurt."

"It's a little too late for that. Kiku's known first hasn't he? What are you really running from Eyebrows?" Gilbert asked, eyebrow quirked.

Gilbert and Feliciano were looking at him and Arthur had the urge to get up and leave. He had the urge to run, he's had it for a while, he's been suffocated by Francis for so long he doesn't know what else to do. But Francis and his influence were dwindling literally and figuratively.

He didn't have to run anymore.

Arthur stood up and snatched up the number Feliciano left on the table. He was going to be in control of his own destiny.

"You're absolutely right Gilbert. I shouldn't be running. I should be facing my problems head on."

"I'm glad that I'm right, because I always am." Gilbert stood up as well. Feliciano joined him and clapped.

"So does this mean you're going to get back together with Kiku?" Gilbert elbowed Feliciano in his ribs.

Maybe it was the sudden dopamine being released, but he answered that question with more enthusiasm than necessary, "Yes! Anything is possible!"

How would I do that?

He would have to get Kiku flowers as an apology, and probably write him a few poems. His thoughts were a buzz with ways to try to win him over.

Maybe a surprise candle lit dinner on his rooftop balcony? Or tickets to a Hatsune Miku concert? Or sew him a new Ladybug suit?

Arthur felt a sudden pressure on his shoulder, "Come back down to Earth, Eyebrows."

Arthur blinked, Gilbert had placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Were you saying something?"

Gilbert shook his head, sardonic smile on his face, "Don't let Kiku distract you, ok?"

Arthur rolled his eyes, "I've never done that."

When Feliciano let out a giggle, Arthur crossed his arms.

Shortly after they left the ice cream shop Arthur gave that number a call. The number Feliciano had given him wasn't a therapist but a hotline he could call just to talk to a professional anonymously.

So, upon making sure the professional didn't know who he was. It wasn't a French service, and his English was still pretty good. So, he told the man on the line about how he was feeling, omitting the superhero part and just replacing it with "my father committed a crime."

The professional said that it was normal to be upset that this sort of thing happened, especially the death of his mother, none of it was his fault, and finding outlets to express his feelings such as writing was a good step. And that it would take time for him to find his new passion after the path that was planned for him fell apart.

Arthur decided against going to University in London and instead chose to stay in Paris.

Arthur knew his reputation was tarnished abroad, he wouldn't be getting any modeling contacts, and he wasn't famous anymore…aside from being Cat Noir. There was a bit of bad press about him for a few weeks because of his close proximity to Francis, although it had since calmed down.

Gilbert was going to school in London with Alfred and Kiku. He hadn't actually asked Kiku, Gilbert had relayed this information to him.

Matthew was going to school in Montreal while Ivan was going to school in Houston, Texas.

Feliciano was staying in Paris with Antonio and Yuet Lian also staying. Feliciano had been accepted into a fashion school despite his association with Bonnefoy.

Tino worked as a postal worker, considering he couldn't work for Francis anymore. Arthur had started working for Berwald in his bakery part-time after school, and continued into the summer. He was fascinated by how delicious Berwald's desserts were, although they weren't the best presentation wise. He'd had a few mishaps in the kitchen, a small fire, but Berwald reacted calmly, and didn't really reprimand him.

00000

It was a month before Arthur was going to start University, a warm summer's morning. Arthur wore an apron over his "Number 1 Ladybug Fan" shirt. He was currently wiping the counter off from some spilled flour when the door chimed.

"Bonjour, welcome to Berwald's Bakery. How can I help you?" Arthur glanced up after saying the mandatory stock phrasing he said to all customers.

"What pastry do you recommend?" Kiku asked him.

Arthur flinched, feeling his cheeks warm with blush, "U-Uh, the cinnamon rolls are the most popular, and then of course macarons."

"But I asked what you liked." Kiku's gaze was unwavering almost as though it could burn his skin.

Arthur blinked, and took a breath to calm himself. "I rather enjoy mille-feuille."

"I'll take two of those." Kiku said with a nod.

"Coming right up." Arthur met the other boy's eyes briefly as he grabbed a paper bag underneath the counter and a pair of plastic tongs.

Then he reached into the display case and grabbed the mille-feuilles. He could feel the other boy's gaze on him.

Arthur bagged them up and returned to the register to total up his order. "Is that all?" He asked.

Kiku gave him a nod again, and Arthur told him the total. Kiku dug in his pocket and his fingers brushed against Arthur's open palm as he gave him the money for the purchase.

And then Arthur was staring into Kiku's sultry chocolate coloured eyes again. Arthur pushed the paper bag toward Kiku, not missing the crackle of the bag as Kiku grabbed it.

"When is your break?"

Arthur gripped the money and with trembling fingers typed in the code to open the register, not without getting it wrong the first time though.

"In about 15 minutes." Arthur put in the money and gave Kiku his change.

"I'll see you then." Arthur watched as the boy walked back out the way he came.

When it was time for his break, Arthur stepped out to see Kiku leaning against the brick wall of the bakery, bag still in hand, typing on his phone.

He had decided against getting back together with Kiku when Gilbert said the raven haired boy was going off to London.

"I heard you were staying." Kiku motioned for him to follow him.

They walked not too far of a distance to a wooden bench across the street from the Arc de Triomphe.

"I heard you were leaving." Arthur said as he sat down, a noticeable gap between them. He focused instead on the bustling street ahead.

Silence settled between them then, only interrupted by the crumpling of Kiku's paper bag.

Out of the corner of his eye he could see Kiku offering him a mille-feuille, presumably why he bought two, and was adamant to buy his favourite pastry.

Arthur grabbed it with a quiet, "Merci…but you didn't have to."

"I know." He said and they ate in silence again.

He let out a small hum, it was a really good treat. Then there was a slight shift, and suddenly Kiku was closer to him, their gap noticeably smaller, knees almost close enough to touch.

"What are you doing?" Arthur turned, facing the raven haired boy.

"I wanted to see how you were doing, you never said you needed anything."

"How you're acting is strange. Why are you so close?"

"Why are you on edge?" Kiku raised an eyebrow as he met his gaze.

Arthur crossed his arms, "What does it matter? You're leaving."

"There's a better computer engineering program in London. I also thought you were leaving too now that Hawkmoth's been defeated."

Arthur sat back on the bench, gaze skyward. "I-I'm still figuring things out, and not having Francis as a safety net is…freeing but also a challenge."

Kiku gave him a nod. "I won't be far, I'll visit on breaks anyway to help Otōsan at the restaurant."

"I don't want to weigh you down."

"I didn't come here as a romantic partner. I came here as your friend."

Arthur stared at Kiku in disbelief, he wasn't trying to get them back together?

"Well then, you're free to do as you please." Arthur sneered.

"You don't really mean that." Kiku traced nonsensical shapes on the back of Arthur's hand that was resting on the bench.

"I do. You can go fall in love with some Londoner. I'll be fine."

Kiku looked up at him through his eyelashes. Arthur's heart was rapidly beating in his chest, his ears burned, as though Kiku could see right through him. He wasn't used to Kiku being so forward, yet also coy, he was always pursuing Kiku, not the other way around.

"My heart is already filled."

Arthur let out a groan, "You're killing me." To which he rested his hand on his chin and his elbow on his knee.

"Was that too much?" Kiku had stopped his tracing.

Arthur let out a brief chuckle because he couldn't be mad, "When did you become so…"

"Cheesy?"

"Endearing."

Kiku laid back onto the bench, "I took you for granted quite a lot, you were always spoiling me."

"Pretty privilege," Arthur smirked.

"Said by the former supermodel."

"Not so sure about that, Antonio's colour is red, remember?"

Kiku paused, biting his lip, seemingly giving it some thought. "Hmm, but so is mine."

"Well technically yes," Arthur looked down at the ground before sitting back up, "But that's not the same."

"Let's stop talking about colors." Arthur looked over to meet Kiku's gaze again, his eyes were dark, "Are you going to run from me again?"

Just then Arthur's alarm went off on his phone, telling him that his break was over. Arthur pushed off from the bench. He felt a twitch in his lips and gave Kiku a lopsided grin.

"Quite literally, yes. I've got to get back to work."

Kiku gave him a nod.

Arthur walked back to resume his shift, feeling just a bit lighter.

000000

Arthur and Kiku settled into something familiar, a rhythm of sorts with Kiku stopping by when it was close to the time for his break.

Sometimes Arthur would forbid Kiku from paying, his treat instead, and they would sit on a bench, or on a bridge, or on a blanket and talk. Mostly Arthur would air out his frustrations with customers, and calls he received from Francis trying to apologise.

Kiku listened, giving a nod every now and then in agreement. Sometimes they wouldn't talk at all, letting the surrounding sounds fill the space.

Today they were sitting on a blanket in the grass, with Kiku resting his head on Arthur's lap, as he ran his fingers through the boy's raven coloured hair. They'd eaten some cinnamon rolls.

Kiku relayed his father's worries about replacing him at the restaurant, and the guilt that it brought him.

"I wouldn't worry about it."

"But what if he can't find anyone? I'll be coming back on my breaks but that's not enough."

"He will find someone, trust me."

Kiku pressed his lips together, "But you can't be so sure. Otōsan can be quite difficult and particular, not everyone will want to keep up with him."

Arthur let out a little chuckle, and Kiku furrowed his eyebrows. Arthur took it upon himself to smooth them out.

"If you apply, I'll put in a good word for you," Kiku said, lightly gripping his hands to take them off of his face.

"No can do, love, I'm already working at the bakery."

Kiku sat up quickly and Arthur jerked back so Kiku wouldn't hit him in the head. Kiku sighed, a somber expression on his face.

"Have you ever thought that maybe he's doing this because he's going to miss you?" Arthur asked.

Kiku glanced at Arthur, confusion written on his face.

"He's worried because you're going off without him, and that's his way of expressing it." Arthur said. He pinched Kiku's cheek, "Daddy's little boy is growing up, he's just not ready to let go."

Kiku's expression was pensive now, having not really reacted to him pinching his cheek.

"Hmmm. I think that's what your mother was trying to say. That she was letting you go because you outgrew her."

Now Arthur was confused.

"I know it's not really the same. But I think she was saying you would be fine without her because of all the other people who care about you." Kiku continued, having placed his hand on top of Arthur's.

Then they were somehow mere millimeters apart, a feeling of rapture overcoming him, as he met Kiku's eyes, his entire being engulfed in their earthy depths. His breath, shaky and warm, was not borne of uncertainty, but of urge.

Arthur dove down to capture Kiku's lips in a lingering kiss. He tilted his head to deepen the kiss, their tongues brushing against each other, having not done so in what could be considered too long. Kiku interlaced their fingers. Arthur closed his eyes as he pulled Kiku close, and rested a hand on the other boy's hip.

And then they broke away for air. As Arthur was catching his breath, he said, "I've never stopped loving you."

Kiku cupped each side of his face, pulled him down, and pressed a kiss onto his forehead.

Arthur felt a warm blush on his cheeks. He was free to forge a path for himself, not weighed down by his past, and he had not only Kiku but his friends, Tino, and Berwald to get him through.

The End.

A/N: That's the end folks. I hope you all enjoyed the sequel.

I love this AU so much, and it was so much fun diving back into it.

Idk, I might continue into college for them one day, but for now I've got a few other projects so it might be awhile.

Thank you for reading!