January first was a new year that Paris would never forget. It was imprinted in the brains of every citizen. It would go down in history as the biggest day in French History. January first was the day Paris' superhero, Ladybug, was defeated, once and for all.

For Adrien, it was the one day that never left his thoughts. Even now, 7 years later, at 22 years old he still found himself trying to remember the good things about her. She was his best friend, his first and only love, the one person he could consider family. And just like that, she was taken from him. In a heartbeat.

When he went back to school January sixth the entire school found out their classmate Marinette Dupain-Cheng died in an accident while visiting family in China for Christmas. And just like that, not only was his love gone, but one of his best friends.

Her funeral was the day after the memorial for Ladybug/celebration for Hawkmoth being locked up. Adrien went to both and Chat Noir made an appearance at Ladybug's memorial. The entire city appeared. Even though Adrien went to both he felt like he wasn't mentally there. He felt outside his body. And that feeling continued until today.

Adrien stared out the window of the apartment he shared with Nino, watching the rain roll down the window pane. His days were spent going to the occasional photoshoot and business meeting dinners with his father, and cleaning up the house whilst Nino was spending his days in college classes.

"Here," Nino said gently, handing Adrien an antidepressant and a glass of water. "Bottoms up."

Adrien sighed, taking the pill from Nino and the glass of water. He set the pill on his tongue and then washed it down with the water. He gave the glass back to Nino, who in return clapped Adrien's shoulder gently. Nino was basically his caretaker, not just his roommate. If it weren't for Nino, Adrien would probably never eat or leave the house.

"Another day, another pill..." Adrien sighed, tracing his finger along the fogged up window. Nino put the bottle of pills back into the cupboard.

"The therapist said you'd be able to stop them if you show improvement in your next session." Nino said, walking over to Adrien with his arms crossed over his chest. Adrien turned his head slowly to look at his friend.

"She said that 4 sessions ago." He said dryly, letting his head rest against the wall.

"And after every session she sounded more optimistic." He smiled. Adrien sighed again.

"Face it, Nino. I don't need pills. I need answers..." he mumbled. Nino pursed his lips.

"About what happened to Ladybug?" He asked.

"Yes... but also what happened to Marinette. Her family left right after the funeral. I didn't even get to say goodbye." He frowned.

"I think you need to stop thinking about it. That happened years ago, Adrien. Even Alya's moved on by now." Nino said, sitting next to Adrien on the bay-window seat.

"But this isn't about moving on, Nino. Its about my questions getting answered." He fired back. Adrien stood up and walked over to the door, slipping his shoes on.

"Where are you going?"

"Out."

Adrien closed the door behind him, stuffing his hands in his hoody pockets. He left the apartment complex and wandered around the sodden streets of Paris. The dark and gloomy day reflected how he felt everyday. His depression worsened over the years and he wasn't proud to admit it, but the scars on his arm were proof of this being true.

Adrien was sad. He was sad he never got to say goodbye. He was sad Ladybug never got to see the outcome of their hard work. He was sad Marinette and Ladybug never even got a chance at life.

And so, he walked. He walked and let the rain weigh down on his hair, soaking into his clothes and running down his back. He walked even though he was shivering; because he wanted to feel something other than darkness that gripped his heart.

Adrien walked all the way to the Dupain-Cheng's boarded up bakery. They left and never came back the day after the funeral. He never got the chance to ask where to. He never got the opportunity to say goodbye to them. They were just gone. Adrien squinted his eyes against the rain, looking up at Marinette's balcony. The plants were overgrown and the tarp was so weather-beaten, the color so faded you could hardly tell it used to be pink. The sight made him even sadder.

Adrien turned around and left, walking back to his apartment. He expected to be met by Nino with a towel and a cup of coffee but instead the apartment was dark, except for the light in the kitchen. With squeaky shoes, he trudged over to the kitchen table to find a box and a note.

"Went to visit Alya. Curry in the fridge, heat for 50 seconds on high then stir. Rice still warm in the rice cooker. Be back tomorrow morning. P.S. This package is for you. -Nino" Adrien read aloud to himself, rain water that dripped from his hair smudged the pen ink and pooled on the table. He sighed and retreated to the bathroom. He didn't care about the package or dinner. He wanted to apologize for snapping at Nino, and talk about what was bothering him.

Adrien peeled the soaked clothing off his skin, throwing them into an empty clothes bin. He ran the water in the tub warm. Adrien stood under the shower head, watching the water stream down his fingers.

So this is what his life had come to. Antidepressants, the occasional call from his father back at his old lonely home, and the small two bedroom flat he shared with Nino. It was rather sad, really. This could've been prevented. But Adrien let himself sink into this lonely hole of depression.

Adrien stood in the warmth of the shower till his fingers turned wrinkled. He pulled on his worn Jagged Stone sweatshirt over his bare chest, and sweats over his boxers. Adrien missed the warmth of the shower, so the curry Nino mentioned sounded amazing to him then. The package on the table stared at him when he made it back into the kitchen. It was rather small, no larger than a foot in length and width. Adrien never ordered anything so the fact this package randomly showed up was concerning to him.

Adrien picked up the package. No sender address. The only thing on the wrapping was "Adrien Agreste". Adrien sighed, but opened it up anyway. The wrapping revealed a cardboard box. Adrien sliced open the tape with his pocket knife and pulled out a half-circle shaped box. It was pink with white polka dots and on top of it sat a key. Adrien never owned anything like this ever in his life.

He inserted the key and turned it, the top of the box clicking open. Inside was a mirror, and a slip of folded paper on top of a book and pen. Adrien picked up the note first and began to read it.

"Read each page to known the truth. Secrets don't stay locked up forever. ~T." Adrien muttered under his breath. "T? Who the hell is T...?" Adrien groaned, flipping the paper over to check for any other notes. There was none. He set the letter aside and picked up the book. It was in the same shape and pattern as the box and was held shut by a leather strap.

Adrien opened up the book, eyes widening when he read the first page.

'Diary of Marinette Dupain-Cheng.' Adrien dropped the diary onto the table with a thud. It fell open to one of the many pages with writing covering the entire page.

Adrien slammed it shut, clicking the leather strap back into place. This was Marinette's diary. The last known words of his deceased classmate and close friend. Should Adrien even be reading this? Part of him wanted to, but another part of him wanted her secrets to stay secret. What if he read something he didn't want to? What if he read something he was never meant to lay eyes on?

Adrien took a deep breath and stared down at her diary. T, whoever they were, wanted Adrien to read this. Perhaps he should. Maybe then... he would finally have closure.

Adrien set the diary back into the box, closed it up and set the box into the cardboard parcel. He set the note inside the parcel as well. He grabbed a bowl from the cupboard and made himself a warm bowl of curry and rice.

Adrien took his dinner and the box of secrets into his room, locking himself in. This was meant for his eyes and his eyes only. This was his only connection to Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

~

Im back with a new story! This is probably more triggering and more depressing than my last one, and it will be a lot shorter, but I promise it will still have the depth, the twists and turns and the descriptions you all love! If this chapter gets the support I need, I will continue writing! I really hope you all enjoy this, and like my last fanfiction I will shout out my favorite comments from the previous chapter into the new updates!

I hope you find this fanfiction just as good as my last!

Thats all for now
🐞 out.