"You really miss your Bugaboo, don't you?" Plagg says as he sits next to me on the pillow. I look up from my phone to look at him. "Why do you say that?" "Adrien, you've been staring at your Ladybug photos like I stare at the window displays of cheese!" "Its only for one day, Plagg. But I still miss her."
Even if we aren't fighting or anything, I don't blame Ladybug for needing a break. Has hard as it is, this could be a good thing. Rolling out of bed, I dress, and wander over to Felix's room wanting to see if he wants to get Starbucks.
"Felix? You up?" I knock on his door. "Yeah, I'm awake." I enter his room and start to giggle. "What in the world is that?" Felix is wearing a long nightgown with a cap, and I can't hold my laughter in any longer. "You look like Scrooge! Isn't a little early for Christmas?" "Rude. Kagami gave me this." "Oh, yeah? Have you sent her pictures?" Felix's face turns red. "No...I like my purple suit as Argos better any day." "Anyway, after your dressed, want to get Starbucks? I'll buy."
Felix grins at me. "Ladybug's got you hooked, hasn't she? Today its Starbucks, tomorrow it could be gardening." "Hey, gardening does not require fire or cooking skills, sign me up." I flop down on the bed, waiting for Felix to dress.
The air is cool as we head out, the sky a perfect blue.
Bluebell blue,
So pretty are her eyes.
So blue in fact, they pull you in.
Tell me your secrets, my love,
Who is the beauty behind the mask?
"Adrien, look out!" Felix yanks me back on the sidewalk as a bicycle careens by us, and the boy riding it pings his bell angrily. "Sorry, sorry!" I throw up my hands. "Daydreaming."
The walk man turns green and we cross. "Your were dreaming of blue eyes and black spots weren't you?" "Her eyes are bluebell blue, not just blue," I correct. "And yes, I was." I need to clear these cobwebs from my head, before I get hurt and get a lecture of my love.
We're nearing Starbucks when we pass one of the bigger newsstands, and a large crowd of people are gathered around.
"What's going on here?" I ask. "Wait here. I'll try to get in line." I step into a small alleyway to get out of the way and out of the hot sun. Plagg grins at me. "I may not be up on all the gossip, Adrien, but this is clearly from last night at the party!" I lean against the cool bricks, eyes closed and groan softly.
Of course! The photographers that Calleum sent. "Look! There he is! The famous Adrien Agreste!" Great, I've been spotted. "Is it true your dating Paris's famous superhero? You two look so cute together!" "When's your next photo shoot?"
Like a swarm of bees upon the first flower they see, the question they hurl stab at me. For I cannot answer their question, for when Ladybug wanted to get to know me better, I promised I would keep her secrets. "Anyone can be photographed together," I answer. "And their were a lot of famous people at the party!" "Stop holding back the secrets, we want answers!"
My blood begins to boil, and I'm happy not to be dressed in my black suit. "Have you know privacy? If Ladybug's secrets are exposed, she could hurt or worse. How would you feel in her shoes and all she's done for you!"
I turn, ready to head away from the crowd, when Argos drops down in front of me, giving me a secret wink as he addresses the crowd. "Ladies, gentleman, give Adrien his space! For in the magazine, has everything you need to know."
The crowd grumbles and disperses. "Thanks." "You have a lot of adoring fans, Adrien." "I made a promise. I vow to keep it." Argos touches my shoulder. "Good. She's worth it."
Finally, we reach Starbucks and get breakfast as well as coffee. Felix reads the morning paper, and at one point looks up at me. "Listen to this." I sip my coffee, not really in the mood. "If its about my love life, don't even bother." "No, its about the girl in my sewing class: Calleum. She's been missing since last night." "Missing?"
The mysterious man I rescued Ladybug from springs to mind. "Its a shame, because she showed such promise as a designer. I don't think Marinette and her got along very well." "I'll keep my eyes peeled." Felix stands up for a moment. "I'll be back."
I stare out the window, gazing at the Eiffel Tower in the distance. If Ladybug was here, I'd transform into Cat, and ask her to race me to the top.
I check my phone and texts. No messages. Suddenly, out of nowhere my hands start trembling and I drop my phone.
"Okay, take deep breaths. Nice and slow, Adrien."
How….did I end up in bed? "Felix? What happened?" "You were having a hard time with your breathing. What's going on, Adrien?" "I know Ladybug was just going to be gone for one day, but what if she's missing or injured, just like Calleum?" "Your thinking of your mother, aren't you?" Silently, I nod.
Somewhere in the most secret parts of my heart and mind, I believe my mother is still alive. "I would feel the difference if she were dead," I whisper to Felix, mumbling before my eyes shut with exhaustion.
The rain pours down and the wind howls as I find myself in a small graveyard. Then I see the tombstone, Emile Agreste. "No, no, no!" My voice howls as I sink to my knees into the soft mud. All this time I have hoped otherwise, and now….
"You cry not knowing it was for show," a voice says above me. Wiping my face of tears and rain water, I gaze up into the face of the man in black. "Claws Out." I don't bother hiding, for what have I to lose? "Unmask yourself." "As you wish." But when the man undoes his mask, I see the face of my father.
"I did it for her and for you, Adrien. Give me your ring and Ladybug's earrings, and she'll be back with us by morning." As much as feel the painful heartache at Mother's passing, with M'lady's love, I have all I need and I shake my head. "No."
The words that came through my lips ring clear. I'll be okay. "Oh, Cat Noir, you have made a grave error. But for today, I'll bid you farewell."
Father disappears in a clap of thunder and I jolt awake in my own bed, actual thunder growling outside my window.
"Hey, you've been sick most of the day. I thought this would help," Felix sits beside me, and hands me a cup of warm chocolate and I slowly sit up, sipping it gratefully. "I was sick?" "Tossing, turning, yelling and sweating." "Thank goodness Ladybug didn't have to see that." "Thank goodness today is almost over right." I nod, glancing at my clock. Only a few hours to go now, and my lady will be back.
"You feeling hungry at all?" I nod. "Could you order some spaghetti?" "Don't you mean worms?" Felix grins at me. "Remember, its what we called spaghetti when we were younger." I laugh. "Your mom would get so mad at us!" "Okay, I'll order you some worms."
As Felix orders the food, I look over at him. "Hey, Felix?" "Yeah?" "Thanks for shielding me from all those questions today." He nods.
After dinner, I'm doing what I was doing at the start of my day, looking at pictures of Bugaboo. But this time its me as Cat and I sigh. "When can I tell you who I am, my love? I don't want this secret to weigh over us forever."
Ladybug stepped through the portal, and was immediately assailed by the smell of flowers. A small cottage sat in front of her, with the most beautiful garden she'd ever seen.
Curious, she approached the cottage to ask about the flowers. Little did she know who she was about to meet was someone very important in her boyfriend's life.
Meanwhile, now full and free of nightmares, Adrien Agreste slept peacefully unaware that Ladybug was half a world away.
Each tick of the clock was another moment passed till his love's return, one moment closer to her hug. The clock chimed midnight, twelve clangs. Adrien opened his eyes, scanning the room for the suited clad hero, but of course she wouldn't be here this late.
On the other side of the world, Ladybug chatted with a woman with yellow braided hair, who spoke with Parisian accent that she tried to hide. Who was this mysterious woman? Was she friend or was she foe?
Turns out the woman had heard of Ladybug, thus an adoring fan. But unlike the crowd that demanded answers, Ladybug's fan only wanted her happy and comfortable.