Flashback Cutscene: Goodbye Kisses

A week ago

Ladybug felt exhausted, not only was she finding it hard to sleep in the developing heat of summer, but with everything happening with Chat Noir, Adrien and their friends, she was literally running on fumes. There was no energy left there for her to use, and if the news from the hospital was anything to go by, then it would be like this for a while.

Pregnant!

Walking over to the rose bush on her balcony, she knelt and began to mess with the roses, stroking a finger over them as she noticed they were pruned to perfection. This was her pride and joy; this was her baby. Her hands automatically placed themselves on her stomach. When Alya had marched her to the nurse's station, and they noticed exactly who was standing there, they made sure Adrien Agreste's new wife went straight in to see the doctor. He wanted to give her a test there and then, however, she couldn't do it. It wasn't something she was willing to do without Adrien knowing, yet here she was, moonlighting as her alter ego again and meeting up with another man.

She began to mess around with the bush, she got lost in time, letting her mind run blank for a while as she attempted to soak everything in. Adrien was at work until later today, he'd messaged saying he wanted to try and keep his appointments on track and that if he couldn't concentrate, he'd come home, but she knew he wouldn't.

Adrien took his job seriously, the care for the children he saw was such a key point of his character. He was so kind, caring, brave... forgiving. Ladybug knew this was all going to break down now, that their short lived 'happy' marriage would be over and if she survived — if — they would be spending the rest of their lives trying to co-parent a child, if he wanted anything to do with it anyway.

Her hands stroked over her stomach. What a mess this had become! There was a murderer out on the loose and she was pregnant. Those two things didn't fit well together, especially when you're the first line of defence. She turned back to her flowers, allowing herself to be swept away by the job at hand.

She'd messed up with Adrien over the years, Chat Noir too. She'd constantly been guilty of giving the right attention to the wrong person, hiding away secrets which could only lead to hurt and betrayal.

The sun had begun to set, and her body relaxed. This was a good idea. This whole garden was a good idea, it was something Adrien had used with his patients in the past. The small garden in the courtyard of his offices was a beautiful sight to hold; full of fresh, vibrant flowers that filled the air with a perfumed scent, it was her go to place to design.

She'd sit for hours outside his office, so much so that on their anniversary, 4 years ago, he'd gifted her a rose-coloured bench, allowing her to come whenever she wanted — he never complained about her being at his workplace.

Her hands absentmindedly went to her stomach again. She was having Adrien's baby. Something she'd dreamed about since she was 14 years old. A soft, warm smile stretched over her lips.

"You know, I'm not sure Marinette would be too happy with someone messing with her flowers?"

Almost falling onto her bottom as she spun around, she saw Adrien standing at the doorway; shirt buttons undone and his tie hanging loose around his neck. It took a few moments for her to realise what was happening.

Firstly, she straightened up and secondly, she went to kiss him the way she always greeted him home. However, as she reached out towards him, she noticed her usually pale flesh was red and spotty — and not Marinette's.

"Oh, I – um –"

He placed his briefcase down, stepping out onto the balcony and over towards the roses.

"They're perfect, aren't they? Just like her."

He plucked off a red rose and she winced. She'd told him about this; stop picking her roses or she was divorcing him.

"Yeah," she smiled, trying not to grimace as he plucked off another one. Seriously, she was going to start keeping a tally.

"What are you doing here, Ladybug?"

I live here!

"Oh, I just wanted to see if Marinette was around. I wanted to ask her if she'd heard from Alya."

Lies!

"She has, and so have I."

"And how is Nino?" she asked, her arms crossing over in the need to control the overwhelming desire to slap his hand away from the roses as he plucked a third.

"There's no change from when you were there earlier."

Walking over to the sun lounger, Adrien dropped down and looked at the roses in his hands. He looked worn out, and she couldn't help but feel as though she'd been ignoring him, pushing him backwards on the list of things. Chat Noir. Alya and Nino. The costume designs. Ivan's apartment designs. She wondered if he felt she was avoiding him, or not paying him any attention.

"Do you – um – do you want to talk?"

Adrien looked at her, before looking away, and answering with a slight nod.

Ladybug moved forwards and sat on a chair opposite him, waiting for him to speak.

"It must be hard... being a superhero and having a normal life," he said.

She nodded in response, not sure if he wanted an answer or whether he was just venting.

"I just feel, since we got back from our honeymoon, I've been too busy with work, and I've been pushing Marinette away. I don't mean to, but... it's just every time I try to make it up to her, I'm too late and she's asleep, or she's already eaten. I really am the worst husband in the world." He buried his head in his hands, the lights glistening on the held moisture as he closed his eyes tightly.

She didn't know what to say... even if she was Marinette, she wouldn't know what to say, because this didn't make sense. He was perfect! He always had been, and she was sure he always would be. The reason she'd been asleep or told him she wasn't hungry was because she was growing a small human inside her who seemed to be making its mission to mess her up. She needed to tell him sooner, rather than later. He'd be thrilled! He always wanted to be a father. He wanted to make sure his own children weren't as neglected as he was.

Abruptly standing up, Ladybug headed over to him and crouched down in front. With a deep breath she reached out and held his hands, revelling in the joy when he didn't remove his own.

"Talk to her. It might just be a major misunderstanding."

He rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Yeah right. I haven't been allowed to touch her the past week. Any advance I've made, she's moved away, and I can't blame her. I'd be mad at me too."

"Just... talk to her, Adrien, I bumped into her in the hospital. She seemed more in love with you than ever before."

He looked at her, hope in his eyes which reminded her of their younger, more naïve days. Days she missed and yearned for.

"I better be going, the last thing I want is for your wife to come back and see that I'm here with you. It wouldn't exactly help your case." She giggled as he let out a chuckle too, her heart fluttering from a noise she hadn't heard since they'd gotten back from their honeymoon. "Talk to her though, Adrien. I promise, she loves you, maybe more than you love her."

He stood up too, smiling at her. "Not possible, but thanks."

Reaching up onto her tiptoes, she pressed her lips against his cheek. "Goodnight, Adrien."

"Goodnight, Ladybug."

Grabbing her yo-yo, she sent it sailing into the late-night sky, aiming to get back to the apartment as quickly as she could. She needed Adrien to know she loved him more than words could say, and that, no matter what happened, she would always be there.

*****

Checkpoint - No Saves Beyond This Point

Sabrina forced her way through the crowds outside the hospital, and into the main hallway. News had travelled quickly that Ladybug and Chat Noir had arrived earlier that day — the former arriving injured yet walking out unharmed. She didn't believe it.

Walking towards the reception desk, the hustle and bustle from early morning Bastille Day celebrations gone wrong filled the area. The shortage of staff and idiotic behaviour not creating the most ideal of circumstances.

Sabrina pulled out her badge and flashed it to the receptionist. "Is Marinette Agreste in here?"

The receptionist looked around before picking up a phone. Sabrina turned away as the nurse chatted, she was obviously trying to gauge what Sabrina was here for, and whether she was allowed to give her access.

Scanning the area, it was the same as usual, those who'd drank too much and then probably made a spectacle of themselves. A prime suspect seated in the corner with a dish rag held to his head. Sighing, Sabina headed over in the direction of her father.

"Papa?" she said, almost questioning even though she knew it was him.

Roger moved the cloth from his head revealing the gash underneath and his two black eyes.

"What did you do this time?"

Roger shuffled in his seat, unsure what to say or do. "I thought I'd figured out the killer." Sabrina looked at him suspiciously, unsure whether it was the drink talking or whether her father had figured something out.

When he'd started out as a police officer, many years previously, he was good, one of the best the force had ever seen, but that had changed drastically over the years. The corruption, his relationship with Chloe's father and the power overruling his morals. But could he have figured something out? She had her own idea in her head, a clear suspect with a motive and with clear opportunities.

"Nurse," Sabrina shouted out to a nurse who was passing, taking out her badge and flashing it for her to see. "Is there a room we could possibly use?"

The nurse nodded, signalling them both to follow.

"But I need to wait here for the doctor," her father slurred.

In way of an answer, Sabrina grabbed his arm and pulled him onto his feet, walking him over to the room and giving him a 'gentle' nudge inside, slamming the doors closed behind them.

"What do you know?"

Roger moved around the room, messing with the equipment on the side before stumbling and falling onto the bed.

"You're pissed again! What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Wrong with me! It's them that's the problem. They're all in it together, those heroes! Each one of them is guilty! Noone should have such power."

"I don't know what you're on about, but if you keep on with this, you're going to end up in rehab again!"

"You don't get it!" he hissed, sitting upright and moving closer to the edge. "They're smart! They have a plan! They make themselves look like they're helping and then hide the killer in plain sight. They don't care about us; they're just trying to make it look like they do!"

"Who?" Sabrina demanded. "Who's deceiving us?"

"Ladybug and Chat Noir! They stand at the front getting everyone to feel sorry for them as they make white lies about this potential killer, then they plant the snake in the background. Genius really when you think about it. He has a nasty temper though. He did this to me."

Sabrina studied her father and for the first time in years, she believed he was telling the truth. Well, partial. She knew Adrien and Marinette as civilian's and as heroes, and they didn't stand for any of this, but a snake?

"Who is this snake?" she asked, her father shrugging and falling back in response.

"I don't know his name. But it's clear though. All this Miraculous stuff. The snake Miraculous goes to someone who seems wise, yet he's someone who is dark, insidious, sly and ruthless. Hidden in plain sight." Roger started to laugh. "I suppose it's lucky that snakes see cats as a threat. But he moved slowly. Keeping the cat in the dark until it was ready to attack."

Thinking back to her corkboard, she imagined her main suspects depicted as each of those traits. She thought she had discovered the identity, that Nathaniel was their culprit, but he didn't fit this.

"What else do you know?" Sabrina asked, the hairs on her arms beginning to stand on end as she listened to the words of her father, words which had suddenly come to a stop. She walked over to where he lay on the bed noticing he was asleep, or unconscious.

A knock on the door, had her tearing it open, her eyes on the receptionist who looked between her and the bed. "You can go up," she said, Sabrina pushing past her in a frenzy to get upstairs. She needed to find out who this was.

Who was the snake?

"He was attacked, he might be concussed," she shouted back to the nurse as she pounded her way through the doorways and up the staircase, flashing her badge to anyone who looked like they were about to stop her.

The snake! The snake! She kept chanting in her head. Who is Viperion? Isn't it...

Reaching the floor, she took a moment to gather her breath before charging full pelt into the corridors and stopping at the next reception desk. "Marinette Agreste!" she announced, pulling out her badge once again and flashing it to the nurse.

"Sabrina?" Turning sharply, she saw Alya behind her. Two drinks in her hands and a chocolate bar hanging out her mouth.

"Where's Marinette? This is urgent."

Alya tilted her head to the side, indicating for Sabrina to follow her, guiding her down and into the private room at the end. As the door opened, Alya gasped. Marinette was sitting up and looking almost normal. She guessed this was not at all what Alya was expecting.

"You're okay?" Alya announced, treading on the chocolate bar as she headed closer to her friend.

"Tikki helped! She –" Marinette trailed off as her eyes met Sabrina's, the detective walking closer and holding out a hand of reassurance.

"I know," Sabrina said. "About you and Adrien. I guessed him first, which then led me directly to you."

Marinette scoffed, placing a hand against her wound and wincing.

"Listen, Marinette, this is important. Life and death; kind of important."

She looked between Tikki and Alya, and it was then she noticed Marinette's parents in the corner. She gave them a nod before turning back to Marinette.

"Who's the snake? Who is Viperion?"

Marinette's eyebrows creased, her face showing complete shock by the question. "W-why do you need to know that?"

"Marinette, Ladybug, listen! There's a chance whoever the snake is on your team has been putting you all in danger. Looking at you, that means literally too. So, I need to know. Who is Viperion?"

Marinette looked to Tikki and then Alya. "Viperion is Luka. Why?"

Alya gasped, as Sabrina muttered a curse under her breath.

"And where is he now?"

"I don't know. I haven't —"

"I do," answered Alya. "He came here after Adrien, he said they needed his help."

Marinette stood up with a wince. "Is Luka the murderer?" she asked, and if Sabrina thought she was pale before, that was nothing in comparison.

"There's no solid evidence, it's just a –"

Before Sabrina could say anything else, Marinette had spoken words which had taken her from her normal civilian self into a polka dotted goddess.

"Marinette, what do you think you're doing?" Sabine stood from where she was sitting, marching forwards towards her daughter.

"If Adrien is in trouble, I need to be there. I can't have him getting hurt. We're in this together."

Before anything else could be said, the hospital door opened again but this time the faces weren't ones of shock but ones of determination.

As Sabrina stood looking at Gabriel Agreste and Félix Fathom, she realised her life had suddenly turned into a game itself, and it was time to defeat the big boss.

A roar of thunder sounded in the distance, the signal for an imminent downpour.

The perfect setting for a final battle.