Adrien never thought there'd be a day where the Dupain-Cheng Bakery scared him. He hadn't dared step foot in the building since the funeral, a couple of months since he saw the people he once considered his sanctuary from the tidal wave of unsaid chaos that was his home.

He'd spent the last ten minutes going over excuses he could use to turn back and leave, looking for every last way he could save this meeting for a tomorrow that would never come. But Kagami's words still stuck with him, a little worm inside his ears that would never let him forget them. Yes, she said that he could move forward at his own pace, but she also said that moving at all was more healthy than stay in place, letting what has past, what he can't change, consume him.

So, he needed to face Marinette's parents. He needed to face the only things that remained of the woman he loved. He needed to look them in the eye and see if he could still stand, and wanting to get Nathalie and the rest of the gang some treats was the perfect excuse to do so.

A make-shift shrine had been erected in front of the bakery, pictures of Marinette surrounded by flowers, offerings and newspaper articles of the people Ladybug saved. It was hard to look at without his heart clenching up, Adrien could only manage a few glances, spotting some familiar names written on the top of notes before tearing his eyes away.

Adrien took a deep breath, steadying himself as he reached for the door handle of the bakery. The familiar scent of fresh bread and pastries wafted through the cracks, tugging at his memories. He could almost hear Marinette's laugh echoing through the shop, see her parents bustling around behind the counter, always so warm and welcoming.

He hesitated, his hand hovering just above the handle, his heart pounding in his chest. What if they figured it out? What if they saw right through him? What if they hated him? What if they never wanted to see him again? What if they couldn't forgive him?

He swallowed hard, forcing those thoughts down. He had to do this. For Marinette. For himself.

The bell above the door jingled as he pushed it open, the sound sharp and intrusive in the otherwise quiet shop. It was late afternoon, just after the lunch rush, so the bakery was relatively empty. A few regulars sat by the window, sipping on coffee and chatting softly.

He expected to see Tom hunched over the counter, his immense form gently cradling a tiny set of treats. But to his relief, Tom wasn't there for the moment. But then, to his confusion, someone else was.

"Yo, Adrien!" Kim practically dived over the countertop and scared the living daylights out of multiple customers as he bounded across the bakery and pounced, crushing Adrien into a bear hug. "How are you doing, Bro? You've lost weight!"

Adrien was too stunned to respond at first, his mind racing to catch up with the sudden shift from dread to the overwhelming presence of Kim. The former swim team captain's hug was as suffocating as it was well-intentioned, and Adrien found himself struggling to breathe under the sheer enthusiasm of it.

"K-Kim!" he gasped, patting his friend's back awkwardly. "Good to see you too."

Kim pulled back, his grin wide and genuine. "Man, it's been forever! What brings you here? And look at you! You're all skin and bones. You gotta eat more, dude."

Adrien forced a smile, trying to mask the anxiety that still bubbled beneath the surface. "Just, uh, picking up some treats for everyone. Nathalie's been craving something sweet."

Kim's expression softened, though his energy remained undiminished. "You came to the right place, then! I've been helping out here whenever I can. You know, to keep busy." He leaned back, clasping his hands on Adrien's shoulder with that wide, maddening grip standing strong. "It turns out that I have the baker's touch! Alex, not so much."

"I heard that!" Before Adrien could question further, he saw the girl in question emerge from the back scowling. "Just because I like my croissants a little hotter than yours doesn't mean I'm a bad baker."

"She set off the sprinklers." Kim whispered.

Alex huffed, "That was one time! Two tops!"

Adrien and Kim made their way back to the counter, because there was no way Alex was coming to them. She squinted, taking one look up at Adrien before grunting "You've looked better, Agreste."

"I've been busy." Adrien chuckled nervously. "What are you two doing here anyway?"

"After… You know." Alex swallowed, bashfully looking away. "We thought Marientte's parents could use some help around here, especially with all the vultures and rabid fans that won't leave Ladybug's parents alone."

"They're good people. They don't deserve all the harassment." Kim rubbed the back of his neck, the cheerful facade slipping just a little. "Figured it was the least we could do. Ya know, considering all that Marinette's done for us."

Adrien nodded, his throat tightening. "That's... nice of you guys. But didn't you two have some scholarships set up?"

"Yeah, but…" The two share an uneasy look, Kim continuing. "We've got family here. With all that's happening in the city, we can't just up and leave 'em."

"Hey, I've got family here." Alex reminded him, slapping him upside the head. "This bozo's got nothing to stick around for."

Kim seemed utterly unphased by the slap. "I'm not leaving without you, Pint-Size. How am I gonna get anything done if my #1 rival isn't there to insult me?"

"So what, I'm holding you back here? Is that what you're saying?" Alex grumbled, "You know, saying thoughtless crap like that is exactly why Ondine left you."

If anyone else said it, it might have been akin to a dagger in the heart, but Kim pouted like Alex had just made fun of his hair. "That's a low blow, Bro."

Adrien watched the two of them banter, a strange mix of relief and guilt swirling inside him. It was comforting, in a way, to see that life had continued on for some people. Even if there was an empty space where Marinette had once been, her friends were still finding ways to cope, to move forward.

He cleared his throat, trying to refocus. "It's really great that you're helping out here. I'm sure her parents appreciate it."

Alex and Kim exchanged a glance, their expressions softening. "Yeah, well, it's not like we could just do nothing," Alex muttered, crossing her arms defensively. "And someone had to keep an eye on them. The press can be… persistent."

"Persistent" felt like a gross understatement. Adrien had seen the news coverage, the endless speculation and accusations. Every time he thought they'd move on, some new angle would pop up, dragging Marinette's name back into the headlines. Ladybug's death had shaken the city, and her identity reveal only added fuel to the fire. The bakery had become a shrine, a beacon for both admirers and vultures alike.

Adrien looked around the shop, his eyes lingering on the empty corners that had once been filled with Marinette's laughter and creativity. The place felt different. The warmth was still there, but it was tinged with an undercurrent of sadness, a quiet grief that clung to every surface.

"So, uh, are Marinette's parents around?" he asked hesitantly, his fingers drumming nervously on the counter.

Kim and Alex exchanged another glance, more cautious this time. "They're in the back," Kim said, his tone softer now. "Do you want me to get them?"

Adrien hesitated, the words catching in his throat. Did he want to see them? Did they want to see him? The last time he'd faced them, they were devastated, and they blamed him. He could still hear Sabine's sobs, the raw, painful sound echoing in his mind as she clung to Marinette's lifeless body, begging for her daughter to come back. He could still see the heartbreak in Tom's eyes, the way the man had looked at him, like he was the one who had torn his family apart.

"I, um…" Adrien swallowed, forcing himself to keep speaking. "If they're busy, it's okay. I just wanted to see how they're doing."

"They'll want to see you," Alex said firmly, her gaze steady.

Adrien nodded, his throat tightening. He wasn't sure he was ready for this, but he also knew that he couldn't keep running away. He owed it to them, and to Marinette, to face this, no matter how much it hurt.

Kim gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder before disappearing into the back, leaving Adrien and Alex alone by the counter. There was a brief, uncomfortable silence before Alex broke it "You worry too much."

"I've been told." Adrien said shortly.

"It just really shows," Alex softly grinned, reaching out to vaguely gesturing to his face. "You're getting all those ugly worry lines and wrinkles in your face from winding yourself too tight."

"You know, I'm still a customer…" Adrien pouted, the soft, borderline insults making him feel at ease.

"Yeah, but you're one of my shit-head friends first."

He couldn't disagree there. "Have you seen anyone else since graduation?"

She shrugged, "I've seen Rose here and there, apparently Juleka got a job at some cosmetic company."

"Yeah, I heard about that. Luka got to be an unfortunate test subject."

Alex snorted, "Oh, I would have loved to see that." She leaned against the counter, trapping her fingers. "I hear Mylene and Ivan have been having some issues. Some people want to just get out of Paris, and some want to stay."

"And long-distance relationships don't have the best track record." Adrien sighed. It was hard to hear, but Adrien was sure those two would figure it out, they were perfect for each other.

Alex's eyes drew together, squeezing her face in a disappointed frown. "Heard Nathaniel's been… Paranoid, to say the least."

"The senti-monster panic hasn't gotten to him, has it?"

"What can I say? He's already shy enough around people, and now he's found out some of them could turn out to be creepy crawlies."

Alex gritted her teeth, glaring at something in her head before relinquishing all her tension in one, forced sigh. "The day we graduated was supposed to be the start of our lives, you know? We were on top of the world, we could do anything, take on the whole universe." She spat it out, "And it was all a big lie."

Adrien swallowed, Alex's words hitting him harder than he expected. He could feel the weight of their collective loss pressing down on his shoulders, a reminder of everything that had been taken from them. The dreams, the plans, the hopes for a future that now seemed impossibly far away. He had felt it too, the illusion that everything was going to work out, that their lives were just beginning, and then it had all crumbled in an instant.

Alex's expression softened, her usual tough exterior cracking just a little. "A couple of months ago, we were still kids, you know? We thought we were invincible. That nothing could touch us."

Adrien nodded slowly, feeling the knot in his throat tighten. He couldn't find the words to respond, couldn't think of anything that would make any of this better. How could he, when he was part of the reason everything had gone wrong? He had been too late to save Marinette, too late to protect her from the fate that had claimed her life and shattered theirs.

The silence between them stretched on, heavy and suffocating. Adrien's eyes drifted to the photos of Marinette on the wall, her smiling face looking back at him, so full of life and hope. It was a cruel reminder of everything they'd lost, everything he'd failed to protect.

"You know," Adrien said quietly, his gaze following hers, "she would've wanted us to keep fighting. To not let this break us."

Adrien's heart ached at the thought, the familiar pang of guilt and grief clawing at his insides.

"She'd have wanted us to stop worrying so damn much." The two jumped at the sudden appearance of Tom, leaning against the doorway, looking down at them through soft eyes.

He let out a bitter chuckle, "Because that was her job."

His presence seemed to fill the room, his usually towering and warm presence now muted, a shadow of the man Adrien once knew. He looked tired, older, as if the weight of his grief had aged him overnight.

"Adrien," Tom greeted, his voice rough but surprisingly gentle. He gave a small nod, his eyes searching Adrien's face, searching for the boy beneath the pain. "It's been too long."

Adrien's heart pounded in his chest, the familiar wave of anxiety and guilt surging up inside him. He swallowed hard, forcing himself to meet Tom's gaze. "Hi, Mr. Dupain-Cheng. I… I'm sorry I haven't been around. I didn't know if you… if you'd want to see me."

Tom's expression softened, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. "It's okay, son. We've all been trying to figure things out."

"I… I came to see how you and Mrs. Cheng are doing," Adrien said hesitantly, his fingers fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. "And to, um, pick up some treats for the house. Nathalie's been craving something sweet, and I thought… Well, I thought I'd stop by."

"We may be down, but we're not out, my boy." Tom pushed off the doorway and advanced upon Adrien, a small, sad smile tugging at his lips. "Some days are harder than others, but we'll get by."

Adrien nodded; his throat tight. All he could think of is the face Tom made when Chat Noir gave him the body, the utter betrayal and hatred that broke out in one desperate lash before crumbling into a grieving father.

"We were thinking about checking up on you, you know." Tom grasped Adrien's shoulder and pulled him against his chest like it was any other day, as if there wasn't one giant elephant in the room. "We wanted to give you space, of course, but… Well, we knew that your father never exactly set a good example for dealing with grief."

"Nathalie and everyone else have been keeping me on the straight and narrow." Adrien nodded listlessly.

"Good to know," Tom patted Adrien on the back, "But you know that our door is open to you anytime, right?"

He wanted to hug Tom back, to share his smile and accept all the warmth that came from the man; but he couldn't. Not after what Adrien had done to this family, not when he knew that their attitude would be different if they knew about the ring on Adrien's finger, that their little girl died on his watch.

"Oh, Adrien, it really is you!" Before Adrien could even register Sabine's voice, she tackled him from behind and completed this Dupain-Cheng sandwich. "I was worried sick. Kim said you haven't been eating enough. Is that true? Can we get you anything?"

"G-Good to see you too, Mrs. Dupain-Cheng." Adrien spluttered out while the combined effort of the two parents crushed his lungs. Peering through the thin gap he had left to breathe, he could see Kim and Alex laughing at him.

"That Bourgeois girl said the same thing." Tom added.

"Chloe was here?" Adrien asked, incredulous. "She didn't cause you any trouble, did she?"

"Trouble? Nonsense." Sabine laughed, "She came to make a 'donation' to the bakery, something about making sure she doesn't owe Ladybug anything. And she smacked around some particularly annoying hooligans harassing the shop with her purse."

"Heh, Chloe's really something now-a-days." Kim threw his arms behind his back, sighing.

Alex let out a disgusted groan. "Please don't tell me you have a crush on her again."

"Geez, I was just saying she's nicer than usual." Kim stroked his chin, "But now that you mention it, she's also gotten real pr-"

"I don't want to hear this." Alex shoved his head back, sticking her tongue out with an exaggerated 'ew'.

Tom, Sabine and Adrien had no choice but to watch on and laugh. A real laugh. And suddenly, Adrien knew there was more to hiring the two than just Sabine and Tom needing a helping hand. It was just good to have people Marinette's age under their roof.

It would be a long time before things could be normal again, and until Adrien's identity was out in the open, he'd never be able to be as comfortable as he used to be with the Dupain-Chengs. But in the meantime, until that day, he knew that others were there to take care of them, and that was enough.

It was a step forward.

The door bell jingled once more followed by hurried feet. "Oh, sorry. Should I come back later?"

Everyone turned towards the door, Adrien immediately recognising Cerise fiddling with a long coat that looked one size too big for her.

Tom gave her a jolly wave, "Don't worry, Miss. Just having a surprising reunion is all. We'll be right with you."

Tom and Sabine pulled back behind the counter, getting into a hushed conversation with Kim and Alex and leaving Adrien and Cerise to their devices.

Her hands closed over one another on her stomach in a nervous gesture. She struggled to clear her throat before stepping forward, addressing Adrien but not looking at him. "We meet again, Mr. Agreste."

He left his hands sagging in his pockets, leaning to the side, under her gaze with a cheeky smile. "Come on, Cerise. We're not even close to the tower, just call me Adrien."

Her eyes closed briefly, allowing a soft, accepting smile to bloom over her features. "Okay, Adrien it is then." She nodded, opening her eyes with her nerves pushed aside and sliding to the counter beside him. "I'm just here to pick up a bulk order for the task force. These macaroons have become quite the hit."

Tom leaned in, "Ah yes, we have that ready for you."

Sabine looked behind Cerise curiously, looking for a sign of other people to help her. "How are you transporting it?"

"I was lent a truck." Cerise gestured behind her, "It's just a matter of getting the delivery inside."

Cerise, for her part, seemed to be doing her best to remain professional, her fingers fidgeting slightly as she stood by the counter. She smiled politely at Tom and Sabine, though her eyes flitted to Adrien every now and then, as if gauging his reaction to her presence.

Tom wiped his hands on his apron, nodding toward the back. "I've got your order packed up and ready. Kim, why don't you help load it into the truck? Alex, you'll be fine holding down the fort here, right?"

Alex gave a playful mock salute. "You know it, Boss!"

Adrien perked up, feeling an opportunity at hand. "I can help too, if you want," he offered, giving Cerise a casual smile. "It'll go faster with two of us."

Sabine's face lit up at the suggestion. "Oh, that would be wonderful, Adrien. Thank you! With the lunch rush slowing down, it's nice to have extra hands around."

Cerise hesitated for a second, her gaze flickering between Adrien and Sabine, before she nodded. "Sure, I'd appreciate the help."

As the group made their way to the back of the bakery, Adrien felt the familiar tug of his kwami's impatience from within his breast pocket. A pair of glowing green eyes peeked out from the corner, a small grumble escaping.

"Urg, more work?" Plagg muttered in a hushed tone, careful to remain hidden from the others. "When do I get my cheese? This is torture."

Adrien suppressed a smile, patting the pocket to calm Plagg. "Just a little more, Plagg. Catching Cerise outside of work is a perfect opportunity for some questioning."

Plagg grumbled again, rolling his eyes. "At least pass me some of that cheesecake over there. I'm dying here, kid!"

Adrien gave a quiet chuckle, whispering, "You'll get your cheese soon enough. Promise."

They reached the back where the boxes were stacked neatly, ready to be loaded. Kim slipped out first to check the truck, leaving Adrien alone with Cerise for a moment as they began lifting the heavier boxes.

Adrien glanced over at Cerise, his curiosity piqued by her words. She was a puzzle, this girl who had somehow found herself in the inner circle of the mysterious Chalot. There was something about her, a quiet strength and a sense of purpose, that intrigued him.

They lifted one of the heavier boxes together, Cerise handling her side with surprising ease. "How long have you been working at Tsrugi now?"

"Officially? A couple of months." Cerise shrugged, "Unofficially, I've been working there on and off for almost a year."

"You comfortable there?" Adrien asked, trying to focus on the present as they shifted a particularly heavy box together.

Cerise dismissed his concern with a casual wave. "It's good enough."

Adrien raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't exactly sound like a ringing endorsement."

Cerise let out a soft sigh, a hint of shyness creeping into her voice that reminded Adrien of Marinette's quieter moments. "I'm fresh out of school and got in because of a connection," she admitted. "A lot of my co-workers don't exactly take me seriously."

She shifted gears, suddenly more confident, her voice firming up. "But that's fine. I'm used to being underestimated, Adrien. I get my stuff done, even if they're looking at me like I'm an idiot. And when all else fails, I've got my scary-looking foreign boss to back me up if anyone has something to say."

Adrien chuckled softly. "Sorry you have to deal with that."

Cerise shrugged it off. "That's the corporate world. You grit your teeth and do what you gotta do. And occasionally, you hide dumb little joke presents in people's desk drawers to annoy them."

Adrien smirked, recognizing the playful streak in her words. "Small victories, huh?"

"Exactly." Cerise's face softened as she leaned against one of the boxes. "Marinette taught me that, you know. About focusing on the little things you can accomplish instead of the big things you'll accomplish eventually."

Adrien's heart clenched at the mention of Marinette. It was still hard to hear her name, but Cerise's words brought a warm comfort he hadn't expected.

Cerise continued, her voice quieter now, staring down into the box she held. "She gave me this little card before graduation. She joked that she gave it to me as a reminder that I owe her one. Said she'd probably need someone to get her out of some bizarre screw-up one day."

Adrien smiled softly. "She was always good at that stuff. Even when she was freaking out, she'd come off put together."

Cerise arched an eyebrow, a playful glint in her eye. "Are you sure that's not just because you're totally oblivious?"

Adrien put on a mock-offended face. "I take offense to that."

Cerise smirked. "Save it, Adrien. I've heard the stories. How did it go again? She mistakes you for a wax sculpture, confesses to you, tries to lay a big one on you, and you still didn't know she was into you?"

Adrien blushed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Okay, well— I got better at noticing things."

Cerise leaned in slightly, her smile teasing. "Mhm."

"I'm serious!" Adrien protested, though his tone was light-hearted.

Kim zipped past, snatching the box out of Adrien's hand, called out "He's lying!" and then disappeared behind the truck. Everything was a competition for this guy.

Adrien groaned, rolling his eyes. "Don't listen to Kim, he's even worse than me."

Cerise crossed her arms, her smirk growing. "So, if a girl asked you out for coffee?"

Adrien blinked, thrown off by the sudden question. "Depends on the girl. Depends on the tone. Coffee isn't strictly romantic!"

Cerise tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "It is when the girl is giving you the smitten eyes."

The two moved closer to the truck, sliding their stack over the frame while idly watching Kim bounce back and forth.

Adrien pursed his lips, shaking his head. "It could be friendly coffee. Or… a bitter coffee."

Cerise raised an eyebrow. "Bitter coffee?"

Adrien nodded sagely, stroking his non-existent goatee in what he assured himself was a very wise manner. "Yeah. The girl could be asking me to coffee to tell me bad news!"

Cerise let out a laugh, shaking her head in disbelief. "You are impossible."

"And yet," Adrien said with a smirk, dipping into a slight bow, "I still landed Marinette. Which I think should show that I'm just that damn good."

Cerise rolled her eyes, though she was still smiling. "Or that your looks give you an unfair advantage."

Adrien chuckled. "Okay, maybe a little."

They shared a brief, comfortable silence. For a moment, Adrien let himself relax, grateful for the distraction, the small reprieve from the heaviness that always hung over him.

"How did you go from graduation to working directly for Chalot and the head of the company?" Adrien asked as they moved the box toward the truck.

Cerise shrugged lightly; her gaze focused on the task at hand. "I have a lot of work experience carrying out tasks for people," she said with a small smile. "And, well, I already had an in with Chalot."

Adrien raised an eyebrow. "You're family?"

She shook her head, her expression turning thoughtful. "No, not that. We're… important to one another." There was something more there that she wanted to say, but swallowed back down.

Adrien couldn't help but press further, his curiosity getting the better of him. "How'd you know him? If you don't mind me asking."

Cerise hesitated for a moment, then sighed softly, as if weighing her words. "I met him when I was a little girl. He… uh… sort of saved my life." She shifted her grip on the box, her eyes flickering to Adrien's. "And got me out of a bad situation."

Adrien's heart tightened at the thought. He knew all too well what it was like to be rescued, to be taken away from something terrible. He didn't know how he'd function if he didn't have the little mercies that Nathalie and Gorilla helped him with under his Father's strict reign. He didn't know how he'd survive without them now. "A bad situation?"

She glanced down, her voice quieter. "I was left with my aunt and uncle. And they weren't doing a very good job."

Adrien felt a pang of sympathy. "Oh. I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

She froze in that moment, as if she suddenly just caught up to what she'd allowed herself to say. She wasn't angry with herself, or ashamed; she was simply confused how easily she let something so personal slip.

Cerise shook her head quickly, her expression softening. "No, it's okay!" she said, her voice brightening. "It has a happy ending, so I'm fine with telling it."

She set the box down on the edge of the truck, her fingers lingering on the lid for a moment. "I lost my parents young, like you."

Adrien's breath caught in his throat. "What happened?" he asked gently.

Cerise's eyes darkened, a shadow passing over her features. "What else? A supervillain happened." Her voice was bitter, laced with a quiet anger. "And superheroes didn't do their damn job."

Adrien looked down, a familiar ache in his chest. "I know how rough losing a parent is," he said softly. "At least it looks like you turned out great."

Cerise let out a short laugh, the sound tinged with a hint of sadness. "I almost didn't." She glanced up at him, her gaze steady. "Like I said, I met Chalot. He saved my life, got me out of there, set me up in a good orphanage. He was in Italy on business for a year. Long enough to be close, you know?"

Adrien nodded, "But he left eventually, and you drifted apart."

Cerise smiled wistfully. "Yeah, exactly. Only for us to suddenly bump into each other last year."

Adrien raised an eyebrow, a strained smile tugging at his lips. Roughly around the time of his father's death, not something he wanted to be thinking about now. "And he told you about a position opening up in the soon-to-be task force?"

She nodded, her eyes lighting up with a faint, nostalgic glow. "You got it."

Adrien's smile widened. "It's nice to hear some people are getting their share of good fortune."

Cerise looked at him thoughtfully, her gaze sparking with an eager energy. "Do you believe in destiny, Adrien?"

He paused, caught off guard by the question. "I'm not that fond of the idea that I already have my life planned out by someone else."

She chuckled, shaking her head. "Not that kind of destiny." Her voice was gentle, almost musing. "The way I see it, everyone, everything, every event has a sort of gravity to it."

Adrien frowned slightly, trying to follow her train of thought. "Gravity?"

She nodded, her eyes distant as she spoke. "We're all connected, we all have a role, and that gravity pulls all the relevant pieces together." She glanced at him, her gaze intent. "It doesn't control what we choose, but it brings us to exactly where we need to be to make the choice that will change our lives."

"So, you think it was destiny that you and Chalot reunited? So that he could help you again?"

Cerise's smile was soft, almost sad. "Yes. And I think, maybe, the universe brought us together too. All of us."

Adrien raised his brow sceptically. "For what?"

"To move forward. I think." He didn't know when her hand had draped itself over his, and he didn't know why he didn't take it off. "You, and your friends… Well, Marinette sure knew how to pick 'em. You're all… So special."

Adrien found his voice caught in his throat as he looked down at her, the dark hair framed at just the right angle to give the illusion of ends that curled into pigtails, her eyes sheltered enough by a sincere vulnerability that he could mistake them for familiar vibrant blues. Instinctively, he ran his thumb over her palm, like he'd do with Marinette, tricking himself for just a moment that she was there in front of him.

Then he shook his head and Cerise was there, and her stare still managed to make his stomach shift.

"I'm actually pretty boring once you get to know me." He said plainly.

"If I ever get to know you." She said softly, and even Adrien couldn't miss the hint of longing in her voice. "Chalot does most of the talking when you come to the tower."

"Then how about we talk over coffee next time?"

"Hm, and what kind of coffee are you inviting me to drink?"

He looked down to the hand he still allowed to squeeze his own, not committing, not leaning into it, but also not leaning away from it. He came here to help himself move forward, to help other's move forward. It had been months since Marinette's death and, as he himself had said to his father, the biggest disservice to the ones we've lost is to let yourself die with them.

He couldn't deny that there was a spark there. Cerise seemed to click with him, but was that because of her, or because of the parts that made him think of Marinette? Was he just desperate for companionship?

"People move on, Adrien."

"Do I have to?" He asked quietly.

"Not until you're ready."

He didn't know if he was ready for that yet.

"We'll see what happens."

Not leaning into it, but also not leaning away. It wasn't a big step forward, but… Well, it's about the little victories, isn't it?

Next Time - Left Behind:

"Off your Rocker. 1995." Jagged challenged, his eyes narrowed to a focused point.

Gabriel tilted his head back, already sighing. "What about it?"

Jagged shrugged, "Tell me something about it."

Gabriel let out an exasperated sigh, his patience thinning by the second as Jagged Stone leaned back on the pool table, rocking it precariously.

The meeting room was dim, lit mostly by scattered lanterns and the dull flicker of a dying bulb overhead. Marinette stood to the side, arms crossed, watching the exchange with a mix of amusement and exasperation. She had seen Gabriel lose his temper before, but the way Jagged casually dismissed everything seemed to grind at the older man's very soul.

"It was one of your earliest gigs," Gabriel began through clenched teeth, locking eyes with Jagged. "A private concert in some drab, morbid catacombs. Your band was my first commission as an official tailor."

Jagged's grin widened. "Yeah? Sounds like a banger, mate. Keep goin'."

Gabriel's scowl deepened. "And during one of your drunken stunts, you set my hair on fire."

Jagged's eyes lit up, and he let out a hearty chuckle. "Oh, did I really? Cracking!" His enthusiasm was genuine, like Gabriel had just shared a fond memory between old friends.

"You don't remember!?" Gabriel snapped, incredulous.

"Not a clue, mate," Jagged shrugged, idly reaching for a billiard ball and busying his hands fiddling with it. "I was conked out that night. Heck of a blowout though, right?"

Gabriel's hands clenched into fists at his sides. "The point of these questions," he growled, "is that you know the right answer, you imbecile!"

Jagged just laughed harder, looking over at Bustier, who sat quietly in the corner. "He's as grumpy as the real deal, alright!"