WARNING! THIS IS A SEQUEL TO CONVERGENT. PLEASE GO READ THAT STORY FIRST IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY.
Hello everyone! It's great to see you again. The epilogue from Convergent serves as this story's prologue. I'll be posting in a short while once I hammer out a few chapters so I can update regularly.
Please let me know what you think!
"Incoming!"
Adrien ducked just in time, nearly getting smacked in the face with a soccer ball. The ball made a hollow smack against the closed door at the end of the hallway. Adrien turned to the culprits as the ball softly bounced and rolled its way back.
"Emma, Louis, what have we said about playing ball in the house?" Both children were shyly staring at their feet, knowing full well they were in trouble. Though they were twins, Emma had gained an inch on her brother within the past month, much to his chagrin. They both mumbled something along the lines of 'we should only play outside'. Louis was the first to pick his head up, his face apologetic, but his eyes shined with the excitement he couldn't hide.
"We're sorry, Papa. But we're just so excited about today that we had to do something." Emma picked up her head and joined in excitedly.
"Yeah Papa, the day of the ceremony is finally here! I can have fun with Nooroo all the time after today! And Louis can be with Duusu, too! It's going to be so much fun!" Adrien tried so hard not to crack the smile he felt bubbling up as he looked down at the two blondes, their blue eyes shining in unison, full set of teeth grinning from ear to ear. Well- save for Emma, who lost one of her bottom teeth last week at their twelfth birthday party. His inner battle was only a few seconds before he felt his smile spread across his face, and knelt down to scoop both of the children into his embrace. They tightly hugged him back.
"Yes, it's an exciting day indeed. Today all your training will pay off as you are entrusted with your guardian. It wasn't the same for us back when your mom and I-" Before he could finish, the door at the end of the hallway clicked shut.
"Who was playing ball in the house again? It almost woke Hugo and I had just gotten him down for a nap- what's going on here?" Marinette asked as she finished walking down the hall to see the scene of the three blondes huddled up in the living room. Adrien loosened one arm and grabbed his wife's hand, gently pulling her down to join their hug.
"Family hug. It's a special day." He responded. They stayed like that for a few minutes. It amazed him with how much time had gone by, for he was reminded a lot of his childhood while watching his own kids prepare for the bestowing of their own Miraculous.
Before anyone could pull away, there was a soft knock at the front door. The kids gasped in unison, cheering as they charged for the door. They were out of sight before the duo could sush them in fear of waking the baby. The adults both shook their heads before sharing a smile.
Though it had been close to fifteen years, the love of his life still carried the sparkle of love in her eyes as much as their childhood days. They were complimented by small wrinkles at the corners of her eyes from smiling too much. They were hardly noticeable, but she insisted on her beauty routine to diminish them. Her hair was flowing down her back in waves, recently released from the long braid she had slept in. He tucked a stray hair behind her ear.
"Hi." She whispered, smiling.
"Hi Bugaboo." He replied, smiling back.
"Oh, would you two get a room!" A young voice rang over the living room. They looked up to see a young boy around Louis and Emma's age, with honey brown eyes and reddish brown hair.
"Theo! Don't be rude to your Aunt and Uncle!" Alya chided him as she came into the room. Nino waddled in behind her, the twins on either side of him, feet on top of each of his and their arms wrapped around his waist, giggling. When Alya made it up to him, she put her hands on Theo's shoulders. "Apologize." Theo looked embarrassed.
"Sorry Uncle Adrien and Aunt Marinette." Adrien gave Marinette his hand and they got up together.
"Thanks Theo." Adrien said as he ruffled the kid's hair.
"We don't know where he learned it, but it's been his new catch phrase." Alya said disappointedly. Marinette giggled.
"Kids listen to everything. I can tell Hugo is already catching on to certain things. I can't believe he'll be a year old soon." Alya smiled.
"He's going to be such a hot commodity with those bright green eyes and deep blue hair. Where is the bug?"
"Nap time." Adrien supplied. Alya nodded.
"Well then we came at just the perfect time." Nino commented as he shared a smile with Alya. Marinette flipped her palm up, checking her watch on the inside of her wrist.
"I actually wasn't expecting you so early, there's still quite a lot to do before the ceremony." She murmured at the end, probably making a list in her mind on what was left.
"Well you'll be able to get all of that done while we're out with Emma and Louis." Alya casually said. The kids' faces lit up in excitement and they gasped in unison.
"Where are we going Auntie Alya?" Louis asked. She knelt down to face them both, a grin spreading across her face.
"Well we're going to get your hair done and glam you both up of course. It's not every day you're bestowed a guardian and get to wear amazing designs your mama made, right?" Marinette cut in before the gasps of the kids woke the baby.
"Oh Alya, Nino, that's not necessary." Alya didn't turn as she responded, ruffing up both blondes' hair.
"Sush, let me spoil my godchildren a little." Nino nodded, adding that they've had the appointment for a long time. In just a few minutes, Adrien and Marinette were left alone in a quiet living room.
"Okay, there's so much left to do. We have to pick up the cake from my parents in about an hour, I don't want them to have to carry it over, dressed nicely. Have you heard from Chloe? Are she and Sabrina going to make it on time with their flight? Oh, I haven't heard from Luka either, I should confirm what time he's coming by to set up the band equipment and-" Her ramblings were silenced as he tilted her chin up and kissed her. They kissed for a few minutes, phone lay forgotten in her hands.
"It's been a while since we've had the house to ourselves, Bugaboo." Adrien murmured against her lips before trailing hot kisses down her neck. His hands slid around her waist and grabbed her ass. She gasped as she tried to respond.
"Bad Kitty. We don't have much time, we'll have to wait until later." Later never seemed to come lately with all that was going on, the kids too excited to go to bed on time. He wanted her now, and he could tell by the way her hands gripped his shirt, she needed him too.
"But what's this? My Lady, I- I think there's an Akuma in our bed." He said, astonished. He scooped her into his arms and glided across the room. "We're going to have to investigate." Her laughter bubbled out immediately, and she had to cover her mouth. The baby should stay asleep for a little while as long as they're quiet.
"It's been a long time since you used that one, but it doesn't make it any less cheesy." She said with fondness as he maneuvered them through the doorframe to their bedroom. He gently placed her on the edge of the bed and wasted no time to pick up where they left off in the living room.
He trailed hot kisses down her neck as he felt her fingers comb through his hair, her nails gently scratching his scalp. He purred at the feeling and leaned forward until her back was against the bed. His kisses trailed lower, kissing the exposed part of her breast in the scoopneck T-shirt she was wearing, her nipples hardening through her bra. He loved hearing the little gasps and moans that came with each kiss and lick he gave on any exposed skin. An especially sensual moan escaped her lips as he licked and nipped right above her waistband.
He slowly pulled down her jeans after unbuttoning them and fiddling with the zipper. She was wearing basic bikini bottom panties, but they still made her look ravenous in their deep purple color. She shifted under his gaze, her thighs rubbing together in hopes to find some friction. His hot breath ghosted over the cloth, eliciting an excited mewl from the flushed woman underneath him. He hooked his fingers into her waistband and started to inch them down…
Suddenly they heard a loud cry from the other room. Hugo was awake. They both sighed in disappointment, and he could feel his dick strain painfully against his pants.
"I'll go get the baby." She said, sitting up and pulling on her pants. As she stood up to button them, he spun them around and pushed her up against the wall, kissing her passionately.
"We'll pick this up tonight." He said sensually and definitively. He felt her quiver in excitement, a sexy smirk spreading across her face.
"Yes, we will. Will you grab the video camera while I get Hugo? It's in the closet." He nodded and watched her ass sway side to side as she left the room. Now alone, he gripped his dick in his pants. He didn't want to have to wait until later, but she was right, there was too much to do.
He headed to the closet, flipping the switch on outside of the door before heading inside. The professional camera which they used for still pictures as well as video recording was on top of a dresser. He turned it on to check the battery life. It was almost full so it should make it through the day. He noticed the words 'no card' in the corner of the screen. Glancing to the camera bag on the dresser, he noticed a camera card loose next to the bag. He inserted it to check that it had enough room for today's activities.
There was only one thing on the card. It was a video, and the thumbnail was of their bedroom wall. He was about to delete it, thinking it was taken by mistake; but then noticed that the clip was 32 minutes long. Scrunching his brow, he hit play.
Marinette walked into the frame and sat on something he couldn't see in the thumbnail. She took a deep breath.
"I remember our wedding day." She smiled. "It was so much more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. And, I've imagined our wedding for a long time, ever since that first day I had a crush on Adrien." He smirked as a light flush came to her cheeks, and he was flooded with memories of their first school year together at Françoise Dupont High School. She was so adorable back then.
"I designed my dress of course, and I made him a matching tie. He insisted on getting his own suit and for me not to make it myself, because he wanted his own 'big reveal' to me." She giggled. He stopped the clip.
He shouldn't listen anymore. This was probably a project she was working on as a gift- their wedding anniversary was only a few months away. He ejected the card and put it back where she left it, hoping she wouldn't notice it moved, and looked through the camera bag for a new card. He found one in the card wallet, inserted and checked if it was blank, and left the closet.
He found Marinette in the living room, bouncing Hugo in one arm, phone pressed to her ear with her other hand. "Yes, he just walked into the room, one second." She handed the cell phone over to him and when he raised a brow, she shrugged.
"Hello?" He asked, confused.
"Mister Agreste, this is Ronald Monet. I'm filling in for the commissioner." Adrien looked at Marinette, who was still as confused as he was.
"Okay…" He responded.
"I'm calling to inform you that your father has passed. He was found this morning after missing his daily check-in. I'm sorry for your loss. Please know that we can help you with whatever arrangements you need to make." The shock and pain made his chest feel hollow. He slowly sat down on the couch and Marinette rushed to his side, not able to hear the man on the phone.
"Thank you for informing me. I will be in touch tomorrow to make arrangements." He hung up after the man said his goodbyes. He felt like he couldn't breathe.
"Adrien! Please tell me, what happened? What did he say?" He couldn't look at her as he responded, the day where he shoved a cataclysm into his fathers chest playing over and over in his head.
"My father was found dead this morning when he missed his check-in." He said, his tone even and emotionless.
"Oh my." She whispered, holding his hand. Hugo, feeling the tension, started to cry and reached for Adrien. Marinette tried to bounce him and appease him but it was no use. Adrien motioned for her to give him the baby, and when she shook her head that he didn't have to, he insisted.
He held Hugo to his chest, pouring all the love he could muster up into the embrace, eventually bringing a purr into his chest. Hugo finally started to settle down once he felt the vibrations. "It's okay. I'm- well I don't think I'm okay, but today is a special day we've all been looking forward to for a long time. We can deal with this tomorrow. I'm not letting him ruin today."
The next few hours rushed by in a blur, with Marinette and himself making sure the backyard was set, the kids coming back with Alya and Nino, and everyone rushing to get dressed as guests were arriving. He stood with Emma and Hugo on the patio before the house that they were using as a stage, everyone they loved sitting in the seats facing them on the grass. They strung lights across the entire expanse of the backyard, which will give a beautiful glow as they eat and enjoy the rest of the evening.
Emma's hair was styled in a high ponytail, a braid flowing from the side of her forehead until it disappeared into the hair wrapped around to hide the elastic forming the ponytail, a style that Chloe approved of the moment she saw Emma. Small purple flowers were stuck in places to look organic. The purple perfectly matched the eyeshadow in the minimal makeup complimenting her face, and the beautiful purple knee length dress of layered chiffon. Louis was dashing in his medium blue suit, hair stylishly slicked back. Both looked excited and nervous. Adrien placed a hand on each of their shoulders, giving them comfort and grounding.
He stretched his neck and felt the collar of his black suit shift, pulling it back into place before returning his hands to their shoulders. He loved how the neon green shirt that was underneath the jacket fitted to his form perfectly because Marinette measured him a million times in the last few months. Plagg flew to his side from their bedroom window, stinking of a fresh piece of camembert.
"She's coming." He whispered.
He held his breath as she appeared through the back door, looking marvelous in a beautifully crafted red hanfu, black spots across the fabric. The Ladybug Miracle box was carefully held in her hands. Tikki floated by her side as she made her way to the "stage". He held his breath as she came closer and closer to them and he was reminded of her descending down the aisle on their wedding day.
"Thank you for joining us, everyone." She started. "As the Guardian of the Miracle Box, I am here to conduct the ceremony of bestowing our Louis and Emma with the Peacock and Butterfly Miraculous. They have practiced with Duusu and Nooroo for a long time and I feel they are ready to be permanent holders." She turned to face himself and the kids.
"When your father and I were bestowed our Miraculous, it was in a time of urgency, and we weren't gifted with the comfort and opportunity to properly learn how to use them. We were chosen because Master Fu felt that we were the best for the job, and I think we managed pretty well." She shared a loving smile with him before continuing on. "We actually couldn't hold our transformations after using our special ability back then." He heard the kids whisper "no way", shocked. "But we learned and grew and brought so many loved ones into our life along the way." Adrien looked out into the crowd, seeing most of his childhood friends and classmates, his in-laws, Chloe and her parents, and Alya, Nino and Theo. Marinette opened the Miracle box and all Kwamies floated out, chattering excitedly as they flew over to their temporary holders. Duusu and Nooroo stayed at Marinette's shoulders. "Louis, as the first born, please step forward." Adrien patted his back as he stiffly stepped forward, nervous.
"It's okay, you're going to do great." He whispered to his son.
"Louis Pierre Agreste, this is the Peacock Miraculous which has the power that allows the user to create Sentimonsters manifested from a person's emotions. I am entrusting this to you in the belief that you will use it for the good of mankind. Do you accept?" She held it out to him, and he slowly picked it up, Duusu floating over to him.
"Oh yay! It's time Louis!" Her high pitched voice rang out enthusiastically. He nodded.
"Duusu, spread my fathers!" He shouted as he was enveloped in a bright blue bunch of lights shaped like feathers. When they disappeared, Louis was standing before them as Paon with a blue, feather-textured supersuit, his hair now flipping upwards in back like a bird's tail. His sclera was tinted blue and his irises were a bright purple, but his skin remained his original pigment. The audience cheered for Louis and a smile spread across his face. Marinette smiled over towards Adrien and Emma.
"Emma, please step forward." Adrien gently patted her back and she stepped forward, just as nervous as Louis. Marinette held out the Butterfly Miraculous to her.
"Emma Audree Agreste, this is the Butterfly Miraculous which has the power that allows the user to bestow powers upon another, and create them as an ally. I am entrusting this to you in the belief that you will use it for the good of mankind. Do you accept?" Emma stepped closer to Marinette and gently accepted the Miraculous, knowing what kind of past Nooroo had with their previous holder. Nooroo smiled and glided over to her. She smiled back and took a deep breath before saying her incantation.
"Nooroo, wings ris-"
"NOOROO DARK WINGS RISE." A loud feminine voice boomed from the rooftop of the house whose backyard was back to back with theirs. Nooroo was sucked across the backyard to the person and they lit up in a purple glow from what Adrien could see. Everyone turned around in confusion to see what was going on.
"HAHAHA IT WORKED JUST AS HE SAID IT WOULD!" The woman shouted jumping over to the rooftop of the house adjacent to theirs. That voice… he shared a look with Marinette. He knew that maniacal laughter no matter how long it'd been.
"LILA!" Marinette screamed. "What are you doing?!" The woman wore a purple suit with two long coattails, cutouts along the entire piece to show a lot of skin.
"I'm taking back what doesn't belong to you, and finishing what Hawkmoth couldn't!" As Emma started to sob, Louis conjured a sentimonster, a beautiful butterfly that was the very essence of Emma. As it screeched, everyone that was a Miraculous holder transformed.
Lila laughed and darted away, and Adrien was the first to the rooftops with everyone else on his trail, Louis on one side, Marinette on the other. Alya and Nino flanked them, holding Theo and Emma respectively. Chloe, Luka, Max, Kim, Kagami and the others followed behind. Adrien's fist clenched and his heart pounded harder and harder as Emma sobbed on Nino's back.
They were going to find her. They had to.