Adrien woke up the morning of his sixteenth birthday with a heavy weight in his stomach. Today was the day he may find his soulmate. His life could change forever and he wasn't sure if he was ready for it. He always thought his soulmate was his lady, he believed every theory about the yin and yang, every internet web post about how they were two halves of one soul, just as Tikki and Plagg were. The confusion circulating in his head was worrying him. There were too many options and to many decisions which could be taken out of his hands the moment he placed his eyes upon the mirror.

Tikki and Plagg were their magical kwami's, part of the Miraculous entities. Plagg was his black cat kwami, and his Lady, Ladybug, was the owner of Tikki, she was also the guardian to all of Paris' Miraculous. Tikki and Plagg were the reason they could transform into superheroes. They were the most powerful of all the Miraculous' and also they were two parts of one whole. He searched long and hard for any information regarding the Miraculous over the years, and any information which would ease his mind about his upcoming soulmate reveal. Majority came from his best friends girlfriend, Alya, who ran the Ladyblog, the only line haven to all Miraculous fans.

But today he didn't think even his Miraculous could help him. Almost all humans, on their sixteenth birthday, received a sign directing them to their soulmate. This came as two things. The first thing was an understanding of your partners pain. This wasn't if your partner was bruised, or if they'd fell over, it was more of a life changing injury. It was said this was to help your soulmate if they were in dire need.

The second indication to your soulmate was the main one. A soul mark placed upon each others bodies. Each soul mark was unique, it was something only themselves and their partner would understand. It would be a representation of a moment in time they became one, a moment they would become inseparable, where the unbroken bond would be formed. Both halves would receive the same mark in the same place on their bodies.

However, if your soul mate was still underage nothing would appear. The youngest of the pairing would be the catalyst to the mark finally arriving prominent on your body once they, themselves, turn sixteen. His friends were all starting to be paired off, some with their present boyfriend or girlfriend, others finding happiness with someone else.

Relationships had been broken, people had lost who they thought would be theirs forever only to be sent spiralling into the waiting abyss caught up in thinking about when they would, finally, find their soulmate. Others just ignored the mark completely and carried on as normal until their time was up. Ivan and Mylene were currently caught in this spiral and with college coming to a close soon, they knew that would be their final goodbye. Soulmates could never be separated once they had met. Fate would always find a way of pushing them together.

Adrien now stood wearing just his boxers, staring into the mirror. Kagami was a year older and she was still waiting for her soul mark to appear, as far as Adrien was made to believe, she hadn't received it yet. She constantly reassured him that they were made for each other and that his hesitations would stop once their marks confirmed it, but as he stood here now he couldn't see a thing. His body was perfect, completely unmarked. Again, one person who he knew loved him would be ripped out of his life. Kagami would no longer be there to cover him with devotion.

"Plagg, wake up." Plagg pried open his tired cat eyes and flew over towards Adrien, leaving the comfort of his pillow and dreams of cheese. Lots and lots of cheese.

"What's up, kid?" He yawned before stopping next to his holder and suddenly remembering something important. "Happy sweet 16th, by the way Adrien."

Plagg didn't even worry about the soul mark as he knew it wouldn't be there. One thing for sure was the Miraculous never chose wrong, however for Adrien's sake Plagg began to fly circles around him. Adrien laughed, Plagg could make him laugh even on his worst days, he appreciated the little kwami more than he'd ever know, and there is no way he would tell him. Plagg's head was already big enough.

"So have you found anything, kid?"

"Not a thing." Adrien told his cat kwami. He began to turn left, right and centre checking every inch of his bare skin for a mark. For some reason not being able to find one filled him with joy. Perhaps he hadn't got a soul mate and was free to do as he pleased, or perhaps she wasn't sixteen yet. As far as he knew Ladybug was slightly younger than him, maybe she would eventually be his. Hope still spiralled in his stomach for a life joined together with her. With his Lady, his partner in crime.

It's not that he didn't like Kagami, it's just everything about her was so similar to his life now. It was organised and structured with a lack of freedom. One thing Chat Noir taught him was how fun it was to be free. How fun it was to be in charge of your own decisions! A life with Kagami would keep him trapped in a bubble, a bubble he was so desperate to burst out of. He'd mentioned this numerous times but she just didn't seem to understand. She was about appearance and social status, and as lovely as she was, it wasn't going to change anytime soon. She made that clear to him.

Being one of the youngest in his class at college, also, managed to cross a lot of other contenders off his list, well contenders that he knew. Alya, Chloé, Sabrina and Alix were already sixteen and each on their roads to soulmate heaven. So were Rose and Juleka, leaving him with two options; Lila or Marinette.

The thought of being eternally tied to Lila sent a cold shiver down his spine, could life actually be that cruel to him? He knew that black cats attracted bad luck, but this ... well this would be worse than just bad luck. She was a liar, and she was a bully. He wouldn't dare be with someone who his friends didn't like, and by friends he meant Marinette. Adrien knew some people just needed the chance to grow and change, but Lila was so far past that chance there was no way she would be anywhere near as sweet, kind and caring he dreamed his soulmate to be.

His second thought ran too Marinette and he couldn't stop the smile from spreading over his lips. That wouldn't be bad at all. She was kind, caring and supportive. Everything you could want in a soul mate. She stood up for him when no one else did, and she challenged both himself, and his nightmare of a father. She had developed her confidence around him recently and he must admit he liked it, a lot. Marinette was slowly beginning to remind him of his Lady. He stood by what he said back on heroes day two years ago, she really was an everyday Ladybug.

Adrien looked over at his computer desk which had become decorated in photographs; all curtesy of Miss Dupain-Cheng. He scanned over the pictures of him with his friends, his mother, Kagami, playing with Kitty Section and then he stopped. The photograph he was always drawn back to. Himself and Marinette, dancing in the moonlight. He still had no idea how his friends took it but that one memory meant more to him than anything. New York was such a turning point for him as Adrien and Chat Noir.

He had slowly began to understand what it was about Kagami that wasn't right, and also about Ladybug's true feelings for him. After their argument, and his sudden departure she'd realised that Ladybug only works with her Chat Noir. The hug she gave him when he returned still played monstrously on his mind. The hug was different and no matter how much she tried to deny it, he knew there was more there than just friendship, even if she still wouldn't admit it.

Marinette had been with him all the way. She'd stood up for him, she'd managed to persuade his father and do something for him. Nobody had ever done that for him before, nobody seemed to care that much, or have the guts to do it. To say he was blown away by her kindness and gesture would be the understatement of the century. He could never show her exactly how much her actions meant to him, he felt forever in her debt. But they way he just left her, he was disappointed in himself. It was not the way he should have reacted.

His eyes continued to look over the photographs and ended up on a group one. He was tempted to take it down. It frustrated him more than it should. There they all were, each standing with their 'partner'. He had his arm around Kagami who was attempting a smile, Rose and Juleka were cuddled up, Nino and Alya, and Marinette and Luka.

His stomach jerked. Perhaps it was time for him to eat, the feeling in his stomach was somewhat uncomfortable. He walked over to the photograph and sighed, pulling it off display. Something didn't sit right when he saw them together. He was almost certain Luka hadn't received his soul mark yet either. It was obvious, they were meant to be. Luka was devoted to Marinette, and she deserved it. She deserved her happily ever after.

He placed it down on the computer table upside down and looked at the picture of himself with Kagami. He enjoyed spending time with her, he really did but it wasn't romantic. He'd been kidding himself trying to make something platonic into something more. He'd tried hard to be with her and he knew how much she adored him, maybe he just needed to keep going. Perhaps it would become special? He looked at his bare arms again and knew it wouldn't amount to anything. Today proved they weren't soulmates, that they shouldn't be together. He was fated to someone else.

His phone began to signal messages. Majority from his classmates wishing him a happy birthday and, of course, wondering if his soul mark had appeared. He responded with thank yous and not yet's, unbeknownst to him joy was spreading every time someone received that message. Everyone was quite sure Adrien and Marinette were going to be soulmates, even if the blonde had no idea himself yet. There were bets on it, money was at stake and the class couldn't be happier.

He pulled up his last message and read it:

It's appeared, Adrien, just under my elbow! I knew it would! I told you we were made for each other. I can't believe how detailed it is. We'll celebrate tonight, I'm sure our parents will be thrilled. Kagami xxx

A voice appeared over his shoulder.

"Won't she get a shock when the oh so perfectly unmarked Adrien Agreste shows up to dinner!"

"Shut up, Plagg. I'll just have to keep my arms hidden, and pray she doesn't ask to see it." Adrien made his way into his wardrobe and began to pull out his outfit for the day.

So Kagami's soulmate was born on the same day as him. That was quite a coincidence. Perhaps he just hadn't had one appear. Perhaps it was something to do with the Miraculous.

"We don't affect soul marks, kid. They appear with or without us, there's nothing you can do about it. You need to tell her though. You can't string her along."

"She'll be gutted, Plagg, it would destroy her."

"You're not thinking with your brain again! Say your soulmate goes to your school, I don't know take pigtails for example?" Plagg had to stop Adrien before this game began. He knew it was risky using Marinette, his true mate, but no way would he be able to change Adrien's mind using Lila. The little kwami shivered at just thinking of the girls name.

He knew Adrien hated letting people down but this? This was going to break her, it was going to break his soul mates heart. He couldn't let Adrien waltz into school telling everyone he was only joking and that his soulmate was Kagami.

"Why you bringing Mari into it?"

"Just go with me here. So pigtails turns up today, praying you haven't received your soul mark yet and there you are fawning over being linked to Kagami. Suddenly it's her birthday, she gets her mark and you finally receive yours. She believes she hasn't met her soulmate yet. She continues to look for years and years as you grow into a state of depression because you can't actually stand who you're stuck around, you're not made for each other, you're not meant to be. Then you both die unhappy and unloved."

Adrien stared at his kwami. Could Plagg be right?

"That was quite a tale, Plagg." The kwami facepalmed himself before flying away into Adrien's bag, knowing Adrien was too headstrong to listen to a word he was saying. Damn him for always having stubborn holders.

"Just think about it, kid. Don't do something that could affect your happily ever after. It's your fairytale you belong in, not Kagami's."

Adrien thought long and hard about the words spoken to him and he knew Plagg was right. He couldn't mess around with too many hearts, so he'd come up with a plan. He made his way downstairs and into the dining hall only to be met with the unfamiliar sight of his father.

"Good morning Adrien. Take a seat."

Adrien sat down on his usual seat as breakfast was bought out and placed in front of him.

"I received a message this morning from Ms. Tsurugi, I believe a congratulations are in order."

Adrien's head shot up, she hadn't waited around at all. What was he going to do? Plagg was right, this lie was going to get him no where.

"I-I ... errrmmm ... thanks?" Adrien automatically stretched up to scratch the back of his neck. He was in deep trouble. He needed to man up and not keep doing things to make others happy, he was now stuck. Well and truly stuck. His father would go mental.

"We will be holding a meal this evening to celebrate the joining of our two families and we can begin to think about how a marriage would work."

"Ma-ma-marriage? But father I'm only sixteen." Adrien was failing and failing fast. Married to someone who wasn't his soulmate? He thought he'd only have to kiss her a couple of times before he could tell her the truth.

"As soon as you turn eighteen we will hold a wedding that way the companies will be joined ready for the two of you to take over. Now I've got work to do. Nathalie has a birthday gift from me to give you and I will join you for the celebrations this evening."

Adrien nodded and thanked his father unsure how else to react.

"You're screwed now, kid. How you going to get out of this one?"

Adrien sighed as he continued to eat his birthday breakfast, alone as usual. His appetite had diminished greatly and he wanted nothing more than to go back upstairs and rewrite the day.

Perhaps he could ask Ladybug for Fluff. She'd understand right?

Shaking the idea out of his head he stood up to walk towards the car.

"Gift from your father, Adrien." He opened the present to find the usual pen box. Why couldn't he have made something as amazing as the scarf again this year? Obviously it was only a once in a lifetime gift to receive. He stepped into his car and made his way to school. Fear pulsing through his veins. If his father knew he was quite sure Kagami had messaged everyone else. Including Marinette.

Nino was first to greet him as he exited the car.

"I can't believe you didn't tell us Agreste! Kagami's your soulmate! I didn't see that coming." Nino slapped Adrien on the back. He couldn't play along with this, not with his friends. Such a big deal had been made about Lila's lying in the past, he didn't want to be tarnished the same way.

"Kagami? Huh? Must admit, I'm a little surprised though. Although, in her message to us all I've never heard her so excited." Alya had came over to join them both, kissing her own soulmate on the cheek before turning back to the birthday boy. She handed over a present wrapped in ice blue paper with a bow on it.

Only one thing was on Adrien's mind though - find Marinette! If they all knew then she would too. God, she'd hate him. She'd hate him for lying and then for breaking her friends heart. He couldn't go through life with Marinette hating him. It would destroy him.

"Come with me."

As other classmates shouted happy birthday's and congratulations to Adrien he dragged Alya and Nino to the nearest empty classroom.

"Is Marinette here yet?" Adrien asked as he closed the door behind them.

"There's still ten minutes until class, of course she isn't." Alya claimed, rolling her eyes.

"I suppose it's just you two then." Adrien responded. "This does not leave this room! Promise me!"

The two lovebirds looked at each other before back at Adrien.

"If that's what you want?" Nino responded.

"Kagami received her soulmate mark today, but I never received mine. I ... eeerrrmmm ... I haven't had the guts to tell her."

"Yes!" Alya and Nino struck a high five between them much to Adrien's surprise.

"I knew she couldn't be your soulmate. You're both too similar." Alya announced, she felt so happy at this moment in time she swore she could cry.

"I need to keep this a secret until I figure out what to do. It's just, I don't want everyone to hate me. I know how much Marinette hates liars, I don't want to lose her friendship. She's too important to me."

Alya nodded along with Adrien's explanation. Marinette hated liars, it would kill her to think Adrien had lied on purpose. She placed one hand on Adrien's shoulder. His eyes firmly glaring into the ground. Gosh, he'd got himself in a mess.

"Don't worry about Mari," Adrien looked up into the eyes of his best friends girl, hope sparkling through them. "I'll deal with that."