Thursday 12th December
Marinette
Tiredness was a relentless beast, dragging Marinette down like an anchor. She had set her alarm for eight the following morning, just trying to get back on track. Unfortunately, getting back on track was as painful as someone clawing her eyes out. The sound of the pre-programmed alarm had her groaning, the merry melody bouncing around her skull like Chat Noir on catnip.
The sudden thought of her partner made her bolt upright in her bed.
Chat Noir.
Throwing the covers from her body, she clambered out of bed and scurried down the ladder into the main area of her bedroom, swaying unattractively as she went. Chat Noir. Marinette suddenly had the need to transform and go out cat hunting. She hadn't seen or spoken to him in four years, meaning a catch-up was long overdue. And something, a dream or a premonition, was encouraging her to get out there. She was almost certain that if she transformed and ran a couple of blocks, her partner would be there in seconds, just like when they were younger...younger. When they had no commitments. But, he most likely had a job now, one away from Akuma fighting and one he probably couldn't just get up and leave whenever he felt like it.
She sighed. Times really had changed.
'Marinette?' her mother's soft voice drifted up through the trapdoor. 'Marinette? Is that you banging around up there?'
'Sorry, Maman,' she called back, tripping unceremoniously over a shoe and falling into the table. 'I'm just not used to climbing up and down the ladder any more.'
Marinette heard her mother's joyful chuckle. 'Always the same Marinette.'
'Yeah.' The word came out as an exhale. She moved towards her suitcase, regretting not hanging her clothing up the day before, as they came out all crumpled and creased. Finally, finding a suitable outfit to meet with the attorney, a simple grey and pink wrap dress complete with skater skirt and thick black tights, she slung them over her arm and headed downstairs to the delightful aroma of her mother's cooking.
'Would you like some pancakes?' she asked, the offer quite unusual. Her mother was usually more interesting with her breakfast choices. Pancakes just seemed too normal for Sabine Cheng.
'Oh. Sure. I'll just jump in the shower first, if that's okay?'
'Of course it's okay,' her mother chuckled. 'This is still just as much your home as it was when you were seventeen.'
'Thanks.' Placing a quick kiss on her mother's cheek, Marinette hurried into the bathroom hoping a cool shower would wake her up.
Fifteen minutes later, she came out refreshed and almost ready to take on the day–after tasting some of her mother's pancakes, of course. Marinette pulled her comb through her hair before manoeuvring the wet strands into two plaits, pinning them in an intricate bun at the back of her head. She perched at the breakfast bar and looked at her mother.
'That's a lovely dress, sweetheart. Did you design it yourself?' Her mother pushed a plate towards her, stacked with three fluffy pancakes. Marinette messed with them, wondering why she had opted for the American style rather than the ones that had always been a mid-morning treat.
'Yeah, I did. I designed and made it. This one's just for me, though. It's the first time I've been able to wear it. It's been hiding in the back of my wardrobe for about a year.'
Her mother looked at her quizzically, and Marinette was certain she wanted to know more. In the blink of an eye, the curious stare turned into a smile which didn't meet her eyes. 'Well, it's beautiful and you look gorgeous. We're so proud of everything you're accomplishing. Your dreams are all coming true.'
All was not exactly how she would put it herself. Some would be more logical–and a little far-fetched. She reached for the fruit bowl and dropped blueberries and raspberries on top of her stack, before slicing and beginning to eat.
The obvious feeling of being stared at caused her to shuffle in her chair uncomfortably. She stabbed a couple of raspberries with a little more force than she probably needed to, before forcing them into her already full mouth.
Her mother sighed, grabbing her tea cup and coming to sit opposite Marinette. Struggling through a swallow, she placed the fork beside her plate and looked into her mother's worried eyes. This woman always wore her emotions on her sleeve.
'There's something you're not saying.' There was no beating around the bush. Her mother just came straight out and said it.
'I don't know what you mean.' The denial was feeble. Instead, she kept her head down, picked up the fork again, and pushed the berries around her plate. They sat in silence, Marinette knowing full well her mother was leaving the door open, and it was up to her whether she stepped through, or if she closed it firmly behind.
Picking up her fork once again, she pushed the fruit around the plate, grappling for the right words. 'Did you ever doubt things with Papa? Like, was there anything he did which made you... I don't know... second guess the relationship?' She chanced a look-up at her mother, happy to see there wasn't the slightest hint of judgement in her eyes.
'We've had our fair shares of arguments, but I never doubted, for one moment, that he was the one for me. A relationship, especially when you are committing to something as big as marriage, has to become a partnership. You need to be on the same page with everything, and even if there is a disagreement about the choice you make, the support is still there.'
Wide, green eyes flashed in front of her face. 'Like a partner in crime.'
Her mother laughed, picking up her mug and taking a delicate sip. 'I wouldn't recommend committing a crime, but if you did, you'd know straight away if you had the perfect partner.'
'How?' Marinette asked, shovelling a fork full of pancake into her mouth.
Her mother's eyes glinted with mischief. 'Because they'd be the one waiting for you in the getaway car.'
*****
Adrien
Adrien couldn't quite work out what it was about a full moon that made children wild, but right now he'd never wanted to be a psychologist more—if it was psychologists that dealt with this phenomenon of children's random hyperactive bouts.
'Emily, will you stop!' He hated having to raise his voice at her, but right now it was the only way to be heard over the screaming. 'Emily! No!'
She screamed again, this time louder and at a higher pitch. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back. Give him courage.
As he grabbed the toddler from the floor, he had to control his curse as her very small foot collided with a very intimate part of his body. His eyes were watering, and a specific area was throbbing, but he was not giving up! He would not be beaten by a three-year-old. She continued to kick and scream as he attempted to drag her to the bottom step of the foyer. He swore it'd be easier to catch a fish with his bare hands than discipline a toddler.
With a rather awkward stumble, Adrien put Emily on the step and bent down to her level, narrowly missing out on a sucker punch to the jaw. 'I'm putting you on the step for three minutes for tipping your cereal all over the table.'
'I don't care!' She screamed with all the power in her lungs.
She might not, but he certainly did. Grabbing his phone he keyed in the timer and began to make his way out of the foyer and back into the kitchen, Emily screaming and crying like her life depended on it. Leaving the door slightly ajar, he stepped into the kitchen and groaned. On days like this, he couldn't help the anxiety bubbling once again inside him, the thoughts clouding his judgement and screaming at him that he couldn't do this, that he couldn't be what she needed...then he remembered she was only three. And the f'ing threes were a lot worse than the terrible twos–or so the parenting Discord server he was on said.
A soft chuckle came from over by the fridge, Sophia rifling through for the fruit Emily so desperately wanted. 'She'll grow out of it.'
'Not soon enough,' Adrien muttered, making his way over to the coat hooks and grabbing his double button overcoat and placing it on with force.
A quick glance at his phone told him there were precisely thirty-eight seconds until he could take the banshee off the step, hopefully with one of those hugs he adored so much.
The alarm blared through the room, and he walked in the hall to find Emily face down on the floor. 'Em?' he said, walking closer, his voice gentle and non-threatening. 'Sweetheart?' he tried again, softening his voice even more.
'I sorry,' she whispered, peering up at him in the most adorable way.
He crouched down offering his arms out to her. She fell into him, burying her head into his shoulder and probably wiping snot all over his black woollen coat. 'I know Princess. I don't like being grumpy with you, but you can't throw food all over the table. I love you.'
'I love you too. I won't do it again.' She grabbed his face between her hands and pressed a wet, slobbery kiss on his cheek. Trying not to cringe, Adrien lifted her up and carried her into the kitchen.
'Now, you be good for Sophia, and I'll see you later.' He pressed a kiss to the top of her head before turning to Sophia.
'Don't forget she's–'
'Got her doctor's appointment at noon. Yes, I know. We won't miss it.'
Adrien nodded, knowing his nanny was on top of it, but that didn't stop the fear coursing through his veins with more force than his blood. When Emily had been born, it hadn't come without complications. She was on a ventilator for over two weeks after the birth, Adrien rarely leaving her side. He had nothing to go home for, and if it wasn't for the way Emily needed someone to be there for her, he wasn't sure he would have made it through. Since then, she'd had regular check-ups. He'd never missed one–until today.
'Oh, and Adrien.' He turned to look back at Sophia who was placing a plate of strawberries in front of Emily. 'I hope the meeting goes well.'
Without another word, Adrien left the mansion and turned down an alleyway, releasing Plagg from inside his jacket. 'How are you feeling?' he asked his kwami, Plagg remaining uncharacteristically quiet. 'If I can get you anything, just let me know.'
Plagg let out a small, sorrowful smile. 'Thanks kid. Do you want a quick run before we go to the office? I feel like I could do with burning off some steam.'
'Let's do it!' A quick call of his transformation and Chat Noir was off on the rooftops of Paris, his eyes catching a small red dot flashing around in the distance.
*****
Marinette
The thrill of taking to the Paris skyline in her superhero form, especially as Christmas drew near, was like no other. The city sparkled beneath her, bathed in soft lights that reflected off a thin layer of frost beginning to coat the rooftops. Snow was in the air, a crisp, tingling promise of the season that gave every breath a frosty edge. She swung herself up high, soaring above the chimneys topped with faint wisps of smoke, twisting and turning with a carefree elegance as she fell back toward her playground below.
Strings of holiday lights draped across buildings cast a warm, festive glow, and as she darted between them, their colours danced on her costume. She leaped gracefully over the ancient rooftops, her feet barely brushing the dusting of white that hinted at an impending snowfall. Dodging a flock of birds startled by her movement, she couldn't help but grin, the joy of freedom filling her with warmth despite the chill. Below, bundled-up Parisians looked up in awe, waving and cheering, her name echoing through the wintry air like a holiday chorus.
She was back.
When she'd hidden the earrings away after arriving in New York, she saw it as a much-needed break for her mental health—a chance to discover who she was without the extra stroke of luck they provided. She welcomed the opportunity to just be herself, to figure out what that even meant. But now, back in the suit and soaring high above the city, the realisation hit her harder than she could have anticipated. She needed this. She needed to be Ladybug.
Yes, it was hard work, exhausting and relentless, but it was also a part of her—a part that had been missing since she'd left. Here in the open sky, with the city stretching out beneath her, she felt whole again, filled with a sense of purpose and strength that went deeper than any power she possessed.
It was amazing how one thing she thought she didn't want or need became the thing missing from her life. She let out a loud 'whoop' as she spun in the air, finally landing in a crouch on the rooftop. She looked around and smiled. This was their place. If she was ever going to find him again, it would be here.
She stood up, stretching her arms over her head, feeling the delightful pull of muscles reawakening after too long. Her body was slowly adjusting, the familiar burn hinting at strength returning. Just how out of shape had she become?
'Well...well...well...look what the cat's dragged in?'
The familiar voice made her heart leap, a fluttery warmth filling her stomach as if she'd swallowed a pillow of feathers. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips, and a sense of calm settled over her. This was him—the person, the missing piece she hadn't even realised she'd been searching for. Maybe now that he was here, he could help her make sense of everything that felt so off. She brushed a hand over her ponytail, pressed her lips together to ensure her gloss was still in place, and took a steadying breath.
After four years, she was about to see her partner again. Why was she so nervous?
Slowly, she turned to face him. 'That's such a bad jo–' Could this be real? Was this her Chat Noir?
'I know,' he said with that smile she loved oh so much. He flexed his muscles, pulling a chuckle from her. 'It's quite the glow up.'
Without waiting another moment, she launched herself forward and into his arms. She wrapped herself around him, arms and legs, not giving a care to who may or may not see them. This was her kitty, her partner. 'God, I've missed you!'
'I've missed you too, Bugaboo.' He wrapped his arms around her, holding her with a tenderness that spoke of unconditional love, never once judging, only ever cherishing.
Reluctantly, she unwrapped herself from her partner and stepped back, a heat settling in her cheeks as she gave him a top to toe once more. Yikes! Time had served him well. His hair was shorter and less styled, and his face held the most perfect five o'clock shadow. He was a feast for the eyes.
She stretched up trailing her thumbs over the stubble perfectly positioned across his jaw. 'Well, look at you,' she whispered, her eyes moving to meet his. 'You finally reached puberty.'
His eyes crinkled, his mouth stretching to reveal the most perfectly white teeth. Oh goodness, he was a walking advert for Hugo Boss.
'It had to happen sooner or later, I guess.' They both laughed as he gave her one more tight hug. Letting go, he held her hand and pulled her across the rooftop. 'Come.'
They settled down beside each other, legs hanging over the edge, Ladybug absent-mindedly reaching out to wrap her arm around his, her head resting on his shoulder. 'How have you been?' she asked, wanting to know everything and anything about his life now.
He winced, sucking in a sharp breath through his teeth. 'Starting with a hard question there, LB.'
'Just because we haven't seen each other in half a decade, doesn't mean I'm going to go easy on you, Chaton.' She chuckled, pushing her shoulder into him and causing them both to sway side to side. His laugh was brief, forced. She turned her head and noticed that his eyes had a glazed look.
'Kitty?'
He looked at her, his eyes flickering between emotions and finally resting on one she knew was him feeling uncomfortable.
'You don't need to tell me if you don't want to.' She saw his lips twitch, then an idea struck her. 'How about we play three truths and a lie?'
'Isn't it two truths and a lie?'
'I thought we could upgrade.' The twitch she'd seen in his lips stretched into a perfectly white smile. He really was gorgeous.
'Okay,' he said. The words were punctuated with a sigh. 'Who should go first?'
'I'll go?'
He nodded. The smile returned to his lips. 'Sure.'
'Okay,' she said, shuffling around on the roof and crossing her legs to face him. 'I came back to Paris because I wanted to see you. I'm not sure if I'm happy with my life at the moment. I am married. I - um - I went soul-searching and found out my soul is the thing I was unintentionally running away from.'
His eyes were so wide she was almost afraid they were about to fall out of his sockets. 'I — woah! That's....a lot!'
She smiled. 'Yep. But remember, it's not all true.'
He nodded. 'I'm glad something in there's a lie, I just hope it's the one I want it to be.'
'Which is that, Kitty?'
'Statement three.' She ran through the statements in her head. Three. Three? Married.
She smiled. 'Three was a lie.'
'That's good to hear.'
Ladybug laughed, shuffling herself next to him again. 'You don't mean that.'
'You have no idea how much I do.'
She turned to look at him, his gaze back, and took her breath away. The earnest look spoke to her in ways that made her bones turn to goo. It was full of something she'd been searching for so long. Adoration. Longing. Love.
He coughed, moving slightly in his position to tuck one leg underneath him. 'So, the soul-searching didn't go to plan then?' he asked without judgement in his voice.
She studied his face, the smile gracing his lips, knowing and understanding 'The idea that I needed to find myself away from Ladybug was quite a stupid idea, really.'
'You've realised what I always knew,' he said.
She nodded. 'Yep! You can't be one without the other.'
They smiled at each other for a while, the sounds of Paris moving beneath them. A chirping noise came from her hip, her hand reaching for her yo-yo and checking what the noise was about. She'd forgotten she'd set an alarm just in case she became distracted.
She stood, brushing over her legs before offering out a hand to her partner. 'Looks like it's time to go.'
Chat Noir slid his hand into hers and allowed her to pull him to his feet, his eyes never leaving hers. 'I never got to give you my truths,' he said, lip pouting like a toddler.
'Maybe, if you're free tomorrow, we could catch up? I don't have too many plans whilst I'm here.'
Chat scrunched his lips in the most adorable way, and she found she couldn't take her eyes off him. 'I...you see, there's this thing I have to deal with. I kinda have a...kid.'
'Like a goat?' she said without thinking. Why would he have a goat? He never seemed overly interested in animals.
'Why would I have a goat?'
'I don't know. You're the one saying you've got a kid.'
'No.' He shook his head. 'A kid. As in a small human.'
She stumbled to the side. He has a kid? 'I didn't realise, sorry. So, I'm guessing that you're married?'
He shook his head. 'No. No wife.'
'Girlfriend?'
He shook his head again. 'Everything's just really complicated.'
Her alarm sounded for the second time. She really needed to go, but she needed to know more. 'Please, just, before I leave, meet with me.' She began walking backwards, unhooking her yo-yo and preparing to swing towards the lawyer's office.
'Fine. I'll meet you tomorrow night.'
Ladybug smiled. 'I'll meet you here. Nine pm.'
Without another word, she flung herself into the sky and hurried toward the lawyer's office, her heart responding awkwardly to the news from her partner. A kid. He had a kid.
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