A/N: So, seeing that I'm ahead, I might as well post this chapter now. Thank you to everyone who is following this fic, technically following or just reading this fic when ever it pops up in the first few pages. This chapter is somewhat of a filler since I'm jumping around a lot, but it'll be worth it at the end. Enjoy!
After getting back home, Marinette had dinner and immediately went to bed after having such a tiring three days. Adrien, on the other hand, couldn't sleep. He was overjoyed. Ladybug was actually his girlfriend! Who would have thought it'd be like that?
After dinner, Adrien finished up his homework, and turned into Hawkmoth Jr. He disappeared, and appeared on the Eiffel Tower, looking down at the city of love.
"My lady is down there," the boy thought out loud. "I already miss her."
"Adrien. Would you like a little excitement? I could send another akuma," his father offered.
"I can't. I wouldn't want my lady to be awoken, and she'd have to be the one to cleanse the akuma," the son refused.
"But, why not I come over there, and we can fool the press, so they truly believe we are not affiliated," Hawkmoth offered more.
"Well, I guess you'll keep offering, so I'll accept," Hawkmoth Jr. sighed.
With a flash, Hawkmoth appeared behind him, so Adrien turned around, and the fake argument began.
Early in the morning, Marinette woke up, to Alya Facetiming her. The girl lazily picked up her phone, answered, and turned on some light.
"Alya, what time is it?!" Marinette moaned.
"Well, it's around six, but I got some really big news!" the reporter reported excitedly.
Marinette gave a wordless groan, and Alya continued.
"Well, it looks like your theory might be right. Last night, Hawkmoth Jr. was doing patrol instead of Ladybug, and from some of the audio I found, Hawkmoth called him fake and weak," Alya. "Also, Hawkmoth didn't seem to like him, so that sort of proves that Hawkmoth Jr. isn't evil," her best friend rambled.
"Good for you Alya, but I'm tired and want more sleep," Marinette yawned, laying back down, and hanging up.
Marinette dozed off for about two more minutes before she officially got up, not waking up her kwami, and started getting ready for her day. She quickly showered, got dressed, and with the extra time worked on her project for Mr. Agreste. Once again, the designer froze when she saw the reference of her partner. How could she have let him get taken away so easily? She should have explained her feelings about liking someone else to him.
Her mind soon became fully occupied with her regrets about Cat Noir, and she just curled up in a ball as tears streamed down her face. How could she replace him with someone else immediately after he left? Why was she such a mess? Her throat stiffened and her pout turned into a sob.
Over in the Agreste Mansion, Gabriel sat in his office, not able to sleep, talking to Nooroo.
"Master, you've changed so much. You may soon even use your Miraculous properly once again, if you want, to help people with their negative feelings and cheer them up!" Nooroo suggested.
"Nooroo, when would I even be able to do that again? I'm known as the evil man who corrupts people. Would people even trust me?" the adult worried.
"Well, you've convinced people to do bad things, so I'm sure it will be even easier to convince them to do good things," the moth pointed out.
Gabriel sighed, and gained some positive spirit. "Well, when my chance comes, I'll try, but I hope Ladybug won't act harshly," the designer chuckled.
Nooroo, seemed to be thinking, but a smile grew on his face as he looked back at his master. "Well, you won't have to wait long. Marinette seems to be having some trouble with the loss of someone, and I'm sure you can go ahead and bring her optimism back."
"Fine, Nooroo. Dark wings, rise!" he chanted. He transformed, and teleported away to his lair.
"So, let's try this," he stated out loud, letting a butterfly land in his hand. He covered the butterfly up, and thought, "Help her get better." A light glow emitted from his hands, and when it was done, he peeked into his hands, surprised to see a light purple, pinkish akuma slowly moving its wings. He then released the akuma, and let it silently flutter into pastel sunrise.
The butterfly flapped its way over to Marinette's bedroom, where it fused into her sketchbook.
"Good morning, Marinette. This is Hawkmoth," the man started, but immediately felt resistance.
"Hawkmoth," she hissed as the pale purple outline appeared over her eyes. "Go away!"
Still trying, he explained himself: "Please Marinette, I'm not here to corrupt you and make you chase after Ladybug. I only want to help you, bring back your optimism, as my kwami said. I simply want to help you, since I'm trying to change." He sighed as he waited for a reply.
"Really you've changed?" she growled. "Then, why don't I see Cat Noir dashing over the rooftops of Paris?"
"Cat Noir is completely safe. He helped me in my process of changing," Hawkmoth tried making half-truths. "He agreed to give me his Miraculous if only I changed and didn't hurt others, since he seemed to empathize with the loss of my wife."
Marinette thought over it. Of course Cat would try to make a deal with Hawkmoth, but how could or did that possibly work? Did all that Hawkmoth need to change was just some sympathy?
"What power would you even give me?" Marinette asked with doubt.
"The power to cheer others up with magic," the Miraculous holder offered unsure of what actually to give her.
"I'm sorry, Hawkmoth. But this time, even if you have changed, I can not accept. I have other duties and projects I need to focus on," she explained.
As her boss, the designer was proud that his intern put her work in front of other things, but why was her reaction to him this harsh and why does she seem to act like she believes him? He began developing suspicions, and then said, "Well, if that is what you wish, then I will recall this akuma."
After uncurling out of the ball she was in, she saw a pinkish, purple butterfly flutter out of her sketchbook, flying away out the window. She was baffled. Hawkmoth turning good? When did that happen? He did save Adrien, but he still has plenty to explain. Marinette went back to her sketchbook, and then decided to begin with Hawkmoth's outfit.
That morning, back at the Agreste mansion, Adrien was also awake, already prepared for the day ahead. He fell back into his bed daydreaming about Ladybug visiting him. He still couldn't believe that this was real. He got up out of his bed, and decided to go see how his father was.
He walked down out of his room, and headed over to his office.
"Hey, dad, hey Nooroo," Adrien greeted, noticing the moth was floating next to his father. "Is Plagg still asleep?"
"Good morning Adrien," the Miraculous holder greeted back. "Yes. I don't understand your kwami. As soon as things are over, I'm giving you that annoying cat back," he sighed with laughter.
Adrien chuckled along, but noticed his father seemed to be a little down.
"Dad, what's wrong?" he asked, walking over and looking up endearingly.
"I tried to change my akumas earlier. The moth Miraculous is supposed to grant wished and cheer people. I heard Marinette was having some troubles with a loss, so I thought to help her," he described.
"What happened then?" the boy continued as his father wrapped an arm around him.
"She rejected me harshly, not believing that I've changed, and then she interrogated me about the treatment of Cat Noir," he sighed.
The boy nuzzled his father, as replied, "I'm sure it was nothing you offered that was wrong. It was probably just her issue dealing with her loss and didn't want to lose anymore since being akumatized often makes things worse."
The man was immediately hurt by that, but his son went on. "Dad, remember. I'm here. I'm a happy akuma." Adrien fully embraced Gabriel, savoring the warmth and comfort.
The designer sighed. "I guess you are right, Adrien. I'll just have to find someone else, and maybe then I can help Paris. Maybe after that, Ladybug may warm up to me, and I may not have to force her Miraculous away to bring back your mother."
They released their hug, and Gabriel looked down at the hand with his ring.
"What if Cat Noir came back? Would she then trust me enough to lend her Miraculous?"
They left the question open ended since she may be suspicious of Cat Noir's return since she would probably assume that he is an akuma.
School was finally starting, and the two eager teens sat down in class talking to their friends.
"Alya, it's so cute seeing Adrien so happy!" the girl grinned.
"Yeah, but did you hear?" Alya began worriedly for Marinette's sake. "Apparently Mr. Agreste asked Ladybug and Adrien to be a thing."
"Where did you hear that?" Marinette grinned like it was a joke.
"Adrien told Nino all about it, and Nino told me," Alya explained solemnly. "I'm sorry Marinette, but it seems Adrien isn't open anymore."
Marinette then tuned in on Adrien and Nino's conversation:
"Yeah, I'm so psyched! I wonder if I'll get to see her today!" the model exclaimed excitedly.
Chloe then suddenly stood up, and "kindly" walked over to Adrien.
"So, Adrien what's so good about Ladybug, I mean, like she actually likes you. She acts so high and mighty. I bet she is just doing it for the publicity!" the blonde complained.
"Chloe, she is the most confident, and thoughtful girl I know. She has no need for publicity and actually, she'd rather not be so publicized. I know she cares about me. When she apologized to me about yesterday, she confessed to me and really likes me," Adrien explained with a light pink blush on his cheeks.
Meanwhile, Marinette's cheeks reddened. Wow. He actually really liked her. If only she could tell him.
Chloe made a big huff, and then stomped back to her seat, not knowing how to respond while still looking like the better match for Adrien.
Class was boring like usual, and the students were relieved to leave for lunch.
Marinette told Alya she wanted some time alone to work on her project for Gabriel, which she already showed to her best friend. She then walked in the direction of her house, but slipped into an alleyway, letting her kwami fly out of her pocket.
"Wasn't that such a sweet thing Adrien said about you?" Tikki smiled happily for her master.
"Yeah," she peeped with a red tint appearing on her cheeks.
"Well, what are you waiting for, Marinette? Let' go say hi to Adrien!" the lucky spirit cheered.
"Tikki, spots on!" the human called, red and black rapidly covering her skin. She then dashed off in the direction of the Agreste Mansion where Adrien was spending his lunch time.
After a minute, the hero finally reached the mansion and she landed in front of Adrien's window, seeing the model laying sprawled out in his bed. She tapped the window, and the boy quickly sat up, and smiled. He dashed over to the window, pushed it open, and let his idol in.
"Good afternoon, Ladybug," he greeted sweetly, taking her hand and kissing it.
"Ah, good afternoon, Adrien," she greeted back nervously. She was holding back a squee with how flirtatious, even if it was only subtly, he was.
"Would you like anything to eat? My cooks can make whatever you'd like," he offered.
"Um, I don't know. You choose something for me," she accepted the offer.
"Okay fine," he smiled, walking over to his door, opening it, and nearly ran into Nathalie as she was turning the corner. He asked Nathalie if she could ask the chefs to make something for Ladybug and him for lunch, and she agreed, walking down to the kitchen.
Adrien walked back into his bedroom where he saw Ladybug sitting on the edge of the couch, slumped over looking sad.
"Ladybug, what's wrong?" he asked worriedly, rushing over and sitting next to her.
"Oh, it's nothing," she tried covering up with a big, but fake smile.
"I can tell something's wrong, Ladybug. That wasn't your signature confident smile," he told her, waiting for her reply.
"I'm not that good as you think I am," she confessed.
"What do you mean?" he asked scooting closer to her.
"I never really told Cat Noir why I couldn't return his feelings. I was too much of a coward to tell him, and I would always avoid the topic. He probably hates me now, seeing that it's known that we are together, and that I have a new partner to fight akumas with," she pouted.
The model put his hand on her back, first testing if that was alright, and then continued and delicately stroked her back soothingly. "Ladybug, you shouldn't be so hard on yourself," he informed her. "I'm sure Cat Noir is happy for you, and understands why you didn't tell him. He's probably also happy that someone else is there to help you in battle. Ladybug, you are an amazing girl. You are confident, brave, determined, passionate, sweet, you name it! And, I know Cat Noir believes that too."
"But I'm obviously not confident right now. I'm not the person you think I am," she murmured back.
"I know, Ladybug, but no one is perfectly confident all of the time." He pulled himself closer so he could fully wrap his arm around her back. "If you think I think less of you for being nervous about this tricky situation, you are wrong. You are amazing, Ladybug." He then proceeded to hook his arms under hers, laying his hands on the small of her back and neck, and pulled her in for a delicate, and careful kiss.
Marinette was completely caught off guard, but closed her eyes and savored the boy's touch, and kissed him back. She slowly opened her eyes, and saw the smiling blonde's beautiful emerald eyes looking into her eyes lovingly. "Ladybug, I love you, and it doesn't matter that you've made mistakes."
A/N: So, I've finally put some romance in here. I'm not the best with writing romance, though since I personally do not experience it myself, being aro ace, but I'm guessing. If you can give me tips, I'd be thrilled. I'm going to be writing a lot more Ladrien, in the future, so I'll need all the tips I can get.