Dabble in Drabbles 37: In Another Life

So this intro is a long 'love letter' to all of you…

First of all, I just want to thank everyone for all your heartfelt messages and reviews. Thank you so much for taking your time in sending those encouraging words. I'm sorry I can't reply to each and every one of you, but I want you to know that you have made a really depressed girl with a lot of self-esteem issues really, absolutely, incredibly happy. I read them all again and again and they made me cry, made me laugh (you guys give the funniest solutions to the problem), but most of all, they made me smile. When I had an anxiety attack, I read your messages and they have calmed me down. You all have a special place in my heart (as cheesy as it sounds, it's true) and I will never forget your words. Thank you all so much for caring.

Secondly, to those who battle with depression and have low self-esteem or feel inadequate in any sort of way, I want you to know that people do care about you. They are there for you. Even if they're miles away, live in the other side of the world, have never seen your face, or know you that well, they do care. I care. So if you are ever feeling down, either talk to me, or read the review section of chapter 41 because those messages are not only for me, but for all of you as well.

If any of you ever feel the need to talk to someone, please don't hesitate to PM me or drop a message in my Tumblr. I will gladly give my time for you. And if talking doesn't work, ask a mini fic from me and I'll write it up in your inbox! :D

I will be here for you as you have been here for me.

I love you all. Thank you so much.

Summary: When curiosity gets to him, Adrien is given a tale of a Ladybug and Chat Noir from generations ago.

"Hey Plagg."

Plagg groaned. Here it comes.

"Do the Ladybugs and Chat Noirs from the past ever end up together?" His charge asked.

It was two in the morning and Adrien was still high from the recent patrol with Ladybug. Plagg contemplated on just saying yes and get this sickening conversation done and over with. Then again, it wouldn't be fair to the kid.

"Sometimes yes, but majority of the time, no."

Adrien turned away from the window. Despite the low light, Adrien's green eyes softly shone in the light. "No?"

Plagg sighed. "Tikki – Ladybug's kwami – and I are only summoned when the scales of balance of the world are tipped towards one side or if a miraculous is in the wrong hands."

Adrien stared at him. "There're more of you?"

Plagg rolled his eyes. "If you didn't jump into superhero mode right away, you would've known by now. Now be quiet."

The young teenager closed his mouth and listened attentively to his kwami. Plagg rarely got serious. "Almost always, Ladybugs and Chat Noirs fall in love with each other, but things get in the way. They'll forever pine for each other, but won't reveal their identities because they're scared of disappointment. One of them finds out and before they can reveal their identities, they die. Or both of them finds out, but certain circumstances won't let them be together. The only good end would be both of them alive after everything."

"You still haven't answered my question." Adrien said.

"I'm getting there." Plagg snapped. The kwami floated towards the long windows. He looked up at the clouded night sky and for a second, he swore he saw the image of a particular charge of his.

"His name was Richard."

"I don't want to lose you."

Maybe it is the way she looks at him, her eyes filled with curiosity at her partner, her light grey eyes glowing in an almost silvery hue under the moonlight. Maybe it is that time when he had caught her before she fell from the tower when her yo-yo was thrown away. Maybe it is that time when she cried rivers of tears when he took a deathly blow for her.

Black Cat brushes the red bangs away from her face, tucking it behind her ear. He traces the edge of her mask, trailing his gloved fingers down her cheek and touches her lips. She closes her eyes and kisses the tips of his fingers. It trembles under his touch.

"Tell me your name."

It is more of a request than a statement. He looks at her with pleading eyes. She reveals it to him.

"Anna."

Her name is spoken softly in the quiet of the night, like a secret finally being unveiled. It is just a common name but that does not lessen his image of her. In fact, she is even more real and more beautiful to him.

He relishes the way her name is formed in his tongue. He looks at her and tells her his.

"Richard."

Her eyes soften and a soft smile curves on her mouth. She echoes his name, lacing it with a tone of delight and longing, yet with a hint of sadness as well.

"I don't want to lose you."

…

She kisses him softly before pulling away. "I cannot love you."

Richard gazes at her. Her supple lips are set in a lonely smile that accentuates the secrets and mysteries behind the mask.

"You're really sly, Lady."

He leans in and rests his forehead on hers. Caressing her cold cheek with the back of his gloved hand, he kisses those sweet lips of hers. She replies the kiss back to him but then moves away. She repeats her words.

"I cannot love you."

Despite those, their mouths connect again, not wanting to separate yet wanting to at the same time. It is a storm. It is an exchange of desire and fear, of love and of hate, of secrets and betrayals.

"I don't want to lose you."

But to whom is she saying it to, that is the question.

…

"I don't want to lose you."

It is a whirlwind of emotions, a storm of screamed out thoughts, and a rain of tears from the aching soul.

Anna and Oliver fights.

They fight against the love that they hold for each other and for other people. They fight against the feelings of betrayal. They fight for the friendship and bond they do not want to lose.

They fight for love.

Anna begs him not to go, she pleads for him to stay, to not leave her alone in the darkness. She has always been scared of the dark, but Oliver is her light and Black Cat is the warm shadow that envelopes her.

Her heart is torn between the man standing before her - her best friend, her consultant, her childhood sweetheart – and the man in the night-time of her life – her partner, her knight, and the thief of her heart.

Black Cat is dear to her. He saves her and will always have her back, now and forever.

But Oliver is someone precious she cannot lose. Oliver is the one she loves most in the whole world. He is the one she would sacrifice anything for.

Even if that means leaving her heart for Richard behind.

"Marry me."

…

"I don't want to lose you."

The words leave her tongue and hangs in the still air around them. Lady in Red looks at Black Cat and her gaze is sorrowful and steady.

"I'm getting married."

She sees the shock in his face before morphing into hurt. She wonders if he feels betrayed, if his heart is aching and hurting as much as her own. But they both know it is a love in vain.

"I don't want to lose you."

"You'll never lose me. You've just lost my love."

…

The wedding takes place on a cheerful Saturday at a large cathedral with colourful stained windows and large bells overlooking the decorated courtyard. It is a theme of white and red roses, a symbol of unity.

Anna stares at her reflection in the mirror. She is stunning. Her straight silky hair is partially tied behind her head with a red ribbon, a tribute to her secret. The diamond glitters in her finger and she wonders if she regrets leaving her partner behind.

But does gaining one's happiness overweight one's sorrows of regret?

"You don't have to do this if you don't want to."

Anna smiles at her kwami who is perched on her shoulder.

"Black Cat is my partner. But Oliver is the one I love. I want to protect him. That is why I am still Lady in Red."

Tikki looks at her with eyes that have seen more horrors than a hundred lifetimes. "Did you ever love Black Cat?"

Anna does not answer.

…

Anna stands before him in a beautiful white wedding dress.

Richard yearns to touch her, but is afraid that if he does, he is going to stain her purity with the darkness of his hands. But she is the Lady in Red. She has always been the one to take the first step.

Anna reaches out her hand. "Dance with me?"

Their bodies meld into each other perfectly; their steps are in sync just like their duties as guardians of the city, and their bond as partners is stronger than before. But it is a bond hardened with rejection and defiance of fate.

"Forgive me, puss."

"I forgive you, Lady."

The last waltz starts and they pull away from each other. It is the last dance and she will be saving it for her husband.

"Congratulations, Anna."

"Thank you, Richard."

Plagg smiled sadly as he caught the reflection of his charge on the window. The kwami said, "Sometimes, humans defy fate. But it never ends with a happily ever after."

"But did they end up together? Did Richard somehow convince Anna to be with him? Why didn't he say anything if he really loved her?" Adrien said. "He should've-"

"Adrien." The young boy stopped and looked up at Plagg. The ancient being said, "Their story is not finished."

"Not finished?" Adrien echoed in confusion.

"Anna and Richard's story is finished." Plagg said. "But Ladybug and Chat Noir's will continue in another life."

Adrien's eyes widened at the implications behind Plagg's words. "Then-"

"But human love stories are so complicated. Cheese is so much better." Plagg said nonchalantly, breaking the serious atmosphere. "You better get your beauty sleep, model boy."

Adrien rolled his eyes but headed to his bed and flopped down on the mattress. Ladybug and Chat Noir's story isn't done yet.

For sure, in this lifetime, Adrien was determined to close the circle of the unrequited love.

Sorry for the long hiatus! I was stuck in a rut so it took muscle to put this out there. But now that it's done, I think writing will come easier now.

I haven't forgotten the side-story for Teaspoon, don't worry. I've finished the outline for the whole thing so all that's left is to type it all out.

Thank you all so much for reading and waiting! I love you guys! See you all next time!