My very first Miraculous Christmas chapter. Enjoy.
Ah Christmas... That special time of year when families and friends come together in joyous celebration. A time when people spend countless hours searching for the perfect presents for their love ones. Everywhere, you see homes being decorated with love and smiles.
Well... that's how decorating your home for the holidays should feel.
Ever since he was little, Adrien has always been excited to decorate the Christmas tree in his home. He was always the first one to grab the first decoration and place it on the tree. His parents used to joke that he alone can finish the decorating by himself.
This year, he was staring mindlessly at an ornament, wondering why people would put glitter on a plastic ball and attach a string to it. Meanwhile, his Kwami was helping Nathalie and the Gorilla place the rest of the decorations on the tree.
To Adrien, Christmas felt... different, this year. Probably because this was his first Christmas...
without his mom.
His dad isn't even helping with the decorating like they used to. He was in his office, talking on his phone. It was Christmas and he was still working.
Without Mom... Christmas just isn't...
"Hey! Pick up the pace Lazy-!" Nathalie grabs Plagg with one hand, squeezing him so tightly to shut him up.
"When is Dad helping us with the tree?" Adrien asks.
"He'll be joining us soon." Nathalie assures, "He just... has a last minute business to take care of."
This did not make Adrien feel any better. He finally hangs the ornament on a branch, "I'll be in my room."
As Plagg flies after his holder, Nathalie sadly watches her charge go. His first Christmas without his mother was taking a toll on him. She feels guilty to have lied to him at this time of year.
A familiar sound of footsteps were approaching her, "Took you long enough to wrap up your 'business'."
"I just want everything to be perfect for tonight." Gabriel explained, picking up an ornament and placing it on the tree.
He decided that he needs to talk to his son. He knocks on his son's door, but he didn't answer. He decides to enter anyway.
When he did, his son wasn't in his room. Worse; he didn't bring his phone with him.
The only way Adrien could've gone out without triggering the alarms was if he transformed into Chat Noir. Luckily for Gabriel, as Guardian of the Miraculous, he is able to contact the heroes through their weapons.
Unfortunately for him, either Chat Noir is not answering, or he has detransformed back into Adrien who he cannot contact since he left his phone in his room.
He knows he can't find his son on his own. He hates to interrupt anyone's Christmas, but he has to find his son.
Nino was busy mixing up his Christmas track when he got a text message from his best friend's dad. What he read, made him gasp in shock. Seconds later, he gets a call from Alya.
"Nino!" Alya spoke from the other end, "Adrien's missing."
"I know!" Nino suddenly received another call and answered it.
"Me too." Sabrina's voice rang.
"Well what are we waiting for?" Lila joins in on the conversation, "Let's go!"
"Thank you all." Gabriel thanks the Team, "I don't want to cause a panic on Christmas. It's best not to alarm the public. This is a Team Miraculous Secret Mission that must be kept confidential at all cost."
Chloe, who was the last to join in after Gabriel, mumbled, "Uhhh..."
Gabriel raises an eyebrow. She sounded guilty-oh no...!
Families together in the holidays... It made him SICK...!
Chat sighed. He sounded selfish. It's not their fault his dad is too busy to spend Christmas with him.
He wish his mom was here. He wish they could still have the best Christmas ever, just like they do every year.
The more happy families he saw happily celebrating together, the more his jealousy grew, and his anger towards his predecessor. If it wasn't for him, his mother would still be around and celebrating Christmas with him and his Dad.
The sound of bells ringing and people singing were making his ears and head ache. It makes him want to Cataclysm the nearest Christmas tree, and-!
The anger in him vanished, the moment he saw Marinette, making and baking Christmas treats with her uncle and grandparents.
At least she still has family to celebrate with.
She suddenly stops mixing the batter. She puts the bowl on the table and puts on a winter coat, along with a knitted cap, scarf and gloves. Thanks to his cat "ears", Chat could hear her tell her grandfather that she was going to take a short walk outside.
She didn't bring anything with her, so she wasn't making a delivery. She must be planning to listen to some carolers.
He should be going home... but Marinette's going out on her own. She might get lost in the cold, and as a superhero, he just couldn't let that happen.
Besides... his dad is too busy to notice him sneaking out.
Unknown to the cat hero, his teammates were looking for him.
Along with their family, friends and their families whom Chloe alerted.
It was suppose to be just a Team Miraculous mission. Still, Gabriel blamed himself. He should've been more specific when he sent those texts.
Every ten minutes or so he would check-up on the Team's progress, but so far, they have not found a trace of Adrien. He, Nathalie and Gorilla went out to join in the search. They would even listen to conversations, hoping someone has spotted Chat Noir leaping on the roofs on Christmas.
Perhaps it was his fault. Gabriel was too busy with the preparations that he forgot that it was his and Adrien's first Christmas without Emilie.
He had to admit; first three months without his wife made him think that the holidays, like Easter, Halloween and Family Day, are not worth celebrating.
Then he came to realize; His wife would be mad at him for not spending the holidays with their son, even if she wasn't around. Plus clinging to his lost wife would make him sound like-
Ugh! Now he really regrets making his son feel like he was forgotten on Christmas. He hopes he isn't doing anything that would disrupt anyone's Christmas spirit.
All Marinette's been doing was walking and greeting people she has met "Merry Christmas". It was close to Christmas Eve, but it looked like she wasn't planning to go home soon. She was now more than 2 feet away from home and counting.
She suddenly stops in front of the large Christmas tree. Looking at her gazing at the tall tree made him realize what a terrible hero he would have been had he went with his earlier plan due to negligence and frustration.
Using the screen on his staff, he zoomed in on Marinette's face, and realized how sad she looks.
Why was she sad on Christmas?
He wanted to take a closer look. One step and he suddenly slipped. He bounced off an awning before landing face-flat on the snow-covered ground.
Marinette thought she heard something. She turns around, only to find one of her classmates on the ground.
"Adrien?!" She notices he was shivering, since he wasn't wearing a coat or any warm winter clothing. Concerned, she immediately rushes to his side, while removing her thick, winter coat.
Marinette didn't have to wrap Adrien in her coat. The moment she touched him, Adrien felt a wave of warmth enveloped inside him, from his heart to the rest of his body. Marinette's warm, caring eyes were enough to repel the cold away from him.
"What are you doing out here on your own?" Marinette asks, her voice filled with concern and disbelief, "Without your dad, bodyguard, and/or secretary?"
"Me?"Adrien didn't want to answer that question, "What are you doing out here on Christmas?"
Marinette looks uneasy to answer his question, "We should call your dad."
"Left my phone at home." Adrien remembered.
Marinette reaches for her own phone, only to realize that she had also left it at home, "Mine too. (Chuckles sarcastically.) What a coincidence. We should find the nearest phone or a police officer."
Adrien agrees. He was also glad she didn't see him detransform.
This wasn't the romantic Christmas he has fantasized spending with Marinette, but he'll take what he can get.
Still no sign of his son. Gabriel was getting worried. The Team weren't making progress either.
It was getting late, and getting colder. Hopefully his son has somewhere warm to hide from him.
The weather was getting colder. Marinette still has her woolly cap, gloves and scarf, but they weren't warm enough to keep her warm. Adrien wraps half of her coat around her, earning a grateful smile from her in return. He smiles wider in return, happy to help the girl he was in love with.
The moment was interrupted by a pair of kids messing with a man dressed as Santa Claus. Appalled, the two teens called them off, making the kids run back to their parents.
"Thank you." The man dressed as Santa was surprised to see the teens, "Shouldn't you kids be at home? With your families?"
"Father's too busy to even decorate with me." Adrien replies sadly with a bit of bitterness. He wasn't ready to go back home and celebrate a lonely Christmas.
"At least you still have your dad." Marinette points out, rather sharply, yet sadly.
Adrien scoffs, "At least you have your uncle and grandparents. And they travelled great lengths just to celebrate with you."
"Well... Your dad will be worried sick not knowing where you went." Marinette points out.
"He's probably too busy talking to his business partners to even care." Adrien retorts.
Suddenly, the two feel something fuzzy and warm draped over them.
"Looks like we need to get you two back to your families." "Santa" smiled, "You know the thing about Christmas; It's always the time for families to come together. No matter the reason, no matter the troubles they encounter on the way, they'll always find a way back to you."
That... gave the teens a lot to think about.
It was Marinette's first Christmas without her parents. They would always bake Yule logs together as gifts to their customers. Sometimes, she and her mom would sneak a few licks from the batter when her dad wasn't looking.
She misses those memories. She wishes they would have been found before Christmas.
And yet... she still has her uncle. And her grandparents came to celebrate with them.
Her parents may not be around on Christmas, but she can still celebrate the holiday with her family.
Adrien always loves to spend Christmas with his parents. After his mom's disappearance, his dad didn't act like he was in the mood for celebrating.
Then he thought back to the times when his dad was worried about him, when he would tell his son to succeed in his missions, and come back home safely.
His dad always supported him, even if he was afraid of his only son getting hurt just to save other people. There were times when Chat Noir would use his superhero status for personal gain, (cough-Marinette-cough) and his dad would scold him for being irresponsible, only to express his concern that he doesn't want his son to go the wrong path just as You-Know-Who did.
And that time when Chat's life was in danger, Gabriel jumped in and took the hit that was meant for the hero.
His dad has always been there for him. What really made him think he wouldn't be there for him on Christmas?
"Now come on." "Santa" offers a hand for them, "Let's get you two h-?!"
Marinette also jumped in surprise when the ground between the teens and Santa was struck by a familiar black-spotted red yo-yo. She was too surprised to notice that she and Adrien were holding tightly to each other, as if in an embrace.
"Not another step, criminal!" Ladybug appeared, glaring at Santa. She swung her yo-yo around as if preparing to attack.
"Ladybug stop!" Adrien cried, "That's just Santa!"
"Ha!" Ladybug scoffs, "Everyone knows Santa doesn't exist."
"Wow." Carapace remarks, "You never had a happy Christmas did you?"
"Now see here, Ladybug;" Santa scolded the heroine, "I was just about to bring these nice children back to their families."
"Oh shut it you fake retard!" Ladybug snaps at Santa, earning gasps from everyone around her.
As she keeps insulting the fake Santa, Adrien notices the black butterfly flying towards an angered and insulted Santa. He commands Ladybug to stop, but she wouldn't listen and kept saying that Santa was a fake holiday icon.
The poor Santa was akumatized. Into Santa... Claws?!
Really Butterflies?
His first victim was Ladybug, who he gave a present to. She happily opens the present, and snakes came out, tying the heroine up.
Seeing the threat to the holiday happening before him, Adrien scoops Marinette into his arms, carrying her away from the Butterflies' latest creation.
This was definitely not how he wanted to spend his first Christmas without his mom.
He was suddenly stopped by Carapace and Rena Rouge.
"I'll take the princess back to her family." Carapace takes Marinette out of Adrien's arms and into his, "Rena you'll take care of Prince Charming."
Only after his turtle teammate left with Marinette did Adrien realized that he went Chat Noir to Marinette. And without his costume!
Behind him, Rena Rouge smirks, "Look on the bright side; You've managed to score a few points with your Princess."
She has a point...
Adrien manages to snap out of it. They have a Christmas villain to defeat.
They found him. They found his son.
Gabriel was thankful and relieved. He was also disappointed at Ladybug for causing an Akuma Attack on Christmas.
He wanted to start this Christmas right. That failed when his son snuck out due to a misunderstanding. Now his son's out there defeating a villain whose akumatization he was partly responsible for.
He stared at the phone in his hands, tempting to call Chat Noir while he was in the middle of defeating the villain. It wasn't the best time to call, but Gabriel was currently in a self-internal battle between his father side, and his mentor side.
His father side won.
"Dad?" Chat Noir answered.
"This isn't the right time." Gabriel called, "But I'm glad you're alright. I wanted to start the holiday right. Just like always. Before she..."
Chat was in the middle of tracking down Santa Claws when his staff rang. He was surprised to hear his dad's voice on the other end.
He was worried about him. His dad was worried about him. His dad did want to spend Christmas with him.
It was all a big misunderstanding. And by sneaking out he caused someone to get akumatized on Christmas.
Now he really needs to stop the holiday villain from traumatizing kids on their favourite holiday.
"Hey Kitty..." Mariposa stops Chat Noir on his tracks. She was lying in a prone position on a swarm of her white butterflies, and looks rather... sneaky, "Do you know what I want for Christmas? You."
The way she pointed at him made Chat shiver in discomfort, " Thank you for ruining one of the greatest dreams I wish would come true in the nearer future."
If only Marinette had said that to him...
While staff and sword-stick clashed, the rest of the Team were tracking down Santa Claws. Naughty kids getting coal wasn't in the villain's agenda. Every one, naughty or nice, was getting a Christmas present filled with spiders, snakes, rats, bees, and a lot of other nasty stuffs.
"My little brother would love him." Carapace remarks, earning weird looks from his teammates, "He wants a pet spider, I don't."
Santa Claws spotted the heroes and threw a Christmas present to Ladybug. The heroine caught it. Completely forgetting what happened to her last time, she eagerly opens the present.
Luckily, Azula remembered what happened to her and kicked the present out of her ungrateful teammate's hands. The lid of the present opened, revealing a swarm of bees.
Chat Noir manages to lose Mariposa. When he reunited with his teammates, they were either fending off Santa Claw's "gifts", or helping his victims, too occupied to stop the villain with his continuous terror spree.
There was only one way to end this: Lucky Charm... in the form of wrapping paper.
Even Ladybug's power has gotten into the season.
"How are we suppose to save the holiday with this?!" Ladybug complained as the Team were being chased by Santa Claws' rabid reindeers.
Azula thought hard. Then an idea came to her, "I have a plan. A plan so diabolical, it will catch all our foes off-guard."
"Merry Christmas!"
Santa Claws halted his reindeers in surprise. The Parisians who were out at this time of night had all gathered around a large, wrapped present. And it was for the villain who was terrorizing their beloved holiday.
Santa Claws eyed the present like a child. A spoiled, greedy child. He pushed his way through the crowd of people and quickly untied the ribbon. What was inside, was something he never expected:
Queen Bee punches him, immobilizing him with her Venom. Then Chat Noir uses Cataclysm on his akumatized object, his hat, transforming him back to sweet, ordinary Santa Claus.
"You know you're going to end up in the Naughty List for getting Santa akumatized." Rena told Ladybug.
"Santa Claus doesn't exist!" Ladybug crosses her arms in denial.
When he arrived home, Adrien was expecting his father to scold him for running away in the middle of the night.
Instead, he hugged him in relief.
Adrien hugs his father back, "Dad, I-"
"No. I'm sorry." Gabriel interrupted, "I did- do want to spend Christmas with you Adrien. Just like we always do. Before..."
Seeing the sadness in his father's eyes, Adrien smiled, knowing he was thinking about her too, "Thanks Dad."
"Well... I wasn't lying when I said I was busy." Gabriel smiled back.
At that moment, the doorbell rang. Adrien and his father approached the double-doors of their home. Nathalie was already there. The moment she opened the doors, Adrien finally understood what kept his father busy;
His Christmas Present... Marinette...
And the rest of his friends and their families. Including the nice Santa Claus from earlier.
His father invited them over to celebrate Christmas with the Agrestes, and they all generously accepted the invitations. Everyone brought food, drinks and presents.
After Christmas Dinner, everyone exchanged gifts with the people they care about. Adrien got a new pair of high-tech headphones for Nino, a gold-beaded bracelet for Chloe, a new issue of Knight Owl comic for Alya, a new detective mystery book for Sabrina, a beret for Lila, Camembert (Of course. In real-life size, adult swan-shape too.) for Plagg, and for Marinette...
"Adrien!"
Adrien's cheeks turned hotter than the hot cocoa he drank minutes ago. He manages to compose himself and give Marinette his best normal smile, "H-hey Marinette...! Merry Christmas!"
If he had known she was coming, he would have fetched earlier the Christmas present he made for her. Luckily for him, Nathalie anticipated his situation and secretly slipped him the present so that Marinette would not notice.
Marinette's smile widened when he showed her her present, wrapped in red and adorned with a pink ribbon, "If I had known I would bump into you earlier, I would have brought this along."
She brought out a present wrapped in green and adorned with a darker green ribbon. The two exchanged gifts and opened them at the same time.
Adrien ran his hands across the pair of light blue gloves, relishing the softness of the knitted fabric. He looks at Marinette, his face morphing into sadness when she just stared at the blue scarf in her hands.
"I'm sorry!" He blurted out, "I was thinking you'd freeze with all that snow and-"
"It's beautiful." Marinette happily wraps the scarf around her neck.
That elated Adrien, yet for some strange reason, his voice suddenly became timid, "I-i... made it..."
This surprises Marinette, "You made it? By yourself?"
Adrien sheepishly nods. He spent days watching tutorial videos on knitting just to knit the perfect present for her. Marinette could only give him a warm smile, which is enough to make him smile.
From a small distance, Gabriel and Amshel watch the heartwarming moment with smiles.
The two teens suddenly heard a sound above them. They look up, only to find a sprig of mistletoe hanging above them. Adrien wondered how the mistletoe seemingly appeared out of nowhere, until he heard small giggling behind a nearby curtain. Six, familiar, small giggling. Followed by a rather impish silent "Merry Christmas."
Adrien wishes Marinette was not seeing his face turn red from embarassment. He was sooo taking back his cheese swan present.
Then again... this was finally the chance for him to get the greatest gift of all!
He closes his eyes... Ready to pucker up... Ignoring the sounds of fan-girlish squeaks and complaining...
He suddenly opens his eyes after feeling something soft pressed on his left cheek. He stood frozen, unable to speak even a single coherent word, even after Marinette pulls back from him.
"Merry Christmas Adrien." She softly smiles before heading towards Alix and Kim.
Adrien watches her go, a smile slowly forming on his lips, "Merry Christmas Marinette. Merry Christmas Mom."
Adrien looks fondly at his mother's face on the family portrait. It was not the Christmas he wanted, but it was one Christmas he will never forget.
Miraculous Christmas everyone! And a Miraculous thanks to Joanne Frances Tiano Cajilig for the help on this chapter!