Opening her eyes, to find her phone charging next to her on the stand. She sighs, knowing Tikki did it for her. She really needs to check on Plagg, make sure he's okay, too.
Grabbing her phone, she texts her Maman, saying she's fine and will be home soon. The stiffness in her body and the rumbling of her stomach suggest she's been asleep a lot longer than a few hours. Checking the date and time, she realises it's been almost 24 hours since she last was awake. Damn, she needs to leave this place or she might never leave. Spending the rest of her life sleeping in Adrien's bed, wasting away.
Climbing out of bed, she remakes it. Adrien would be so mad when he comes home to find his bed a mess. Taking a deep whiff of his pillow one last time, she places it back on the bed and steps away.
Sighing once more, she packs her things into her bag, along with the box of things the lawyer dropped off. Looking down at the two sleeping Kwarmi's, she gently places them into her purse, gathering up the things Plagg had collected to bring back to Marinette's place.
She'd love to transform and sneak into her room, so she doesn't have to see her parents. But, she doesn't have the heart to wake Tikki. Front door it is. Looking down at her phone, she sees a new message from Nino. Seems they've decided on where to hold Adrien's memorial, last minute too since it's tomorrow- eh, today.
Shooting a quick reply to Nino, saying she's coming. She steps towards the door before turning around to face the room. Pulling the phone out, she takes a picture of the room and his bed, followed by quick videos of it all. Memories for later, as she's not sure she's ever coming back here again, She needs memories of how it is now, still and quiet, like he just left the roof to get them snacks from the kitchen, and if she sits on the bed, and waits. He'll be back, any second, any second.
Closing her eyes, she imagines waiting for him to walk in, then when he does, smiling and running to him. Almost spilling the drinks and snacks he's holding. Him asking her why she's so happy to see him. He's only been gone five minutes. Maybe, if she turns around, he'll be there.
Opening her eyes and turning to the door, she finds it closed and empty, just like her heart. Wiping her eyes, she puts her phone away and walks to the door. Opening it and only seeing a dark corridor, she sighs and closes the door behind her for the last time. She has to leave. If she doesn't, she never will. The memories here are so real, so alive. It makes her feel like he will walk back in at any moment. Leaving her waiting, waiting, and waiting, for a moment that will never come.
Turning to face the door, she wipes her eyes. "Goodbye Adrien, I love you." She whispers, as she walks off into the dark corridor. Happy it's too dark to see, as she's not sure she's strong enough to fight the urge to run back to his bed and stay forever.
Opening the apartment door she steps inside quietly and walks to her room. Careful to not make any noise while grabbing food for herself and the Kwarmi's. She walks up the steps into her bedroom and turns on the light. The Kwarmi's all stir and look up at her, shit. She'd totally forgotten about them. She's such a bad Guardian, she really is.
"Hi guys, are you ok? Sorry." She mumbles, setting the food for herself down for the Kwarmi's to eat. She knows they've been feeding themselves, but she still feels guilty.
"We're fine, don't worry about is. We're used to taking care of ourselves, we're powerful mystical beings, not helpless babies." Nooro smiles, and hugs her cheek, before flying off to eat.
There is that, she supposes, she doesn't need any more problems right now. Knowing the way she feels, that if she lies down to sleep, she'll sleep right through Adrien's funeral.
"I'll take a shower, get dressed then write in front of Adrien's statue till it's time." She mumbles, grabbing Adrien's favourite outfit of hers. A Ladybug t-shirt that reads 'I'm just a girl looking for her Chat Noir.' A Ladybug and Cat Noir hoodie, jeans she made herself and Ladybug sneakers. Not exactly fancy for a funeral, but he loved her in this outfit, and would have made her wear it 24/7 if he could.
Walking back into her room, she spots her Maman and the doctor on the lounge chair. Sighing she's glad she dressed in the bathroom.
"Not now, I'm not in the mood Maman." She snaps a bit more nastier then she meant too, but all the same. She's had it to here, with her parents lack of understanding. All she wants is some time to grief in peace, is that too much to ask?
"I'm happy you're home. Thanks for the text updates. I made sure your Father didn't go searching for you. I know you need time to be alone, I hope Adrien's funeral won't be to hard on you." Flinching from the snap, she smiles thinly before leaving the room.
"What a load of tosh." The doctor snaps as he pats the chair beside him, sighing she sits.
"She only stopped him, because she knew it would only piss you off and force you further from them. I've tried, but they just won't listen to me. Why do people insist on making grieving people get over it?" He snaps once more as he hugs her randomly.
She can't help giggle as his outbursts, normally he's so calm and collected.
"Are you ok?" She asks, as she hugs him back and looks up at him.
"I was worried you'd not be able to pull yourself away from his house." He whispers as she sits up.
Glancing at Plagg, sorting through the things from Adrien's, she sighs. "I almost didn't. I slept in his bed for 24 hours straight, without waking up. I knew then, it's time to leave. I just kept expecting him to walk in at any second, and every time he didn't, it broke my heart more."
"You're a lot stronger than you think." Smiling, he hands her a beautiful leather-bound book.
"What's this?" She asks, as she takes it, opening it to page one. 'Happy 18th Birthday Marinette, Love Adrien/Kitty.'
"Your friend Chloe dropped this off for you, says she found it in his desk at work." He wraps an arm around her shoulders, as she starts crying over it.
"I saw this in the window at the store, said I've always wanted a beautiful leather-bound book to write in. I can't believe he bought it for me…" Sniffing, she hugs it.
"You should put all your thoughts and feelings into it, so in a few years you can read it. And see how far you've come." He stands up and hands her a beautiful feather ink quill and some ink. "He bought this for you, too."
"I love quills and ink. Find it so beautiful and old-fashioned." Sniffing, she takes the box and sets it beside her. "Thank you."
"Of course. Will you be okay?" He gestures to the funeral invite.
"I think so, I hope so." Smiling, as he was leaving. Grabbing her bag with the hat and scarf in it. She puts them on, putting the book and quill box in her bag.
Stepping up in front of the statue, she reaches out and touches Cat's hand. She expects it to be warm and soft, but every time it's cold and hard. "I miss you Kitty…"
Sniffing, she sits at the base, pulling out the book and untying the beautiful ribbon, keeping it closed. Dipping the quill into the ink, she starts writing, writing about everything that has happened, how, when, why, and how she feels.
The alarm on her phone startles her as she's mid-word, causing a smudge where the word should be. Looking down, it was the alarm to tell her she has an hour till the party. Sighing, she puts the ink quill and book away. Getting up, she turns to the statue one last time before walking away.
Stepping up to the Hotel that Chloe owns, now that her father's retired. She had offered to hold it here, on the roof, as a sign of respect for Adrien. It's a pool party. Marinette had her suit in her bag. Not that she feels like swimming. The urge to drown herself might be too much to withstand.
"Marinette!" A voice screams, as the person tackles her. It's Ayla and Nino.
"Ayla, you're crushing her!" Nino whines, as he pulls Ayla off Marinette.
"Hey you two. Sorry, I had things to deal with concerning Adrien and the estate and such." Marinette says, it's a half lie.
"Yeah, we heard he left you everything. Also heard his Aunt's furious. She was hoping to get the money. Apparently, she's on the brink of bankruptcy." Nino mumbles, as he helps Ayla stand up.
"Did you two get anything?" Marinette asks, as they walk inside. She knows other people got things, just not what.
"We got a cute house in the country for us to renovate. Shit ton of money to do it with." Nino smiles as he holds Ayla's hand.
"So, you two are going for it? Marriage, kids, life?" She smiles, trying to not cry. She's so happy for them. They deserve it.
"Yeah, and money for our families as well. He's so thoughtful. I think giving Chloe control of the business is a great idea. She's really good with fashion." Ayla says, as they step up to the butler.
"Follow me." He says, as they follow him upstairs to the penthouse.
So many memories of her and Cat here come rushing back to her. Their first dance at Chloe's birthday party, the times they protected Chloe, or fought here. So many memories, Paris is full of them. Everywhere she goes, she's assaulted by memories of them together.
"You okay?" Ayla asks, as she squeezes her hand.
Nodding she follows Ayla out onto the rooftop. More memories, sighing she grabs a drink, it smells slightly of alcohol. Maybe, she can get trashed and forget for five minutes. Downing the drink in one gulp, she grabs a second.
"Easy, no puking up here allowed." Chloe's voice says from behind her, turning Marinette smiles slightly.
"I'll puke over the railing onto people's heads." Smiling at Chloe's grin. "Thanks for the book and ink. I appreciate it. I'm going to use it to document this horrible time."
"Good, it'll help you get out of your own head. And drink as much as you want. If anyone deserves it, it's you. And tell me or the butler if anyone is bothering you. I have a room downstairs for you, in case." Smiling Chloe, pats her shoulder before walking away.
"Who knew…" She mumbles, drinking this one a bit slower. Turning to the crowd, she scans them. As she thought, only friends and family. The heroes from New York sent gifts and their condolences, as they couldn't leave NY to come. It's sweet of them to remember and think of them. Maybe if they'd called them to come help, he'd be- Downing the second drink. Like the first, she grabbed a third and then a fourth. By the fifth drink, the room's getting a little spinny and blurry.
Stumbling over, she grabs a bottle of water and guzzles it before stuffing her face with food. Slipping some into her purse for Tikki and Plagg. Grabbing a second bottle, she sips it slowly as the room slowly stops spinning and things come back into focus. Much better.
A sudden wailing causing her to jump fills the space. Before Chloe appears in front of her just as suddenly.
"Maybe you should go lie down. I think you drank too much, too quickly. I meant to pace yourself." She whispers, as she keeps glancing behind her, to where the wails coming from.
"Are you trying to get rid of me, Chloe?" She asks, around a nasty belch. Glancing behind her, she sees Lila howling into a napkin.
"Who invited the bitch?" She snaps, then winces, holding her head.
"No one, she snuck in. But, I can't ask her to leave. She'll cause a scene." Chloe sighs as she tries to steer Marinette away.
"You mean, more the one she's causing now?" She asks, as she follows Chloe, only to freeze when she hears something.
"We were so in love you see, so in love!" Lila howls for all to hear, sobbing dramatically into her handkerchief.
"Chloe, what's she saying?" Marinette turns to face Lila. To see a crowd surrounding her, comforting her.
"It's not worth the scene Marinette, think of Adrien." Chloe sighs, as she tries to grab her.
Marinette pulls away and walks towards Lila. Dropping the bottle as she goes, her vision is now blurry for a whole different reason.
"We started dating a few months before he died. He didn't want to tell anyone, because he and Marinette were supposed to be dating. But she cheated on him with Luka and then broke up with him, after he accused her and called her out. Then blamed him!" Lila sobbed into her hands.
"I did what?!" She screeches as she steps up to the crowd around Lila. The crowd instantly parting, smelling blood in the water.
"You heard me. Don't make a scene, Marinette. You know what you did, move on." She sobs into Kim's scared arms.
"You stupid, crazy, lying, skank!" Marinette screams as she launches herself at Lila, everything turning red in her eyes.
Kim leaps away from Lila, as Marinette tackles her to the floor. Where she starts punching her in the face, repeatedly. And slamming her head off the floor. All the while, Lila screams and begs for help. Everyone's too stunned to move.
"How dare you! How dare you! He was mine, mine, mine! No one else's! He loved me, not you, he hated you! We all hate you!" She screams, as finally Kim pulls her off the weeping Lila, who's face is soaked in blood, and her nose broken, and eyes all puffy and swollen.
"Marinette, Marinette, calm down!" Chloe takes her shoulders and shakes her, before throwing some water in her face.
Gasping, Marinette blinks and looks down at her hands. They were covered in blood, cut and bruised from punching Lila. Looking up, she sees the horror on her friend's faces. She sees the muttering and dark looks, while looking sympathetically towards Lila.
"She's… she's lying. Adrien was mine, is mine. He asked me to marry him!" She screams as she looks around at her friends. Not even Ayla or Nino would look at her.
"Of course you'd say that." Kim snaps, as he tends To Lila.
"Oh, shut up Kim. Don't you have a fiancée to deal with instead of fawning over the lying bitch." She snaps back and sighs when everyone turns away.
"Fine, don't believe me. I don't care, I don't care about any of you!" She screams, as she pulls away from Chloe and storms towards the exit.
Passing the entertainment booth, she blinks and smiles. Stepping up to it, she plugs her phone into the big screen monitor. Picking up the mic, she whistles into it, causing everyone to jump and turn to face her and the screen.
"Not that I care what you all think, but I can't the thought of that bitch ruining Adrien's memory. Adrien made these for me before he died." Hitting play the video starts.
"Hello My Love, My Marinette.
I have made this video of our love and life together.
I hope this brings you some solace for when I'm gone.
Enjoy, and remember,
You are my life, my love, my soul mate Marinette.
The video starts with their first kiss and keeps going until the last video, where Adrien proposes to Marinette at the Halloween Party. Ayla and Nino both knew they were engaged, but chose to say nothing and side with Lila.
Once the video ends, everyone looks down at Lila, before they all step away, including Kim. They all turn to look at Marinette, who gives them all the finger before unplugging her phone and walking out.
This party is a bad idea, she sees that now. Walking down the steps to a nearby balcony, she transforms, ready to make her escape.
"I'm sorry Marinette." Chloe said from behind her. Mari turns to look at her. "I should have banned her from the party. I can't believe she, I can't believe they- I'm sorry." Chloe says as she wipes her eyes.
Marinette steps forward and wraps Chloe in a big hug. "It's not your fault. I'm not mad at you. I should have let Plagg cataclysm them all." She smiles as she leaps out the window and zips off.
Landing on their rooftop, she collapses to her knees, sobbing. This is exactly why she didn't want anyone to know. She didn't want the judgement, the looks, the rumours. Now they know, now they all know. Now, they'll tell everyone, and she can't go anywhere without the looks now. But, it's worth to show everyone what a lying piece of trash Lila is.
Looking towards the statue, she pulls Cat's ring out and looks at it.
"Any wish made by combining the two Miraculous can reverse anything. Even death…" The voice of Master Fu floats through her mind. Getting off, she zips off with a destination in her mind.
Landing in front of Cat's statue, she fingers his ring.
"I can't do this, Kitty, I can't. I can't live without you. So, either you come back, or I come to you. We're supposed to be together… forever! This, this isn't forever. This is eternity alone! I refuse to do it!" Putting the ring on her finger, she looks up at Plagg as he appears. He just looks at Adrien's statue and sighs, nodding his head.
"Tikki, Plagg, combine!" She says, as the two Miraculous combine into one form. She can feel the power surging through her, telling her to make the wish, make it, make it!
"I wish-" She begins, but freezes when a familiar voice speaks to her.
"M'Lady!" The voice is coming from inside of her mind.
Closing her eyes, she opens them to see Cat Noir in front of her, smiling. "Kitty…" She sobs, as she throws herself into his arms. He holds her tightly while she sobs into his chest.
"I can't do it. I can't live without you. Please, please, don't make me!" She sobs, as they sink to the ground and hold each other.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I know, but you can't use the wish. We made a promise, remember?" He whispers into her ear, she looks up at him.
"That we'd never make the people suffer for our love. By making the wish, which will hurt them. It's our job to protect them, not hurt them. I know, I know, but that was before I lost you! I'm so alone, Kitty. So alone!" She sobs as he purrs, rubbing her back.
"I know, and I'm sorry. But, I love you. And I want you to live, live and have a great life! Show Monarch he is wrong, that you aren't a monster. That you can move on and be happy. Please, please, do this for me?" Cat sobs into her hair, tightening his grip on her.
Looking at the ring on her finger, she looks up at him. "I love you too, Kitty." Reaching up, she kisses him, before opening her eyes, coming face to face with his statue.
Sobbing, she takes the ring off her finger and tossing it to the ground, before falling to her knees, screaming in anger.
"This isn't fair! I sacrificed everything for this stupid city, and the one thing I want, I can't have! It's not fair!" Slamming her fists down on to the sidewalk, she screams again. Just as the clouds above open up, drenching her in the rain. As the thunder booms across the sky, matching her anger and sadness.
"It's… not… fair…" She whispers, as she curls up under Adrien's statue out of the rain. Taking the ring from Plagg, hugging it to her chest, as she sobs.