Archive of Our Own

Serious as a…

A mistake made when they were fifteen was all it took to bring them both down when they were a couple of years older.

Ladybug swore that time itself slowed down as the blue ball of light from the akuma victim struck Cat Noir’s ring so hard that it shattered. Every second of his horror seemed to drag on for minutes as his strength faded and a mask appeared over the victim’s face.

“Cat!” Ladybug leapt closer, bounding across rooftops as he collapsed, she didn’t make it in time to catch him as he fell to a crumpled heap. The glowing green paw print on his ring had faded to grey, with a vein of inky black energy pulsing through it, even without him losing consciousness Ladybug knew something was very wrong.

“You can’t fix him after the akuma is gone.” Said the victim - a vibrant, purple bedecked princess with her hair on end. Her words were stilted, as though Hawkmoth were musing through her as a mouthpiece. He knew that, they hadn’t been able to repair Paris after the New York debacle after all. “I can still use his ring, broken or not. Give me your miraculous or I will recall the akuma. If not… he will die, I’ve seen what a broken miraculous can do to a person.” The words rang an alarm bell for Ladybug, she couldn’t help but feel he’d given something away he ought not to have done but she didn’t have time to dwell on it.

“If I give you my miraculous he’ll die anyway because I won’t be able to purify the akuma!” Ladybug growled, tugging Cat Noir’s shoulders so he sat on her lap.

“I’m giving you the chance to save him. Give me the ring, then give me your earrings - I will recall the lucky charm and give you the boy, if you give me the miraculous!” Crowed the girl. Ladybug knew it was a trap, but didn’t have time to think or bargain. She couldn’t win his way - he’d never allow it. She only had one chance, to be faster than him.

“Lucky cha...” she began, but Hawkmoth showed no mercy, and before her charm (a book) had even fallen into her hand, black smoke swirled around the villain, and the butterfly vanished completely.

“MIRACULOUS LADYBUG!” She screamed in desperation, throwing the book into the air. Nothing happened. Bewildered, Clara - who had apparently been the akuma victim, gasped at the sight of Cat Noir unconscious in a panic-stricken Ladybug’s arms. Unable to shake the feeling of cold dread creeping through her, Ladybug hoisted the unconscious boy over her shoulder and fled without a word, before people could gather, before they could follow and ask questions.

She could feel him breathing: his chest was still rising and falling albeit incredibly gently. You’re not dead yet, don’t you dare leave me. Stay with me,  she thought. Her yo-yo lead her home, identity be damned she needed somewhere safe, and access to her box of tricks, she needed to talk to Tikki, and she needed somewhere comfortable to set her wounded partner down.

She lay him on her bed, trembling as she realised just how pale he was, his skin practically glowing in contrast to his black outfit.

“If you wake up, I’ll go out with you?” She offered weakly, hoping it might rouse him. He didn’t respond. Ladybug swallowed hard.

“Tikki, spots off! What do I do?” She begged as her kwami reappeared.

“Get the ring off of him NOW!” Tikki demanded. There was something about the knife edge of fear in her kwami’s tiny voice that spurred Marinette to action. Disregarding the consequences of learning his identity she snatched the ring off of his finger, startled at how icy it felt.

His costume fizzled away, leaving Adrien Agreste cold and asleep on her bed. Eyes wide, Marinette gawped.

“You...” she murmured, amazed and horrified at the same time.

“This is bad. This is really bad!” Tikki squeaked, flurrying around and examining the damaged ring. “It can be fixed but every second it was on him drained him I... I don’t know if we can...” she whispered, throwing a petrified glance at the teenage boy.

“An ambulance?” Marinette suggested.

“It’s not a mortal injury it’s a magical one.” Tikki explained. Marinette closed her eyes tightly and squeezed the broken ring in her palm, scrunching her nose.

A plan. She needed a plan. Her lucky charm had been a book, so she’d start there.

Diving down off the bed she wrenched open the bottom drawer of her desk, finding the grimmoire and miracle box. She flicked open the box and threw on every item in it, save for the broken ring, freeing the kwamis.

“Broken miraculous. Wounded holder. Answers.” She demanded, flicking through the pages rapidly. She knew there was something about fixing miraculous in there, but Tikki had said that wouldn’t help Adrien.

With a dozen gods chattering at once, she filtered the information as best she could. Sass knew of a spell that could restore balance, his holder having performed it once during the renaissance, but Marinette found the relevant page and it required all the miraculous which she didn’t have access to, and wouldn’t necessarily work anyway. Kaalki suggested forcing him to transform with another miraculous to see if they could heal him, which was a complex bit of magic but worth a try.

“How if he can’t say the words?” She asked, voice shaking as Pollen examined Adrien.

“You’ve got to tell the kwami to. As the guardian you can force a transformation if necessary, but not a detransformation.” Tikki said gently, pulling the covers over Adrien to keep him warm.

It was worth a shot. Marinette jangled as she clambered back up to her bed, bracelets and necklaces clanking as she climbed. Adrien didn’t look unwell, he just looked like he was sleeping, peaceful and serene. Carefully she slipped the fox pendant from her neck and around his.

“Trixx, let’s pounce.” She whispered, instinctively keeping her fingers on it. A flash of orange and Adrien looked very different, costumed, but still sleeping. With baited breath Marinette waited, hoping his green eyes would flutter open. They did not, and Trixx’s necklace began to flash as though he’d used his special power.

Marinette left it on the full five minutes, until Trixx returned, exhausted with a sad shake of their furry little head.

“You tried.” Marinette whispered gratefully. “There’s some food in the top drawer.” She added, switching the pendant back to her own neck. Marinette peered down at Adrien. “Three more days. Three more days and you turn eighteen. You’d be able to use your adult powers... could have just catacylsmed that stupid ball before it hit you...” she whispered, reaching out her hand and stroking his cheek.

Regardless of being Adrien Agreste, seeing Cat Noir helpless was painful in itself. He’d always been her backbone, the one she leaned on, the person she relied on most in the world. Now he was sleeping, and she couldn’t wake him up. Maybe ever. Then there was the fact he was Adrien. She’d always known he was a real boy underneath the leather and bravado, that he was a teenager with a family, with friends, a social life... having all of that reality forced on her at once brought tears to her eyes. She lay her forehead on his, ignoring the audience of gods and goddesses watching the tragedy unfold.

“You have to wake up, kitty.” She begged. “Please?” Her tears fell on to his skin, but still the boy didn’t blink, he didn’t breathe any heavier, not a single twitch. She allowed herself a moment or two longer to cry, just holding his face and trying to rouse him with sheer stubbornness and willpower before returning to her book. There had to be something .

She worked into the evening, snapping at her mother when she called up to ask if she wanted dinner, and ignoring the worried looks the kwamis sent her way every time a spell didn’t work or a potion had no effect. As darkness descended on Paris, she restored the broken miraculous, and Plagg looked around, taking stock of the situation. Then he blinked, wide eyed before flinging himself at her.

“I’m so sorry.” She whispered to him, stroking his soft fur. The cat nuzzled her cheek, shaken and unnerved by his ordeal, and his owner’s condition. When he’d had his fill of attention from the guardian, he flew up to Adrien and settled on his chest, keeping watch like a tiny lion perched upon him.

“How long until the next kwami birthday?” Marinette asked, skipping to the bit about communicating in the miracle box. If she could get Nooroo and Duusu on side...

“Duusu’s is next, about fifty seven of your revolutions away.” Roarr said.

“Fifty seven days?” That was like two months away... how was she supposed to hide a teenage boy’s unconscious body in her room for two months?

“Fifty seven years.” Tikki clarified sadly. Marinette scowled, she could hardly just ask Hawkmoth for his and Mayura’s miraculous.

“He knew he was killing Cat Noir and he didn’t care!” She seethed, tears threatening to fall once more. “I have been kidding myself for years. I’ve always believed that there was good in everyone, that he had some goal in mind that might justify his behaviour in his own head. I always fix it after, nothing ever stays damaged. I thought... I thought he was redeemable.” She choked. “He deliberately signed a death warrant on a seventeen year old boy! Took away my chance to help him!” She punched the floor so hard, Tikki was fairly certain she heard her chosen’s knuckles crack. Wayzz was first on hand to heal her.

The noise, however, had clearly been audible downstairs.

“Marinette, what was all the...” Asked a voice. Tom’s head poked through the trapdoor, and for a moment there was silence as he saw his daughter cross legged on the floor, a still smoking cauldron to one side of her, a spell book on her lap, a figure unconscious on her bed, and a dozen animalistic gods swarming around her head. Marinette took a deep breath.

“Walk away, papa. The less you know the better.” She said shakily. Tom paused and nodded in grim acceptance.

“I’ll bring up some snacks for you and your... friends?” He offered, something oddly resigned in his tone.

“Thank you Mr Dupain.” Tikki said gratefully. Marinette continued to cry as he left without another word. One more secret out. She’d have to deal with the consequences of that later because her father might be passive but he wasn’t an idiot: he had to have figured out who she was from that. No doubt Cat Noir’s collapse had made the Ladyblog, possibly even the news.

When a tray of pastries had been provided, Marinette worked all through the night, reading pages upon pages of lore, stopping to translate where she could, and eventually she came to the only conclusion.

There was nothing more she could do.

Her head hung low over the book.
“His father will have noticed he’s missing by now, right?” Marinette murmured, wondering if Gabriel Agreste was going out of his mind with worry. He was always so protective of his son and now he just... hadn’t come home?

“No. Not until 7am when he doesn’t get up for breakfast.” Plagg answered from his perch on Adrien’s chest. Marinette stared at her bedside clock, the numbers didn’t seem to make sense for a few moments, a red blur in her head. 4.57am. She was utterly exhausted.

Getting to her feet she slipped off all of the miraculous, placing each one back in the box save for her earrings and Cat Noir’s ring, safely on her finger. She climbed the ladder to her bed wordlessly, and for a long moment she just stared at him, before laying herself down beside him and wrapping her arm over his chest.

“I’m sorry.” She breathed. “I’m so sorry.”

Her eyes closed of their own accord, shielding her from the sight of Plagg and Tikki holding each other, crying silently over the fallen hero. Marinette sobered herself with the sound of his heartbeat beneath her ear, with the gentle rise and fall of his chest. He was still alive. That in itself meant there was hope. There was one last spell she could try, but it would require her to beat Hawkmoth, to take charge of his and Mayura’s miraculous and use the restoration spell.

Except, there was one more thing to consider...  Her eyes snapped open and caught sight of the glittering ring on her finger, silver and emerald, disguised to look almost like an engagement ring on her own slender finger. The cat and the ladybug miraculous. The wish. She had both.

She could bring him back. As though possessed she reached up to rub the stones in her ears and whimpered, shaking her head. Even subconsciously she knew it was a bad idea.

“You know he wouldn’t want you to incur that cost. Something this big... a life... the payment would be another life.” Tikki warned.

“Me for him, that’s fair isn’t it?” She asked. She could get her affairs in order, say goodbye...

“That’s not how it works, kid.” Plagg said sadly, flying down to sit on her shoulder as he explained. “It might not be right away. It might not be you. It could be the nearest person in proximity. It could be your daughter when she’s five years old or his son when he’s two weeks old. It could be your mother having an aneurysm as you cast the spell. It... it’s not fair. It’s just equal.” Plagg spoke gently. Marinette closed her eyes tightly, nodding.

“Adrien wouldn’t want you to.” Tikki told her.

She knew that. She did. She couldn’t play God. She wasn’t Hawkmoth, she couldn’t gamble with other people’s lives.

“Could I use Fluff to go back and stop it?” She asked.

“Not if it was supposed to happen, which… given that it was caused by magic, it almost certainly was. It’d be like Groundhog Day.” Tikki whispered sadly. The same thing over and over again, never succeeding. Marinette nodded once more. She had no choice. He wasn’t hers to keep.

“Set my alarm for 6.55am. I’m going... I’m going to sleep for a bit... here. With him.” She whispered, finding his hand beneath the covers and squeezing it gently with both of hers. “Then I... I have to take him home.” She had to. She couldn’t keep him here until she defeated Hawkmoth. She couldn’t let Gabriel suffer another missing family member with no explanation. She couldn’t let Cat Noir’s sacrifice, Hawkmoth’s crime go unacknowledged.

Tikki and Plagg darted around, setting the alarm. And for a precious hour and a little bit, Marinette fell asleep in Adrien’s arms.

——————

“Are you okay, sir?” Nathalie asked gently. Rings under Gabriel’s eyes suggested he’d slept fitfully.

“It was necessary. And when I get my way, when she gives me their miraculous and I turn the clock back, the boy will be restored too.” Gabriel insisted, but the scratchy tone in his voice said he wasn’t quite sure it checked out. He’d murdered a teenage boy in cold blood. It may just be the trigger Ladybug needed to give up, and if he could turn back time to before Emilie ever wore that stupid brooch...

“Yes, sir.” Nathalie whispered. She didn’t sound convinced at all.

“Anything on the news regarding a missing boy?” Gabriel queried. “His parents must have noticed his absence by now?”

“Not yet, sir.” Her voice was stiff and oddly mechanical. In truth she was chilled by how far Gabriel was willing to go to return his wife to health. Where his determination had once been an appealing quality, it now concerned her. Murdering children hadn’t been part of the deal.

“His identity could lead me to hers. Keep an eye on it for me?” Gabriel asked, settling down at the breakfast table. “Is Adrien up yet?”

“Not yet, sir.” Nathalie repeated as the doorbell chimed.

Footsteps, then a grunt, and Adrien’s bodyguard appeared in the dining room, stepping aside to reveal the guest he’d let in. The colour drained from Gabriel’s face as he laid eyes on Ladybug, pale and trembling, with an unconscious Adrien limp in her arms.

“NO!” He roared, leaping to his feet and clearing the room to close the distance between them. Of all the things he had expected to come of this: her revenge wasn’t one of him. Killing innocents wasn’t her style. Ladybug didn’t smirk or taunt him though, instead held tight to Adrien, cradling his limp form close to her chest.

“I’m so sorry, Mister Agreste. Hawkmoth got him.” Ladybug whispered. It took Gabriel a moment to realise she wasn’t there in retribution. Adrien hadn’t been collateral, payback for what he himself had done…

He’d been the target.

“He was Cat Noir...” Nathalie gasped. Ladybug straightened her spine and nodded.

“Yes.” She confirmed, guilt swirling at revealing his identity to his family. The Gorilla openly wept, Nathalie covered her mouth and Gabriel shook. “Your son was... is... the bravest man I’ve ever met.” Ladybug said firmly. “He was a hero. In and out of the mask. I... I’m so sorry I couldn’t save him.” She crossed to a cushioned bench by the window and lay him down in the morning sunlight, brushing his hair aside to uncover his eyes. “He’s alive... but he won’t wake up.” Ladybug explained sadly.

“Is there nothing that can be done?” Gabriel asked, his voice breaking. It wasn’t supposed to be his son. That wasn’t the deal.

“I’ve been up all night, using every trick in the book... quite literally. There’s one more I haven’t tried but I can’t yet.”

“The one Hawkmoth wants to use?” Gabriel asked. Why wouldn’t she use the wish to restore him? He checked her over, her earrings were in place but the Cat ring wasn’t with her. She gave him a quizzical look. “I do watch the news.” He scoffed.

“That wish would throw the world out of balance. Your son would never permit me to. No, there’s another spell, that I hope to be able to use someday...”

“Why not now? Fix him!” Gabriel ordered with a roar.

“I need all the miraculous to perform it. Until I beat Hawkmoth and Mayura... it’s just not an option.” She whispered, kneeling beside her partner and watching him sleep. Easily, Ladybug knew she’d stay there all day if she could.

“Four years I’ve been trying to do that so far. And that was with Cat Noir at my side. I’ll keep trying, sir, I promise but... but I can’t guarantee I’ll ever win.” She apologised, wiping her eyes. “I’ll keep trying. For him now, not just for Paris but... until then... just keep him comfortable. He won’t need food or anything... he’s just... magically tethered.” She whispered, her finger tips ghosting his face. Swallowing hard, she placed a soft kiss to his temple. “Goodnight, my love.” She whispered, before getting to her feet and walking until she was in front of the grieving father.

“I’m sorry.” She said again. “Genuinely. Your son’s a good man. He didn’t deserve this.” She expected to see emotion of some sort. Pain or grief. She only saw anger and guilt as Gabriel’s eyes narrowed. He debated just grabbing her earrings, snatching them away and demanding the ring when he knew her identity. But Adrien lay in the sunlight behind her, looking so eerily like his mother. He’d done that. He’d caused that. There was a certain karma in Ladybug losing her love the way Hawkmoth had lost his, but it had never been his intention...

“Thank you, Ladybug, for bringing him home.” He said, bowing his head. Nathalie made an odd noise, pushing past them both to kneel by Adrien.

“I’ll let you know if anything changes.” Ladybug said softly, an uncomfortable knot in her stomach under Gabriel’s gaze. “I’ll try my best to defeat Hawkmoth and bring him back.” Ladybug bowed and left, via an open window and a twirling yo-yo. She managed to keep it together, only bursting into tears when she was far enough from the Agreste mansion to avoid suspicion.

“Fix it!” Nathalie growled at Gabriel.

“Nooroo. The spell Ladybug mentioned... would it work?” Gabriel asked the emptiness, until his kwami appeared behind him.

“I don’t know, master. I think I know which one she means but... it’s never been used to restore a human life before.” Nooroo said carefully, wary of saying the wrong thing. Gabriel glanced down at his son, at his assistant, closest ally and confidant sobbing over his body, at the bodyguard weeping into his gigantic hands.

“Her way comes down to Emilie or Adrien.” Gabriel said coldly. “My way I could save them both.”

“She’ll never let you win. Not now. You don’t deserve to!” Nathalie hissed. “Duusu, spread my feathers.” With a flurry of feathers, she stood as Mayura, striding toward Gabriel with naught but fury on her face. “Enough is enough. If you don’t hand your miraculous over to that girl and let her try, I will.”

“I agree. Enough.” Gabriel nodded softly. It had never been his intention to hurt Adrien, but he’d so willingly done this to a faceless, nameless teenager. “But we don’t have to throw the baby out with the bath water. She doesn’t need to know who we are. Give me an hour... I... need to talk to Emilie and get Adrien to bed.”

The Gorilla crossed to pick Adrien up and Gabriel stilled him in his stride.

“I’m not dead yet.” He warned the behemoth of a man.

“If you go back on your word I’ll kill you myself.” Mayura threatened, eyeing him. Gabriel nodded.

“I know.”

——————

Ladybug landed in her bedroom, her head aching and her heart stinging. Every racing beat of it felt wrong. Her yo-yo felt alien in her grip. She no longer felt comfortable in the Ladybug suit - like it was her first day all over again. A nasty feeling settled in her gut. She had the sneaking suspicion she knew why she wasn’t at full power. Slipping the ring on she summoned Plagg.

“I can’t do this without him can I?” She asked.

“You’re a pair. The whole love square thing aside you two were always meant to work with each other, you’re each other’s other half.” Plagg confirmed softly. Ladybug nodded, her fingers trailing over the mouse miraculous. “Then I guess I’m passing on the earrings and the ring. I’ll stay on as guardian, help out as Multimouse...” she said grimly. Downstairs she could hear her parents bustling around, almost ready to open the doors of the bakery for the day.

She wasn’t looking forward to the inevitable conversation but knew her father wouldn’t have kept his discovery from her mother. Kissing Cat Noir’s ring gently, she remained in her Ladybug outfit as she descended into the apartment. True enough neither Tom or Sabine seemed particularly startled to see the heroine appear from their daughter’s room.

“I screwed up.” She said gently. In a single motion her mother swept forward and enveloped her in her arms, holding her tightly as she wept. Tom followed suit, holding them both.

This was what had been missing from Gabriel’s reaction to his son’s ill fated return home. There had been no loving support, no tears from him. Ladybug wanted more for her partner, understood why he always revelled in her attention... even at death’s door he didn’t get it at home. He deserved love. He deserved a damn parade. She sobbed into her mother’s shoulder.

“When you’re ready, sweetheart.” Sabine promised.

“Cat’s gone. My cover’s blown, my powers are compromised. I... it’s all got so much riskier, so much harder now. How am I supposed to defeat him like this?” She wailed. “Cat’s gone.” She repeated “He’s... I can’t save him.”

Tears were falling into her hair, her father emotional too. She was ready to offload: to finally share the weight on her shoulders, to scream and swear to the high heavens when the alert sounded.

“Fucker!” She hissed, scowling at the sounding phones that indicated an akuma was terrorising Paris.

“Language.” Tom said automatically.

“It’s Hawkmoth, she’s allowed.” Sabine insisted, stepping back. “You go, sweetheart. We’ll be right here when you get back.”

“I... I haven’t had time to reassign...” Ladybug whispered. She closed her eyes. She could handle one akuma on her own, then bring Alya and Nino in. Slipping Cat Noir’s ring from her finger she handed it to her mother.

“Put this on, you’re not to use it, but Plagg will keep you safe if needed.” She insisted. Confused, Sabine added it to her hand, summoning the kwami from upstairs. “Watch them. Keep them safe. Do NOT use your powers and don’t eat all the stock.” Ladybug instructed.

“Gotchya.” Plagg agreed. He turned to the pair and smiled. “So you’re the in-laws, huh. Pleased to meet you, I’m Plagg. I’m the god of destruction, you can appease me with cheese and...”

“You see what I have to put up with.” Ladybug sighed, but turned on her heel and left through the living room window.

Without Cat Noir’s presence she felt clumsy once more. Unbalanced. Like Marinette was bleeding into Ladybug. Searching for chaos she found none, but followed the news on her bug phone as she dodged buildings that seemed to fly out of nowhere, tricking her while she was unco-ordinated and off kilter.

The akuma was atop the Louvre, according to reports, and she made her way to the glass pyramid. A niggling voice inside her told her she wasn’t strong enough to face this right now: this this might be her final showdown. He’d killed once - he could do it again. Perhaps that was why he’d struck so soon after his last attack, to kick her while she was down, before she had a chance to recover.

A blue skinned woman in a crisp black suit, with long dark hair flowing behind her stood on the pyramid, hopping down as Ladybug approached.

“I’m not in the mood to play today so lemme guess, you want my earrings, blah blah blah?” Ladybug snapped.

“Ladybug. I am not his mother.” Introduced the akuma victim.

“One of the weirder names I’ve heard for a villain but sure, okay we’ll go with not the mama, this is how this is gonna work: I’m not giving you my earrings.” Ladybug said simply, tossing her yo-yo in a feigned casual air. It didn’t find her palm, instead falling to the floor and she quickly snatched it back, hoping the gathered crowd hadn’t noticed her ineptitude.

“No. Listen to me...” pleaded the woman.

“Why do you guys always want to monologue?” She moaned.

“I’m not his mother! But that has been my role for years. I have always tried to protect him! He is MY SON!” Howled the victim. Ladybug paused, assessing the figure and closing her eyes. Nodding as it hit her.

“Nathalie?” She whispered. Of course Nathalie was a prime candidate for an emotional reaction right now. The perfect target. Too close to home, faced with the grief Adrien’s loss caused while still struggling with it on her own, Ladybug desperately didn’t want to fight Nathalie, but didn’t have a choice. Ladybug made to swing at the woman, but she was faster, blocking the swipe of the yo-yo as a mask appeared.

Hawkmoth himself.

“Ladybug.”

“You can go to hell!” Snarled the heroine, ignoring the slightly startled gasps from onlookers. Ladybug didn’t lose her cool in public, but she was eye to eye with Cat Noir’s murderer... sort of... there was no forced politeness left in her. “Let her go! She’s suffered enough because of you!”

“Such pain. Such grief. Such guilt in a mother-figure letting her child down. Unable to protect him.” Chanted Nathalie, robotically. “I’m a father myself. I have a daughter around your age, a son a little younger. Akumatising her I felt her loss as though it was my own. I went too far, I am beyond redemption.” Nathalie recited.

Ladybug paused. Hawkmoth was… apologising?

“Sorry doesn’t bring him back.” She growled. “You killed my friend.” Her hiss caused a shocked ripple from the crowd - they hadn’t known Cat Noir’s wounds were fatal until that very moment. “You don’t get my sympathy.”

“I don’t ask for it.” Nathalie repeated Hawkmoth’s words. “I ask for anonymity. To shield my family from my actions. Grant me my privacy and you win. The butterfly and the peacock are yours.”

His offer reeked of a trap. He’d shown no hesitation, no mercy yesterday in ending Cat Noir’s life and suddenly he was a father who wanted to protect his children? Something wasn’t adding up, and the skepticism was written over her face.

“Lucky charm!” She called, as Nathalie made no move to attack her. The blanket fell into her arms and she frowned, looking at it and then Nathalie in horror as she figured out how to use it.

She was supposed to keep Nathalie’s identity a secret…

Hawkmoth knew she had a chance at bringing back Adrien because she’d told Mayura and Hawkmoth themselves. Hawkmoth didn’t have a daughter... he did have a son. A son he’d rendered comatose in his quest for power. He was asking her to keep that fact to herself, to not expose Nathalie and Gabriel.

“Will you grant me that?” Nathalie asked.

“My silence for your miraculous.” Ladybug said softly.

“My family don’t deserve the world to know what a monster I am. They don’t deserve that heartache. It’s unnecessary for the world to tar them with the same brush. I am beyond redemption. They aren’t.”

“Deal.” Ladybug said, throwing the red and black spotted blanket over Nathalie. Something shifted beneath it and the woman collapsed, hidden from view wrapped in the lucky charm.

Ladybug bent and lifted the corner of it, until a pale, well manicured hand slid from beneath the blanket, two brooches in her palm. Ladybug collected them, warm from use. Nathalie must have double wielded, akumatised herself to keep Gabriel away from the fray.

“I’ll get you to safety.” Ladybug told her. “Hang tight.” She stood, ignoring the blinking earrings and held up the pins to the assembled crowd.

“I made you a promise, Paris. I kept it. Hawkmoth’s reign is over.” She shouted above the noise. “Today you are safe.”

“Is Cat Noir really…” began a concerned citizen. Ladybug nodded grimly. There was a chance but… still…

“Pull the sheet!” Screamed Alya, front and centre, filming it. Ladybug shook her head, bending and scooping Nathalie up, wrapped up still.

“No. I keep my word. She and Hawkmoth have to live with what they did. That’s their punishment.” She announced, freeing her yo-yo and fleeing the chattering crowd. Launching herself across rooftops, she settled in an alleyway a good way away from the assembly.

“I’ll leave the blanket.” Ladybug said coldly. “It will fade in three minutes, should give you time to get home and I’ll be by for Adrien when I’m ready.” She said.

“Ladybug... it was never our intention...”

“I don’t care.” Ladybug growled. “This might not work and if it doesn’t... that’s not on me. It’s on you and him. You did this to him, to your son, to Paris. Your quest for power... was it worth it?”

“No.” Nathalie agreed. Ladybug left her there, lost and hurt in between the stone walls, using the last of her time to return to the bakery.

By the time her transformation faded she was kneeling on her bed, clutching the Butterfly and the Peacock. They were real, she could feel the energy emanating from them as only the guardian could.

“Marinette...” Tikki whispered.

“I’ll keep my word.” Marinette whispered, shaking her head. “Exposing him to the world will only make him angrier and force him underground. I want him where I can keep an eye on him.” She insisted, placing the jewels on her comforter as she slid down the ladder and fetched her book. “Eat up, Tikki, we have work to do.”

Keying in the code and slipping the catch open from the miracle box, she set the two new additions in their holders.

“If I don’t survive this...”

“You will. You have enough energy to bring him back I’m sure of it.”

“It’s not just him.” Marinette said grimly. “I’ll need to confirm it but... I suspect Emilie Agreste suffered the same fate as her son.” She said gently. Hawkmoth knew how to take Cat Noir down - there was nothing in the book about healing a holder. He’d known it would kill the boy, and Nathalie had been brought to illness by the broken peacock, hadn’t she? It had to have been damaged before she’d started using it. Hawkmoth had told her he’d seen the damage a broken miraculous could do to a person… There was an odd comfort in that: in knowing Adrien’s mother had most likely been a hero at one point. He hadn’t been born of total evil.

“Then you can’t do it!” Tikki panicked. “Marinette trying to restore two lives on your own power it’s... it’s suicide!” She fret.

“I know, but I have to try.” Marinette took a deep breath and pulled out her sketchbook. For a long while there was silence, as she wrote up several sets of detailed instructions.

A letter to her parents, explaining and apologising for what she was about to do. A letter to Alya, giving her guardianship of the miracle box in the event of her death, with a hint at the passcode and advice on where to find the book. A letter to Cat Noir, that she folded and kept in her pocket. When she was finished she closed the sketchbook and left it on her bed where it would be found after the fact, and made her way downstairs, box and a bag of ingredients in hand.

The bakery was closed for the day, both of her parents watching the celebrations on the news.

“I have to go out,” she told them, her voice calm and oddly detached “I don’t know when I’ll be back.” Both of her parents shared a look.

“You did it sweetheart, don’t you want to stay home and… I suppose now isn’t the time to celebrate?” Sabine asked gently, only receiving a shake of Marinette’s head in response.

“I still have a job to do. I need Cat Noir’s ring.” She held out her hand, nodding at Plagg who was hovering over Tom’s shoulder. He vanished as Sabine removed it and passed it to her daughter.

“You can’t be the only two people in Paris who don’t party. Go have fun. I’ll join in later, Cat Noir too... if I can swing it.” She lied, knowing Plagg would have filled them in as to Adrien’s condition.

Uncertainly, her parents nodded. Feeling like they didn’t have much of a choice.

“I’ll be fine.” She promised, fairly sure she wouldn’t be. The miracle box, book, and ingredients for the spell were nestled safely in her backpack. She placed a kiss to each of their cheeks. “I’ll try not to be home too late. I love you.” She swore, then paused. “And stay out of my room or I’ll have to redo a bunch of spell work.” No sense them finding the note too early. With a heavy heart she left, unsure if she’d ever be able to return home.

“Princess, you can’t do this. It’s insane!” Plagg announced from her purse. Of course Tikki had blabbed her plan.

“That’s what I said! The restoration spell is meant to cure insanity for time travellers or heal worlds torn apart by a villain! It’s not designed for this!” Tikki wailed.

“My mind is made up.” Marinette said firmly. “I know the risk. I know I have to use my energy and my power to do it and I know there’s two of them and one of me. I know. I know it probably won’t work and it might take me out in the process but...” she shook her head, walking down the brightly lit sunny street toward her own demise. Shops were shuttered, bloc parties were being set up. Paris was healed. No longer under threat. In a world free and celebrating, Marinette felt like a condemned woman walking toward the electric chair.

She freed her phone and took a deep breath, dialling Alya.

“DID YOU SEE?!” Alya screeched the moment the line connected.

“I saw.” Marinette confirmed her voice hollow as she strolled toward the Agreste mansion, in no great hurry to die.

“WE’RE FREE!”

“We are.” Marinette agreed. “Hey, I’m on my way to Adrien’s to do something stupid. For moral support can you make sure you’re alone, with nobody else in earshot in exactly an hour for a phone call?” She asked airily, her voice sounding alien. If this didn’t work, the miracle box needed to transfer guardianship. She could arrange that spell as Ladybug.

“Oh my god... you’re going to confess?” Alya whispered.

“Mmm. It’s about time he learned the truth. So promise me you’ll be alone?”

“Sure, I’ll set my timer on my phone. Love you.”

“Alya? Thanks for being such an amazing friend. I love you too.” She hung up before Alya could accuse her of getting too mushy.

“Doesn’t this mean exposing your identity to Hawkmoth?” Tikki urged, still trying to dissuade Marinette of her kamikaze mission as the heroine set a matching timer on her phone.

“Yes.”

“Wait how?” Plagg asked, confused. “Sure she’ll have to detransform in front of Adrien’s dad and... oh.” Plagg groaned. “You’re kidding me?! LET ME AT HIM, I’LL CATACLYSM THE SON OF A...”

“Plagg. Down.” Marinette hissed. “Yes it does, but I’ve been working on my protection spells. As Ladybug I’m going to make sure the box and the book teleport in the event of my death or incapacitation. They’ll go straight to Alya, and he won’t be able to get his hands on them. If I’ve got the spell right... she’ll become guardian if I’m dead, but not if I’m knocked out. Then I have to perform the restoration as Marinette because it requires all the miraculous.” She explained.

Thankfully the heavy crowds thinned out toward Adrien’s home.

“Plagg, thank you for protecting Adrien all these years.”

“Couldn’t when it mattered.” Plagg said miserably. “Hawkmoth was in our house the whole time. I never liked him but I didn’t think he was a supervillain!” Marinette scratched his head lightly.

“This is goodbye,” she said softly. “You did your job. You protected him as best you could. Thank you.”

“Don’t do this.” Plagg begged. “He wouldn’t want you to risk your life.”

“Payback for all the times he did for me.” Marinette smiled. “Plagg, I renounce you.” She slid the ring from her finger, watching it transform and bent to her backpack. Unlocking the box and placing it within, she smiled sadly.

“Tikki, one last time. Spots on!” She cried, the light wrapping around her and enveloping her in the familiar suit once more. The backpack changed too, becoming plain black instead of its usual pink. Unnecessary at this point, she mused, but she shouldered it anyway and leapt the wall. Really, she wondered how she’d never noticed that Adrien’s home was a textbook lair, perfect for conducting evil in.

She didn’t bother with the door. They’d be expecting her anyway. Instead her yo yo captured the railing on Adrien’s balcony and she let herself in through the window, where he lay on his bed. Gabriel sat by his side. She ignored him and focused on the boy. With his eyes lightly closed, and a serene expression on his face, he could well just be sleeping.

Ladybug sat cross legged on the floor by the bed.

“I’ll need room to work.” She instructed coldly.

“As you wish.” Gabriel’s voice was strained. “What are the odds?”

“Him? About fifty percent.” Ladybug answered. She might have it in her to bring one of them back. “Where’s Nathalie? And the bodyguard?”

“Downstairs.”

“The bodyguard… Was he complicit?” Ladybug asked.

“No. Just passive.”

“Good, bring them up too. I need every ally I can get in here.” She ordered, pulling ingredients from her bag. She was strong enough to take on Gabriel and Nathalie when they were unarmed, should they turn on her, but a little extra muscle wouldn’t hurt. Especially after she detransformed.

She worked fast when he left the room, finalising the protection spells on the box, fingers crossed she was as powerful as she believed herself to be. His soft breath was the only noise in the room for a long time, the glow from the miracle box still lingering but silent.

When the three adults returned, Ladybug raised her head.

“What happened to your wife, Mister Agreste?” She asked. Gabriel hesitated.

“The same thing. A broken miraculous... she became sick, but determined to keep using it. She wanted to help the world. It cost her her life.”

“The irony is I could have saved her. If you’d just asked for my help, or even the previous guardian’s... if you’d asked before you hurt your son, I might have been able to do this unharmed.” Ladybug sat on the edge of Adrien’s bed watching him sleep. “Is Emilie somewhere close by?”

“Upstairs.” Nathalie fielded, ignoring Gabriel’s glare.

“Bring her down.” Ladybug ordered.

“I’ve made my choice. You’re to try save him, not her.” Gabriel told her firmly, knowing that’s what Emilie would want.

“Too late for that. You don’t get a choice. I can’t pick and choose. The aim is to restore balance and it’s sorely swung in favour of death.” Ladybug growled. “Instead of asking for help, you isolated your child. You terrorised Paris. When you had a choice you chose wrong. This is the only option left. Go get your wife.” Ladybug hissed.

They left once more, Gabriel and Nathalie together. The bodyguard stood, watching silently as Ladybug placed her note in Adrien’s shirt pocket.

“That’s for if he makes it and I don’t. Will you ensure he gets it?” She asked hopefully. The bodyguard nodded. “And I suggest you find a new employer.” He nodded again.

Emilie was wheeled in in a monstrous contraption. A glass coffin, hooked up to electric monitors in the base.

“This is unnecessary.” Ladybug sighed, examining the controls.

“I feared she’d... decay.” Gabriel whispered, watching the eerie sight as the heroine unlocked the casket and freed Emilie from her chamber.

“The magic’s stronger than mortality.” Ladybug sighed, settling the woman on the gigantic bed beside her son. A moment of hesitation before she linked their hands and pulled back to assess them. Perfect.

She stepped away and took a deep breath, refusing to give Hawkmoth the satisfaction of crying. She’d shed her tears already. Only one thing left to do.

“Tikki. Spots off.” Ladybug called, stripping the costume away and standing, Marinette once more. Nobody commented on it and she returned to her cross legged pose on the floor, sorting out her ingredients as Tikki watched dolefully.

“This will most likely kill me.” Marinette announced heavily. She knew they didn’t care. “If it does... I want someone to promise me you’ll return my body to my parents. You owe me that much.”

“You intend to die?” Nathalie whispered.

“I don’t want to. I’m seventeen... I should be worrying about university and driving and boys... not staring down the barrel of a loaded gun.” Marinette admitted. “Guess I got dealt a bad hand.”

“Let me do it? I’ll take your place?” Gabriel suggested. “They’re my family.”

“Yeah, you’re not getting guardianship of the box even over my dead body. The moment I die... the box is going. I’ve already ensured that. I’m the only one with half a chance. If I die today that’s on you.” She said coldly, double checking her ingredients before turning to Tikki.

“Thank you. For your protection. Your guidance. Thank you for being my friend, for staying up to talk to me about boys and stuff.” She laughed, wiping her eyes. “Thank you for making me a better person. I hope your next holder loves you as much as I did.”

“Not possible.” Tikki whispered, her huge eyes glittering with tears. Marinette gave her a cuddle.

“Your job is done.” She promised. “Tikki... I renounce you.” A flash of light and the kwami was gone. Marinette took a moment to grieve, her head hung low, and then Marinette began mixing her ingredients in the pot.

The potion fizzed and glowed with each addition, until it was a vibrant yellow, glittering and glistening like liquid gold. Marinette unclipped her earrings and pulled the box close to her chest to shield the passcode from view. She’d been just fourteen when she chose it: a girl with a crush. Adrien’s birthday. It seemed so foolish in hindsight, though it might bring a smile to Alya’s face one day soon. Laying the black stones in their place she took Adrien’s hand, brushing his knuckles with her thumb.

“Here goes... something I guess.” She sighed, raising the silver spoon to her lips - real silver: Cat Noir had got it for her. Apparently it was essential for mixing certain spells, something to do with purity. She’d been fretting about it because pure silver was expensive and if she was fobbed off then the potions would be useless and then one day he’d just shown up with it, and a playful joke about spooning her. She laughed at the memory, realising he’d probably pilfered it from his own breakfast table.

Surprisingly it didn’t taste awful. Sweet, despite the fact the ingredients were weird things like seaweed, powdered milk and a tuft of cat hair (she had no clue who wrote these things). It stuck in her throat as the magic began to burn through her very being, her blood seemed to catch fire in her veins. She’d memorised the words last night but read them aloud from the book, watching as glowing golden tendrils of light moved from her body to wrap around Adrien’s hand where they joined.

By the time the chant finished, Adrien and Emilie both looked like they were cast in bright evening sunlight. As they glowed brighter by the second, the light began to fade from Marinette.

I’m not strong enough. She thought sadly, feeling the energy dissipate, as though the fire in her was burning itself out. I’m so sorry .

This is how it ends . As her strength left her, her thoughts grew muddier and less coherent. Pain forced it’s way to the forefront, both emotional and physical. Hadn’t they always laughed and joked about what they’d do when they finally beat Hawkmoth? He’d promised to take her to the fanciest restaurant he could afford: she’d quipped back that it sounded lovely as it had been a while since she’d eaten at McDonalds. She’d accepted the offer of dinner though. The two of them - no masks. They’d promised to be the first they revealed their identities to... now her parents, Hawkmoth, Mayura, a bodyguard, and soon Alya would all know. If he woke up he’d be the last to know. If he didnt... he never knew my name .

It wasn’t the anger of the time they’d lost that burned fierce enough to brighten the light around the sleeping pair ever so slightly. Marinette was fairly certain that final surge of strength was caused by the air being punched from her lungs as breathing became more difficult. Tears stung in her eyes, spilling out as the pressure became too much. Her grip on his hand tightened and she heard a scream she knew was her own, using up the last of her breath.

“Stop! Enough!” Nathalie pleaded. It was too late to stop: had been too late the moment the potion touched her lips, words or no words she was burning through every ounce of strength she possessed, using her own soul as a battery. Distantly, Marinette thought she could hear a phone ringing and realised it was the alarm she’d set for Alya. She’d be getting the box soon enough, it would be over soon. The world was shaking... or maybe she was. She wasn’t sure, gradually becoming less aware of her surroundings. All she knew was real was the pounding in her eardrums as her blood boiled and the hand in hers was soft and warm and his and a comfort in her dying moments.

Then everything fell quiet. Marinette didn’t know when she closed her eyes but it fell dark around her, the crushing pressure on her chest increased, she was unconscious before her head hit the floor.

Two pairs of green eyes fluttered open, with one raising slowly to a seated position as though waking from a pleasant, if overly long nap, the other leaping to his feet in confusion, as the last thing he remembered was being in battle.

Adrien blinked at the confusing sight before him as Nathalie swept to where Marinette had fallen. Beside her: what was unmistakably the miracle box, which bizarrely vanished the moment Adrien laid eyes on it.

“What happened?” Emilie whispered. Adrien froze as Gabriel rushed to the bed’s other occupant, soothing his long lost wife.

“Mother?!” Adrien’s voice came out a strangled yelp, but the next two words spoken in the room hit even harder:

“No pulse.” Nathalie whispered. Eyes wide, Adrien clattered to the floor, almost wrenching Nathalie out of the way.

“Call an ambulance.” He ordered, straddling her and hovering his head over her mouth. She wasn’t breathing, and her lips were tinged dark blue with lack of oxygen. Adrien had no clue what was happening; save for Marinette was dying beneath him and he wouldn’t stand for that. He crossed his palms and began pressing hard on her chest, the way he’d been taught in class.

“It won’t help. Her wounds are magical not mortal...” Gabriel whispered, aghast at the sight playing out before them.

“Did I stutter! Call an ambulance!” Adrien roared. Nathalie finally did as instructed, pulling out her phone.

His brain was on autopilot. One two three four and repeat. If he could keep up compressions until the ambulance arrived she stood a chance, right?

“Cliff notes?” He growled at the room, refusing to be deterred from his task, unable to tear his eyes from her face. She was paler than he’d ever seen her, her eyes closed, and her lips were now almost black with her inability to breathe.

“You’re Cat Noir. She’s Ladybug. You died in battle, she revived you and your mother at great personal cost.” Gabriel summed up, glancing around. The fact the box and the book had vanished confirmed she was dead: a new guardian in place.

“And you let her ?!” Adrien demanded. “I mean welcome back and everything, I’m going to need to hear more about that but why the hell would you let her kill herself?!” He roared, continuing to compress her chest. Fearing he was being too gentle he pressed harder, cringing when he heard a crack that suggested he’d broken a rib. He didn’t care. If she came back she’d forgive him.

“Please. Please.” He begged. He didn’t know how long he’d been working: genuinely unsure whether it was minutes or hours when her colour came back. She did not look well still, almost grey with it, and she didn’t open her eyes, but she took several shaky breaths and his fingertips under her ear confirmed her heart was working once more.

“Atta girl. Stay with me.” He whispered.

“Got a distress call from this address.” Said a voice. At the window was Rena Rouge, poking her head in and looking alarmed at the scene. Emilie blinked and turned, confused, to her husband who sighed.

“It’s been a very long few days.” Gabriel sighed “Miss Rouge, there’s an ambulance on the way. Can you see to it that it can get through the crowds?” He instructed.

“On it. Is she... is she okay?” Rena asked.

“No. Please hurry.” Adrien urged, trembling as the Fox figure vanished once more.

Marinette... Ladybug... apparently, was breathing on her own again. She was alive but she was definitely worse for wear, more hurt than he’d ever seen a person. The oddity of his mother and father sat in a silent, stoic embrace on his bed while Nathalie and the bodyguard wept at the side: all apparently aware of both of their identities was lost on him. All he could focus on was the pale, unconscious girl beside him.

If he could just transform and carry her... His ring was missing. He flexed his fingers in confusion and noticed no earrings in her pierced lobes.

“What the hell happened while I was dead?!” He demanded. Suddenly two arms wrapped around him, his mother on her knees and holding him tightly. He could just about remember hugs like this: warm and supportive. Unconditional love. His father’s reminder that tears were a sign of weakness rang in his mind, but he cried anyway.

——————

Pain. Everything hurt. Everything felt like it was on fire, but if she closed her eyes that bit tighter and scrunched her nose she could narrow it down to her chest. Every breath stung, the air feeling too cold in burning lungs.

“You awake?” Asked a voice.

“Five more minutes?” Marinette croaked, her voice scratching in her throat. A tearful laugh in answer. The room span when she opened her eyes, catching a brief glimpse of her mother’s tear stained face, and her father’s large hand cupping her much smaller one, before she had to close her eyes to quell the overwhelming dizziness.

“What hit me?” She asked, keeping them shut. She didn’t like the room spinning.

“We’re a little fuzzy on the details but all accounts you gave yourself a massive heart attack.” She heard her father explain. Heart attack. She laughed, instantly regretting it due to the spike of pain, burying the joke she’d thought of. Cat would have loved it. Cat Noir. Forcing her eyes open once more she scanned the room. If he’d survived he’d be here. He wasn’t.

Tears sprung to her eyes.

“I tried. I tried so hard. I’m sorry.” She whispered, feeling Tom’s hand squeeze hers.

“You tried... to bring Adrien back?” Sabine suggested. Marinette couldn’t nod, her head felt too heavy. “Sweetheart, he’s right outside. They only allow two visitors at a time, we’ve been taking shifts.”

“He’s okay?” Marinette blinked.

“Yes. And we’re going to have a long talk about killing yourself over boys.” Tom warned. “But he’s okay. He’s fine.” He promised. Marinette gave a weak hum, the moment relief hit her a tension left her shoulders.

“I’m tired.” She admitted, voice slow as syrup.

“That’ll be the drugs.” Sabine giggled, kissing her daughter’s hand. “You sleep, dear.” Her words fell on deaf ears, Marinette already slipping back under.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

Marinette awoke the second time to loud explosions and her first instinct was to duck fleeing a projectile, but jerking violently pulled on her machines and triggered an alarm.

“Okay dear, let’s calm down.” Said a nurse, swimming into focus as Marinette realised she was adjusting her monitors.

“What’s... why am I... oh yeah... heart attack.” She murmured, her chest and upper back throbbing in painful reminder as she glanced around the room. “Visitors?”

“Thrown out for a few minutes while we did obs, they’ll be back soon.” The nurse smiled at her, a warm bright thing that felt oddly reassuring.

Bang bang bang.

“What’s all the noise?” Marinette asked, peering at the monitored that announced her vitals.

“Fireworks. How long have you been out? I just came on shift, sorry.” The nurse apologised, checking her blood pressure.

“Hm. I’m not sure.” Marinette admitted. “What day is it?”

“Ladybug beat Hawkmoth this morning. Paris is celebrating.” The nurse informed her, crossing to the window while the machine whirred and a cuff on her arm tightened. A curtain was pulled back and Marinette saw showers of sparks glittering in the sky.

“Oh right that.” She remembered. It seemed like an eternity ago.

“Your blood pressure is perfect.” Smiled the nurse, jotting down the number on the monitor. “I’ll send your friends back in. You might want to fasten up.” Marinette paused and realised her hospital gown was about her waist. She  wondered how she hadn’t noticed she was half naked until it was pointed out to her... blushing she covered herself, shuffling into the blue paper dress the hospital provided.

“She’s awake.” The nurse explained as she left and from the corridor Adrien slipped in, and Marinette was suddenly grateful she was no longer hooked up to the blood pressure cuff because it would definitely have spiked. He looked fine: well rested even.

The blond hovered, uncertainly, then threw a glance behind him to make sure they were alone. A firework from outside lit the room up pink for a glorious, brief moment.

“You had a heart attack.” Adrien said softly, hoping she understood the weight of the situation.

“What can I say, Adrien Agreste has that effect on me.” Marinette smiled, glad she was able to tell her joke. Adrien frowned, wondering how she could possibly make jokes at a time like this.

“If you ever do something that stupid and reckless again, I will come back from the dead to kill you myself.” Adrien told her, closing the distance and sitting by her bed. “What were you thinking? You’re smarter than this!”

“So... to clarify, I’m flirting at you and you’re lecturing me on reckless behaviour so... we’ve switched personalities?” Marinette asked. A pause interrupted by a loud firework and then Adrien smiled, small and soft.

“You did it,” He took her hand and she squeezed it. “You beat the bastard.”

“He surrendered. I didn’t really do much.” Marinette murmured, embarrassed, staring at their intertwined hands.

“You know I’m going to need the full story when you’re up to it?” He whispered. “How you feeling?”

“Like Stoneheart stepped on my ribs.” Marinette admitted, wincing slightly.

“Yeah the doctor said I broke three.” Adrien said, guilt flashing across his face.

“You broke three of my ribs?” She asked, quirking an eyebrow.

“You were stubborn and didn’t want to restart your own heart!” Adrien protested. Marinette tried not to laugh.

“I didn’t have much say in the matter, sorry. You did recus?”

“Someone had to. My mother was dazed and confused, my father was... preoccupied I guess, Nathalie on the phone to the ambulance and the bodyguard was crying too much. Rena Rouge made sure the ambulance could get through.”

Marinette listened to him talk, her mind still a little foggy. One thing in all that babble did stand out like a light house in the fog.

“Your mother?” She breathed. He seemed to realise nobody had told her, and that she was a little overwhelmed with information and he nodded, a small smile breaking through the worry on his face once more.

“My mother.” He confirmed. “She’s at home with my father. She wanted to thank you when you woke up but we didn’t want to crowd you with too many visitors so it’s just your parents, me, Alya and Nino.” He explained and then paused, bowing his head. “ If you woke up. You... you were gone for what felt like forever. Crashed twice in the ambulance. I didn’t know if...” his voice shuddered.

“Oh kitty,” she soothed, raising her hand to cup his cheek, he nuzzled into the motion and her fingertips dipped into the hair at the base of his skull. “Now you know how I feel - You were dead for a whole day.”

“Not the same. Not even close. You lost a friend I lost... I nearly lost...”

“Did you not get my note?” Marinette tried her hardest to sit up a little more, but wires tugged and a patch of fire blossomed under her left breast. “Motherf... ow.” She whined.

“What note? And the bed does the thing, you don’t have to...” he pulled away from her embrace and produced a remote. He pushed a button, the bed rising a little to help her up. Shakily she reached up and tapped his shirt pocket.

Confused, Adrien pulled the folded paper from his pocket and frowned.

“I don’t... I don’t want to read this... you thought you were going to...” he murmured.

“Just read it.” Marinette insisted. Adrien bit his lip but let his gaze return to the note.

“Stop. Whatever you’re thinking, Chaton, just stop because I know you’re thinking of doing something reckless. Don’t. It’s done. If you’re reading this you made it and I didn’t and that’s fine: it’s the way it should be, you of all people don’t need your beauty sleep.

I know we had plans for when we beat Hawkmoth... none of them are going to come to fruition now. Turns out life doesn’t always go to plan. Me? I planned on marrying Adrien Agreste, having a house, three kids, and a hamster with him. Then this smooth talking cat boy wandered into my life and I wasn’t entirely sure about that whole plan. I need you to know I really wanted to go on that date, when we beat Hawkmoth... sorry I’m taking a rain check. I’m sorry we didn’t have more time. I’m sorry it came down to me or you. I’m sorry you’re probably angry with me. Or sad. Or wanting to trade places. All that’s normal.

You were the best partner, the best person I could ever have asked for. I don’t regret this decision. You’re a light the world isn’t ready to lose yet. You go on and have that house, three kids and a hamster, for me okay. Someone has to live life for the both of us now, please live yours to the fullest.

Oh and because we’re both idiots when it comes to love, there’s a whole bunch of gifts for you in the bench seat in my bedroom, probably as many as roses you gave me. I kept every one, for the record. They’re in a book under my bed. I love you. One way or another I always loved you. Make it a good one for me.

Your Lady,

Marinette.”

Adrien blinked. Beside her name was a little, hastily doodled Ladybug.

“I’d have picked Cat Noir, toward the end but it wasn’t an easy choice. Turns out I never had to choose.” Marinette said with a shrug and then a wince. “Ow. Ugh. I miss the super suits, pain hurts.” Adrien read the note over and over until the words were etched in his brain and then dropped it to her bed, grabbing her face and kissing her more fiercely than he would dare if he didn’t have it in writing. She whimpered into the kiss, and he swept his tongue along her bottom lip. A hand gently pressed his chest, and he backed off, confused.

“Broken ribs, kitty.” She reminded him.

“Oh... oh yeah sorry...” he breathed. “The... the kissing was okay?”

“Mmhmm.” She agreed. “You’re not upset that it’s me?” The thought wouldn’t escape her mind. Had he built her up in his head? Made her into a larger than life character like she had with Adrien?

“Upse... it wasn’t Ladybug who literally endured a heart attack to save my life. It wasn’t Ladybug who convinced my father to let me go back to school, to let me go to New York. It wasn’t Ladybug who stayed up all night with me when Kagami and I split up.”

“I mean... technically it was.” Marinette mumbled

“If you think being Marinette somehow makes you less attractive, we need to lower your dosage.” Adrien insisted. Marinette would take that as a definite No on the disappointment.

“We still on for that date then, kitty?”

“When you get out of hospital.” He swore, pure ecstasy on his face. Apart from the fact she’d literally died, it was the best day of his life. He had his mother back... somehow. He wasn’t clear on that one. He’d won Ladybug over, apparently a long time ago. Hawkmoth was gone. Everything was as perfect as she was. Marinette hummed contentedly and closed her eyes.

“You two lovebirds done?” Alya asked, poking her head round the door.

“Yes.” Marinette smiled.

“Good. Now I’m going to have to take a few leaps of faith here... considering nobody will tell me anything and I’m basically winging it here. But... you two know the thing?”

“What thing?” Adrien asked cluelessly.

“The each other thing?” Alya wondered.

“Oh that thing. Yes.” Adrien nodded and Marinette gave her a weak thumbs up to confirm it was okay. “Wait how do you know the thing?” Adrien asked, bewildered.

“Well either Marinette is Ladybug or Marinette had a heart attack trying to tell you she has a crush on you, and Ladybug just happened to entrust me with the miracle box at that exact moment. I’ll bring it round when you’re out of hospital.” Alya promised. “But as long as everyone knows the deal... catch.”

A box flew at Adrien that he caught with one hand, and Marinette was handed hers.

“Believe these belong to you.” Alya grinned. “I’ll help you put them in.” She added, settling herself at Marinette’s bedside. Adrien slipped his ring on as Alya fastened Marinette’s earrings, Plagg and Tikki emerging babbling rapidly.

“You’re so much stronger than we knew oh my goodness you did it!” Tikki cried, hugging her holder. Marinette hummed happily.

“You are the CRAZIEST Ladybug I’ve ever seen and I knew Joan of Arc!” Plagg wailed, flying straight to her too. “Oh hey Adrien, enjoyed your cat nap?” He added as almost an afterthought.

“Good to see you too, Plagg.” Adrien laughed.

“He’s faking it, he cried.” Marinette reassured her partner, so he wasn’t hurt by Plagg’s feigned nonchalance.

Alya slowly eased Marinette’s hair back into place.

“I’ll be expecting an interview for the Ladyblog.” She said airily.

“Of course.” Marinette murmured.

“And from you.” Alya turned to Adrien who only hummed, happy to agree.

“When she’s out of hospital.” He swore, reaching across and taking Marinette’s hand once more, almost nervously.

At that exact moment in time, Marinette was all smiles, but she still looked pale and exhausted, she’d still been through a severe medical crisis. She wasn’t out of the woods. The reality of almost losing her had hit him all over again and Adrien raised her hand to kiss her knuckles.

—————

“She restored two people… on her own power.” Emilie whispered, utterly astounded. Having just been caught up on everything that had occurred in her absence there was one thing that was fascinating above all else: the guardian. That Adrien had followed in her footsteps was almost unsurprising, as proud of him as she was, she had expected him to turn out amazing. The girl was something altogether unexpected. With a competent, capable young woman in charge, the miraculous’ true potential could be met. The world could be a much brighter place. 

“I’ve learned she’s quite a determined little thing, I’m not entirely sure she didn’t just survive due to sheer stubbornness.” Sighed Gabriel, tired.

“She’s the most powerful guardian that’s ever existed…” Emilie gushed, amazed.

“Possibly.” Nathalie agreed, she couldn’t find record of anyone else pulling off such a fete.

“I can’t wait. Oh, I wish I’d been allowed to go thank her. I can’t wait to train under her. I can’t wait to learn how to do this properly instead of off of my own back.” Emilie breathed excitedly, beaming from ear to ear. “And with Adrien by my side!”

“You’re under the impression she’ll give you your miraculous back?” Gabriel scoffed. Immediately his wife pouted.

“Why wouldn’t she?”

“Me trying to kill her may have put a slight dampener on that.” Gabriel muttered. Emilie smirked.

“It’s a good thing I’m filing for divorce then, isn’t it?” She chirped.

Across the room Nathalie stifled a snicker.