I hope you had a happy holiday. Not sure if you celebrate Christmas or something else. But I hope it was a good one.
Now on to my ask.
A salty alya.
Where she wants Mariette to make her a dress for her birthday that is like two weeks away. Marinette says no that is impossible pluses I have three commission that I am working on now.
One is in fact a dress for her that her parents have commissioned as a surprise gift.
Alya is a brat about the fact Marinette told her no. Doesn't speak to her doesn't invite her to the party. Her parents find out when Marinette drops off the dress.
They are disappointed when they learn this worried when none of her classmates see this as a problem.
Pissed when alya says wow the dress they got her was better then anything Marinette could have made.
Alya than thanks Lila for tell her parents whom to commission.
So, this is super late, but yes I had a good Christmas. Got to fly home and see my family and just cut loose and party. Was super fun. Very belated, but hope you had a good holiday too! Here you go, hope you like it!
Alya had skip in her step as she approached the school that day. It was almost her birthday, her party right around the corner, and nothing could ruin Alya's mood. Everything was set for her party. The only thing she had left to do was get Marinette to make her a dress.
The two girls hadn't really been talking lately. Marinette had really been letting her jealousy get the best of her lately and had been harassing Lila constantly. But while she may be mad at Marinette for how she was treating Lila, she was still wanting Marinette to make her birthday dress. The girl always made her birthday dresses and they were always gorgeous. Alya was even going to invite Marinette to the party, after making sure it was ok with Lila and she wouldn't be uncomfortable, of course. This day was going to be great.
But when Alya approached Marinette about the dress, she wasn't expecting the answer she got. "I'm sorry Alya, but that is too short notice. It is only two weeks and it would be impossible to design, sketch and make a dress for you in that little time. And besides that I have 3 other commissions right now. I'm sorry."
Truthfully, one of those commissions was for Alya. Her parents knew Marinette always made a dress for Alya's birthday, and decided they wanted to surprise their daughter with the dress themselves this year. They had approached Marinette weeks ago about the dress, and asked her to keep it a secret. They also asked that if Alya came to commission Marinette herself, to please turn her away but not to really specify why. Marinette agreed and was excited to help surprise her friend. Things had been rocky between them lately and she hoped this might help start patching things up.
When Alya heard this, she lost it. She threw a tantrum like a spoiled brat about how friendship should be more important to Marinette than some stupid commissions. "Come on Marinette, how could you be so selfish!? I was even willing to put your treatment of Lila aside and invite you to the party. But you know what, forget it. I will find someone better to make my dress, someone who isn't selfish or jealous. And you can forget about coming to my party, you aren't welcome."
Alya stormed off, still muttering to herself, while the remaining members of the class glared at Marinette for 'her behavior'. Marinette was stunned. She knew things hadn't been great between her and Alya lately, but she hadn't expected her 'best friend' to blow up on her like that. Marinette was beyond hurt by Alya's accusations and even more hurt that she had been disinvited from the party that everyone else would be at.
She honestly didn't want to finish the dress for Alya after all that. She was so hurt by Alya, that she didn't even want to look at it. But she had promised Alya's parents and they had paid for everything upfront, so Marinette put her feelings aside and finished the dress. For the next two weeks she worked on the dress as Alya and the class ignored her. When it was finished, the dress was stunning when Marinette was finished and with a hollow feeling, she realized Alya would love it.
The next day, the day of the party, Marinette went to drop off the dress at the Cesaire apartment. The plan was for her to bring the dress, and then stay for the party. But now she wasn't welcome at the party, so she would just give it to Alya's parents and leave. When she arrived, the Cesaires loved the dress, complimenting Marinette's work, thanking her immensely. But then Marinette went to the door, and they were confused. Mrs. Cesaire stopped her, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Marinette? Are you not staying for the party? It is starting soon, so you would have to come back for it quickly. We don't mind you waiting here."
Marinette didn't even turn back to look at them, her voice sounding empty. "I'm not coming to the party. Alya came to ask me to commission the dress and I told her no like you asked me too. She got really upset and told me not to come. I need to go before she gets back, don't want to make her upset on her birthday." Marinette walked out the door, leaving Alya's parents stunned. Their daughter had done what? They could hardly believe it.
As the party guests started to arrive, they tried figuring out why their daughter would have done that. Maybe she had been having a bad day? Maybe Marinette hadn't understood correctly? Surely Alya and the class would notice and miss Marinette at the party? Right?
But as the party went on, the class carried on as usual. Alya had a great time with her friends, laughing and having fun. No one in the class seemed worried, or to even notice Marinette wasn't there. Alya's parents couldn't believe it. Marinette had been right, and Alya really had uninvited her from the party. Now they couldn't get the image of that out of their head, or the thought of Marinette being alone while all her supposed friends had a party here without her. They almost didn't want to give Alya the dress, it didn't seem right.
In the end, they decided to give her the dress and they would have a talk with her later about her behavior and have her apologize to Marinette. When it came time to open the presents and Alya opened the dress she was ecstatic. She thanked them over and over, acting like the Alya they knew. Then she said something that truly infuriated her parents. "Wow, this is way better than anything Marinette could ever make. I'm glad she didn't make my dress this year."
As the class agreed with her, Alya's parents felt like the world had stopped moving. Alya had gone to the other side of the apartment to talk with her friends and show off the dress, while her parents stood frozen. They were furious. They approached Alya, ready to say something and just end the party, when they saw Lila get to her first. They stopped for a moment to listen and heard Lila say, "Surprise! After Marinette so rudely refused to make you a dress, I gave your parents the name of a lovely designer I know from back in Italy. She was more than happy to make a dress for you. I am so glad it turned out great."
Alya's parents didn't know what to address first, but they let the anger finally boil over. "THAT IS IT! This party is over! Alya we are so disappointed in you!" Everyone stared at her parents, not sure what to say or if they should just leave. They seemed pretty angry and they didn't want to make it worse. Alya stuttered out a response, "W-What? Why? What did I do?"
Alya's parents almost saw red and laid into her. "What did you do?! How about how you treated Marinette? You uninvited her from the party for no good reason!" Alya tried defending herself, "I had a reason. She was being selfish! I asked her to make me a dress for tonight like two weeks ago and she said no! Said she had three commissions and had to work on them instead. That isn't what friends do!"
"No, friends don't throw tantrums when the other doesn't do what you want! And she wasn't being selfish! Firstly, as I'm sure she told you, two weeks is not enough time to make a dress. Second, she told you no cause we asked her to! We wanted to keep it a surprise until tonight, but we commissioned her ourselves cause we knew that you liked her designs. She is the one that made this dress, not some fictitious designer in Italy. And you Lila, how dare you lie and take credit for this when you had nothing to do with this! We do not tolerate liars in this house, so you need to leave right now."
The whole class was stunned, not even realizing that Alya's parents had not only just said, but proved, that Lila is a liar. Alya, not wanting to believe her parents, checked the dress. She didn't want to believe that Lila lied to her just now, like Marinette had been telling her. She also didn't want to believe that she had blown up on Marinette for no reason. She was clinging to the idea that her parents were wrong and Marinette truly was selfish when she saw it. There, hidden in the embroidery, was Marinette's calling card. Her name hidden in the golden embroidery. Alya felt sick.
Lila took this opportunity to leave the apartment before everyone turned on her now that Alya's parents had revealed her. The class went to yell at Lila, realizing that she likely was the liar Marinette claimed her to be and the Marinette likely hadn't been bullying her. But when they turned, she was already gone. Alya's parents stuck to their word and the party ended right then, hours earlier than it was supposed to. The apartment now empty, Alya's parents really lectured her, for almost an hour. When it was finally over, they told her that she had to apologize to Marinette, but it would be up to Marinette if she accepted the apology and wanted to be friends again. And if she wanted Alya to leave her alone, then they expected Alya to respect that.
The next day, Alya did apologize to Marinette first thing. Marinette, true to her kind hearted nature, did accept the apology. But she wasn't quite ready to be best friends again, the hurt still fresh. Alya did as her parents told her and respected that. Now Alya was left without a best friend with Marinette wanting distance and Lila having left the class after last night. Alya didn't know what to do, but she was going to try and make it right.
Marinette learned that little tidbit through personal experience, and while that experience came with knowledge, she would have rather stayed ignorant.
Her perch on a branch was very uncomfortable—leaves poked her eyes and itched at her head, several small branches scratched at her arms.
It was worse for Chloé, who had apparently never climbed a tree before.
She sat on the same branch as Marinette, hugging the trunk of the tree like her life depended on it.
Getting out there hasn’t even been the hard part. The park was barely a street away, and know one seemed to care, or even notice, two teenagers ditching school. Mrs. Bustier didn’t see them as they walked behind her and climbed a tree. She wasn’t all that aware of her surroundings.
The walk to the park was nice and peaceful, orange and red autumn leaves fell around them, and Chloé and Marinette would try to catch them as they fell.
Marinette smiled at her friend, who knew Chloé Bourgeois would be afraid of heights? She had been fine as Queen Bee.
“Chloé?” Marinette whispered, careful to not let anyone but Chloé hear her. “Are you okay? I thought you liked heights.”
Chloé sucked in a breath and turned a little to peer at Marinette. “I’m not afraid! I just don’t like being in such an icky place!” She whisper-yelled.
That’s a load of bullshit, kid. Plagg cackled in her head.
Marinette smiled again, she was about to respond when she heard a noise of annoyance from below.
“It’s just so stupid that she said that! I can’t believe I used to be friends with someone like that! I need a dress and she just won’t make me one? What the hell!” Alya’s angry grumble came from below.
Marinette rolled her eyes, an attempt to cover the hurt from someone she once considered her best friend.
To get the twitch out of her eye, Marinette enacted her plan. She nodded to Chloé, who grinned like a shark. Marinette began to crawl down the tree, making sure she wasn’t seen.
Marinette knew everything about all her classmates, including that Alya always, always, sat down when she was on a call. She had spent weeks learning everything she possibly could about her classmates so that she would never do anything one of them would dislike. She had stopped after the Lila fiasco, and after a while that knowledge sat in her head to rot.
She didn’t think it would ever be useful, but now it finally was. Being obsessive over all her friends had finally paid off.
Chloé whipped out Alya’s phone and dialed quickly, she was smiling so much Marinette thought her smile might start to hurt.
One ring. Two rings. Three.
“Who the fuck is this?” Alya growled and sat down on the bench, crossing her legs and glaring at nothing.
“Did you never learn to answer the phone politely?” Chloé scoffed.
Marinette felt a smile tug at her lips.
She dropped to the ground without a sound and peaked behind the tree to watch Alya.
“Chloé? Why do you have my phone!” Alya asked—or rather, yelled.
She quickly quieted and hid her phone when Mrs. Bustier looked over.
Marinette crawled out from behind the tree. The bench Alya sat on was by the next tree over. She only had to crawl a few feet without anyone noticing her.
The only problem: that few feet was open space, and right next to where Kim and Alix were playing soccer.
She would need a distraction. if only she had her Lucky Charm. But she was still Ladybug, even if she wasn’t wearing the mask.
Right?
She scanned Kim’s posture. He was leaning on his right foot, Marinette knew he favored his left for kicking because of the sprain he had in his right the year before. Alix had dared him to jump from a tree and he landed on his leg, spraining it. Now, he was getting ready to kick.
The angle was steady, ready to kick between the two trash cans they were using as goals. Marinette knew Alix was easily distracted, she was there when Alix was diagnosed with ADHD. One small noise and she would change her position from prepared to preoccupied.
Marinette grabbed a rock from the ground, she waited just one moment…now!
Right as Kim kicked the ball, Marinette threw the rock at the one of the trash cans that made up Alix’s goal.
A loud clang was heard, distracting Alix. Kim kicked the ball directly into her head, where it bounced off and directly into Nino’s back. He fell forward onto Alya, who yelled out and fell from the bench. the weight of her boyfriend knocking her over and onto the ground. The phone flew from her hand.
In the chaos, Marinette darted forward and snatched it before it hit the grass.
Marinette heard a sharp laugh from Chloé’s hiding spot and grinned. The phone was in her grasp, all she had to do was delete the photo.
She couldn’t help the little cheer she let out.
The cheer that got her caught.
As it turned out, during her celebration, the chaos calmed down and Alya had started to search for her phone.
And found it in Marinette’s hand.
“Marinette!” Alya screamed. “Why do you have my phone? And how did you even get out here!”
Marinette fumbled, standing so she could be face to face with her former friend. “Uh, I walked.”
Alya’s face was turning the same shade as the grape jelly tarts her dad loved. “You know that’s not what I—“
“Oh, shut up, Cesaire.” Chloé’s voice flooded through the phone. She definitely didn’t sound as panicked as Marinette felt.
She hopped down from the tree and stalked forward , gracefully—like a panther.
“But you have my phone!” She shrieked.
“I thought I told you to leave your phones in the classroom, kids.” Mrs. Bustier said, walking over and towering over Alya.
Alya whipped around, “It’s not my fault! I was worried about leaving it there with Marinette! She once stole Adrien’s phone!”
Marinette turned bright red and clenched the phone a little tighter. She glanced at Adrien who was staring at her with an indecipherable expression on his face. She didn’t look at Chloé.
“Marinette,” Mrs. Bustier started. “Why do you have Alya’s phone?”
Marinette look up at her, was Mrs. Bustier always this tall?
“I was only picking it up so that I could give it back to her.” She whispered, attempting to sound pitiful and kind.
Mrs. Bustier nodded, hoping this meant Marinette was going back to her old ways. She didn’t ask why Chloé and Marinette were in the park instead of the classroom. They had probably just come down to apologize.
“Okay then. Marinette, you can give me Alya’s phone, I’m going to keep it for the rest of the day. . Alya, you have detention for breaking my rule.”
Did—did that just work? Tikki asked, her voice high and confused.
I have no fucking clue. But now Bustier has Alya’s phone. And my video.
Think, think, think, how do you get it back? Marinette thought to herself.
“Mrs. Bustier!” Chloé called out, stepping forward with a determined look on her face. “I think that Alya was taking pictures of Marinette and I in class. I never gave her permission and I’d like to be able to delete them myself. I’ll feel a lot safer that way.”
Marinette blinked a few times, maybe she was hearing things wrong. Alya hadn’t taken any pictures of them.
Marinette. Think about it. She’s helping. Tikki said.
Mrs. Bustier gasped. “Alya, why would you do such a thing?”
Alya spluttered, face turning even redder. “I didn’t—“
“I’m sorry to cause trouble, but I’m just worried about what she’s going to do with the pictures she took, what if it’s something bad?” Chloé sniffed and hugged herself.
Marinette couldn’t help but think she’d had practice with this kind of thing before.
“Oh, of course, Chloé!” Mrs. Bustier handed over the phone like it didn’t contain Marinette's biggest secret.
Chloé shot Marinette a triumphant look and handed her the phone once Mrs. Bustier returned to her bench.
Marinette deleted the video from the phone, then from the cloud. It was officially gone.
She deleted her number too.
—-
sorry it’s later than usually, I was feeling pretty idea blocked
Chapter 14 - You Can't Cover All Your Wounds in Band-Aids
Time passed, with each second feeling like a cruel reminder of how lonely I was. The weight of my double life as Ladybug and the constant battle against Shadow Moth consumed my days. I yearned for a way to bring an end to his reign of darkness, to regain my freedom and be myself once more.
In my room, photographs adorned the walls, capturing moments of joy and friendship. Adrien's charming smile, Luka's gentle gaze, and the laughter shared with my friends stared back at me. Barkk and Ziggy fluttered over to the corkboard where the pictures were displayed.
Barkk, ever the worrier, chimed in, "I told you we should've taken the photos down! They only bring you sadness, Marinette."
I held my gaze on the photos, my voice barely a whisper. "Please don't," I pleaded, my words tinged with a mix of determination and sadness. "Stop, Barkk. I'm not sad, and these photos don't bother me. They're a reminder of who I am and what I'm fighting for. So it's all good." I forced a humorless chuckle, desperately trying to convince myself. "There's no problem, you see?"
Amidst the emotional turmoil, my phone buzzed incessantly, another call demanding my attention. Frustration surged within me, and I sent the call straight to voicemail, not wanting to face the outside world just yet. A couple of minutes passed, and the phone buzzed again, indicating that a voicemail had been left.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I played the voicemail. The familiar voices of my friends filled the airwaves, their warmth seeping through the recording. I heard Alya's energetic voice followed by the cheerful greetings of Rose, Juleka, Mylene, and Alix. "Hey Marinette, it's us!" they chimed in unison. "We're just calling to tell you that we're here if you need to talk. Whenever you want, wherever you want, give us a call back." There was a brief pause, and then I heard Alya's voice again, softer and tinged with sadness. "We miss you."
I felt a mix of emotions well up inside me, a combination of longing, guilt, and a deep sense of isolation. Unable to bear the weight of their words, I deleted the voicemail, my heart heavy with conflicting emotions. In a moment of frustration, I impulsively chucked my phone across the room, the sound of it hitting the wall echoing my inner turmoil.
“Come on we gotta do something!” Barkk shouted out as he hovered over my frame. I grabbed one of my pillows and put it over my head.
“If only Tikki were here,” Wyazz chimed in, “She would know how to help Marinette.”
“I got an idea!” Trixx announced as he pulled the pillow off my head, “Why aren’t you using the light box to talk to your friends?” he asked as he floated in front of my face.
“What’s there to talk about?” Turning my head away from Trixx, I said, “Everything’s fine.”
Trixx persisted, "Don't you think you should detransform then? Maybe it's time to take a break."
I shook my head, “No I’m better off like this, better off staying as ladybug,” I said as a fresh bout of tears started welling up in my eyes, “this way if Shadow Moth attacks Paris, I’ll be ready for action at any time.”
“Yes but what about Tikki?” Trixx said, pushing gently “She could use some rest and she needs to eat something as well.”
Overwhelmed with guilt and worry, I shouted, "Oh my God! Tikki, spots off!" Tears streamed down my face as I cradled the tired kwami in my hands. "Are you okay, Tikki?"
Tikki let out a tired sigh, “better than you Marinette,” she replied, her voice filled with compassion. "We should have a little talk." Tikki and I went up to the balcony so we could talk.
Feeling the weight of my struggles, I poured my heart out to Tikki. "I don't know what to do anymore, Tikki," I confessed, my voice trembling with sadness. "My life as Marinette is too complicated. As long as I'm Ladybug, I can't have loved ones in my life. I had to break up with Luka because I couldn't tell him the truth. It would be the same with anyone else I date. I can't share my secret with him or anyone else, for that matter. I can't be honest with my closest friends or my parents about anything. I'm doomed to be a big liar to everyone, forever. What do I do, Tikki?"
Tikki's voice carried understanding, yet a hint of helplessness. "I wish I could give you a clear answer, Marinette," she sighed. "But kwami relationships are very different from human ones. We have a natural soul pair, like me and Plagg. I am the kwami of Creation, and Plagg is the kwami of Destruction. We are complementary to each other, balancing one another out. Without me, there is no Plagg, and without Plagg, there is no me. The same goes for other kwamis, like Fluff and Sass," Tikki continued, her voice filled with wisdom. "Fluff is the kwami of Evolution, and Sass is the kwami of Intuition. They are bound together by the burden of time, forming a natural pair. Kwamis have a unique balance and understanding of one another."
I listened intently, my heart heavy with the weight of my secret. "But with people, it's so different," I murmured, tears staining my cheeks. "I long for true, genuine connections, for the freedom to be myself without hiding behind a mask. I want to share my secret with the ones I love, but it just can't and it hurts Tikki, it hurts so much"
I let out a heavy sigh, sinking into the plush cushions of my balcony lounge chair. The weight of my thoughts seemed unbearable as I gazed out into the clear blue sky. Lost in my own world, I was startled when the balcony door swung open, and Alya's voice pierced through the silence.
"Marinette, there you are!" Alya's voice carried a mix of concern and urgency as she stepped onto the balcony. Tikki fluttered nervously, seeking shelter within the confines of my hair, sensing the tension in the air. I turned to face Alya, my expression a blend of surprise and frustration.
"What are you doing here, Alya?!" My voice rang out, laced with frustration and confusion. The events of the past few days had left me feeling raw and vulnerable, and I longed for a moment of solitude. Yet here was my best friend, barging into my private space.
Alya's eyes softened, her concern evident as she took a step closer. "We came to check on you, girl. We've all been worried about you," she replied, her voice filled with genuine care and friendship.
A heavy sigh escaped my lips, my weariness evident as I slumped in my chair on the balcony. "Aw, look! It's just like a real house! Look, the roof even comes off!" Rose's excitement echoed in the air, reaching my ears with an unexpected pang of panic. My heart skipped a beat as I realized what she was referring to - the miniature house, I was creating for the Kwami’s to serve as somewhere they can be outside of the Miracle Box.
My heart raced as I leaped off the balcony, my feet carrying me swiftly into my room. The miniature house stood proudly on my desk, its presence a constant reminder of the hidden world I guarded so fiercely. With each hurried step, worry and protectiveness fueled my actions, propelling me closer to the source of my concern.
As I positioned myself between Rose and the delicate structure, a surge of urgency coursed through my veins. The weight of my words hung in the air, trembling with a mixture of concern and pleading. "Please, don't touch this," I implored, my voice quivering with an underlying fear.
But before I could prevent the inevitable, the roof of the miniature house slipped from Rose's grasp, crashing onto the floor in a cacophony of shattered secrets. The delicate pieces scattered across the room, a visual representation of the vulnerability that now lay exposed.
A pang of disappointment surged through me as Rose's apology reached my ears. "I'm so sorry, Marinette," she murmured, her voice tinged with regret. I couldn't help but feel a mix of frustration and sadness, the knowledge that my secret had been unintentionally laid bare.
"Can you please just leave?" My plea hung in the air, a delicate thread of weariness that seemed to dissipate into the tension-filled atmosphere. The weight of my emotions pressed upon me, threatening to drown me in a sea of turmoil.
But Alya stepped forward, pushing Rose gently behind her. Her eyes met mine with unwavering determination. "Chill out, Marinette," she said, her voice steady and reassuring. "It's just a stupid dollhouse. We can totally help."
My patience, already frayed at the edges, threatened to snap as Alya's words fell upon my ears. The desire for solitude burned within me, an unyielding longing to escape the suffocating presence of well-intentioned intruders. I raised my voice, the frustration simmering beneath the surface now boiling over.
"Can you just go?!" I shouted, my words echoing with a mix of desperation and exasperation. "Can't you see? I want to be alone!"
Alya's expression softened, her concern etched onto her features. She took a step closer, her voice gentle yet firm. "Look, Marinette, we know something is wrong, and we are not leaving until you tell us what it is. We're here for you."
The room fell into a tense silence as Alya's words hung in the air. The weight of their presence tugged at my heart, a reminder that true friendship meant standing by each other's side, even in the face of uncertainty. I took a deep breath, realizing that shutting them out would only deepen the divide between us.
Just as I was about to speak, Mylène, usually soft-spoken, stepped forward. In her hand, she held a delicate bracelet, its surface adorned with intricate designs."Look, Marinette," Mylene interjected, her voice gentle yet firm as she stepped forward “Each of us told our secrets to this bracelet. It's your turn."
"The only thing wrong is that you guys are still in my room, even though I explicitly told you to get out!" I shouted, my voice laced with a mix of anger and desperation. Each word carried the weight of my frustration, echoing through the room as a testament to my shattered peace.
Alya reached out to me, her eyes filled with genuine concern. "Marinette, we're your friends," she said softly, her voice attempting to soothe the storm raging within me. "You can confide in us."
“Yeah marinette, we only want to be good friends to you. Real friends don’t let each other down!” Rose said with a smile on her face. A smile that felt like a stab to my heart.
A bitter laugh escaped my lips, laced with a mix of anger and frustration. I took a step back, my arms folding protectively across my chest, a barrier against the mounting tension in the room. The weight of past conflicts surged to the surface, fueling the fire of my resentment.
"Yeah, real friends don't ever let each other down, right?" I retorted, my voice dripping with venom. The bitterness in my words was a reflection of the wounds that still festered within me. "Oh, so now you want to be my friend, Rose? I distinctly remember you telling me, in Juleka's own house no less, that you couldn't stand a 'bully' like me. And Alya, let's not forget the New York incident. You haven't had a single concrete conversation with me since our fight. But now you suddenly want to say that you’re my friend?"
The room crackled with tension, the air thick with unspoken words and unresolved conflicts. Alya's determination matched my own as she took a step forward, her eyes narrowing with defiance. "Marinette, we're your friends," she shot back, her voice carrying a sharp edge. "But don't act like you're blameless in all of this. You've been distant, shutting us out. We've tried to reach out to you, but you keep pushing us away."
The anger within me roared to life, drowning out any sense of reason or understanding. The walls I had erected around myself fortified my position, shielding me from the vulnerability of self-reflection. I scoffed, my voice dripping with disdain. "Oh, so now it's all my fault? I'm the one who's been distant? Let's not forget how you've all hurt me, how you've all turned your back on me when I needed you the most! How the second Lila comes around all of you abandon me!"
My words hung in the air, a poison seeping into the cracks of our fractured friendship. The room felt smaller, suffocating under the weight of our escalating fight.
Alya's eyes blazed with a mix of hurt and defiance, her voice trembling with suppressed anger. "You think you're the only one hurting, Marinette? We've all made mistakes, but you're so focused on your own pain that you can't see how it's tearing us apart!"
Tears welled up in my eyes, a mixture of anger and sorrow. The walls I had constructed around my heart threatened to crumble, but my pride held strong. "Maybe we were never really friends to begin with," I spat, my voice laced with bitter resignation. "Maybe it's time we all moved on."
Alya, Mylene, Juleka, and Rose walked away, their backs turned to me, their expressions a mix of shock and disappointment. The weight of their abandonment settled upon me, a heavy burden that threatened to crush my spirit.
Alix lingered for a moment, her hesitation palpable. I could see the conflict in her eyes, the indecision playing out on her face. Her mouth opened and closed as if searching for the right words to say, but ultimately, she too turned away, her footsteps echoing with a sense of resignation.
The silence that followed their exit was deafening, a stark reminder of the void that now existed between us. The room felt emptier, the air thick with the remnants of shattered friendships. I couldn't help but feel a pang of regret, a gnawing ache in the depths of my soul.
“I had no choice Tikki, I had to do it.” The weight of my decision bore down on me, the cardboard house I had constructed now lay there tattered and broken. I stared at it, my heart breaking a little more with each passing moment. The Miracle Box, once housed within its walls, was now safely tucked away in the hideaway drawer, hidden from prying eyes.
Tikki hovered beside me, her presence a source of comfort in this moment of turmoil. "I know, Marinette," she whispered, her voice tinged with sadness and understanding. She had been with me through it all, my confidante and guide in the face of adversity.
A bitter smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I tried to find a silver lining amidst the wreckage. "At least now I won't have to lie anymore," I mused, the words laced with a mix of resignation and relief. "There'll be no one left to lie to."
But as the words left my lips, a pang of loneliness pierced through me. The realization that I had severed the bonds of friendship, willingly or not, left an ache in my heart. The thought of facing each day without the laughter, support, and camaraderie of my friends was a daunting prospect.
"And I won't have anyone trying to stab me in the back either," I added, my voice tinged with bitterness. The wounds inflicted by betrayal still fresh in my mind, I sought solace in the absence of potential harm. Yet, the emptiness that lingered in the wake of their departure felt like a void that could never be filled.
I took a deep breath, my gaze shifting to the hideaway drawer. It held the key to our secret, the source of our power and responsibility. The weight of its presence reminded me of the duty I carried and the sacrifices I had made. It was a burden I would bear alone, but one that I was determined to shoulder.
I'm not exactly happy with this but I think this is the best I can do. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this even if it's not my best. To Hattafan2593, I'm really sorry for this taking so long but also if it isn't what you hoped. Hopefully it isn't too bad but it gave me quite a bit of trouble. Never the less, thanks sending in a request.
Alya shook as she saw herself destroying Marinette's sketchpad on video. She had just been trying to avenge Lila as Marinette had stolen her designs and Lila had been so upset by it. She had been in tears and Alya knew that she couldn't let Marinette get away with stealing her designs. She thought Marinette would know better but apparently not. However, she had no idea that Lila had followed her in secret and filmed her. She had no idea that Lila would actually send the video to the group chat and claim that she had been shocked to see Alya do such a thing. She had no idea that she had outlived her usefulness to Lila. For the last few weeks, Alya had been acting more and more unhinged. She was constantly snapping at everyone and anyone because her blog was no longer popular. People had caught on that it was no longer the most useful blog about Ladybug and that it was basically tabloid trash, devoted to either fake interviews or trying to convince everyone that Ladynoir was the one true ship and that they were actually dating. Even someone as blind and dumb as Sabrina could see that Ladybug was dating the new Fox hero, not Chat Noir but Alya refused to admit she was wrong. It didn't help that a new blog had turned up. As far as Alya was concerned, this new blog was stealing her views and likes. It didn't occur to her that her viewers had gotten tired with her blog and she even blamed Marinette for it. She was convinced that Marinette was the owner of the blog. She wasn't. Alya blinked as the messages began to come through, knocking her out of her thoughts.
Radbitsk8r: What the actual hell?! @Foxwivwifi why did you destroy Marinette's work?!
Foxwivwifi: Because she deserved it! Lila was upset about Marinette stealing her designs! Right, @modelqueen?!
ModelQueen: I was upset that someone might have stolen them. I never said she actually had. I can't believe you actually destroy her work!
Alya frowned at Lila's response. She was sure Lila had claimed that Marinette had in fact stolen her designs but could it be she misheard her? No! She was certain that she had said Marinette had stolen her designs.
FoxwivWifi: No! You said you had seen her taking your designs!
ModelQueen: No, I said that I suspected that someone had taken my designs and that I happened to see Marinette near my locker! That is not the same as saying she stole from me!
Bubbleboy: Alya, that is not cool. I can understand taking a look at her sketchpad to see if she had taken Lila's design but you can't just destroy Marinette's things. That is a crime and you have no real solid proof.
FoxwivWifi: But Lila said she had! I was just trying to avenge her!
ModelQueen: No, I didn't!!
ModelQueen:... Oh my gosh!
Bubbleboy: Lila?
Mightyillustrator: Lila?
Pinky: Lila?
The Brain: Lila?
ModelQueen: All this time I thought Marinette was the bully but I think I was wrong...
FoxwivWifi: What do you mean?
ModelQueen: Marinette is normally a sweet girl. Everyone here has said it but she changed when I joined the school. I thought it's because she didn't like me but what if it's because she thinks I'm the bully because of you!
Foxwivwifi: WHAT?! What do you mean because of me?!
ModelQueen: You convinced her to stand up for herself against Chloe but you... well, you're not exactly nice, Alya! How do I know that you haven't actually been bitching about me to Marinette like you bitch about her to me?!
Foxwivwifi: What the hell, Lila?! I thought you were my friend! And I don't bitch about anyone!
ModelQueen: This is my point. As soon as anyone says anything you don't agree with, you jump at them and attack like a vicious dog. Is it any wonder that Marinette reacted the way she did to me with you as her friend? For all, I know you could have told her not to trust me and that I was just another chloe. And because she's your best friend, she would believe you. Also you did bitch about her! You literally said to me that she had zero talent and is a crazy stalker!
Foxwivwifi: You can't be serious!
Radbitsk8r: Lila isn't wrong. You've been nothing but trouble since you joined our school.
Pinky: Yes, you broke into Chloe's locker because you thought she was Ladybug
The Brain: Which I'm not. Anyone with a single brain cell would realize that considering I'm blonde and ladybug isn't.
Gentlegiant: What did I miss?
Gentlegiant: NM. Just read it all. I agree with Lila btw
Foxwivwifi: Seriously, Ivan?! What the hell?!
Gentlegiant: You snapped at Mylene six times this week alone. She was almost akumatized twice because of you!
Alya frowned as the rest of the class agreed with Lila about how she's an awful person. She wanted to crush her phone but that wasn't even the worst thing about it. The worst thing is Lila was convincing the class that she was the cause of Marinette's bad behavior and that she had convinced Marinette that Lila was evil. She couldn't believe that they believed her. She thought they knew her better but apparently, they didn't.
Foxwivwifi: I am not responsible for people been akumatized! If anything, they should know how to keep their emotions in check given that we have a manic who feeds on it!
The Brain: What the actual hell?
Gentlegiant: Well, we wouldn't have to keep them in check if you weren't a bully
Foxwivwifi: How the hell am I a bully?!
QuietArtist: you literally just proved it by what you said
Pinky: reasonswhyalyaisabully.doc
Pinky: The sketchbook incident is the most recent thing
Bakerbug: I see I have missed something...
ModelQueen: Oh Marinette! I am so sorry about your sketchpad!!
Bakerbug:...
Bakerbug: It's fine, Lila. It's not like you destroyed it...
Chat Between Lila and Marinette
Marinette: I know you set it up to have it destroyed...
Lila: Of course, I did
Marinette: And I know we're technically enemies but... this is going to sound really odd... thank you
Lila: Huh?! For what?!
Marinette: Showing me how toxic Alya and the class actually is. Don't get me wrong. We are not friends and we never will be but you showed me their true colors
Lila: hmm I see
Marinette: btw you won. I'm transferring schools and you're welcome to them
Lila: Oh well... we're not friends and I still hate you but... good luck for the future
Marinette: You too, Lila
~Akuma Class Chat~
Foxwivwifi: @Bakerbug Mari, she set me up! She's been lying this whole time!! I just googled everything and I'm so sorry!!
Fishboy: What the hell, Alya? You can't just accuse someone of lying because you got caught been a bully!!
GamerGeek: Alya, what you did was unnecessary and I calculate that Marinette has probably been acting out due to your toxic influence and attitude.
Foxwivwifi: I am not toxic!! @Bakerbug tell them!! You know Lila's been lying from the start!!
Bakerbug: Lila may have been lying but that does change that it was you who ripped up my sketchbook and honestly I agree with everyone here including Lila. You are a toxic person and I don't want to be friends with someone like that.
Alya stared at her phone in shock as Marinette literally used the very words she had said to her a week ago. She had told her she didn't want to be friends with a toxic person but she never thought that those words would come back to haunt her but apparently they did. However, it wasn't over yet.
Bakerbug: Not that I need to be. This Friday will be my last day at Dupont High. I'm moving to a different school. I would tell you guys where but I don't feel comfortable with that, especially with Alya's recent actions. Also... @Goldenboy I had the biggest crush on you for the longest time but after you gave me that frankly awful advice about the high road, it crashed and burned. There is no such thing as the high road and someone was been hurt. Me. I was been hurt. People who I thought knew me started to bully me. I can handle a lot but after today, I'm done. @ModelQueen Feel free to send that video to the headmaster
ModelQueen: Oh I think I will @Bakerbug good luck with the future
The Brain: Go be free @Bakerbug
Foxwivwifi: Marinette! Wait!!
~Bakerbug has been removed from this chat~
~Sometime Later~
Alya walked through the street with slumped shoulders. In the aftermath of the whole sketchbook incident, she had revealed to the class that Lila had been lying to them in an attempt to redeem herself in their eyes but unfortunately, Lila was a craftier fox then she was and dragged her down with her. The class actually forgave Lila before she left for Italy as while she had lied, she had never taken physical action against anyone. She simply planted the seeds but it was Alya who had watered them and let them grow. She had gone after Marinette herself. The girl who she boldly claimed to be her best friend yet it wasn't Lila who destroyed her sketchpad or tripped her up or called her a slag and spreaded nasty rumors about her. No, all Lila had done was mention a lie or two and they weren't even about Marinette. She had never directly said Marinette's name so she could have been talking about anyone but Alya had concluded it was Marinette. After all, who else could it be? Even with the stole designs lie. Lila had actually said that she thought someone had stolen her design. She never said Marinette had stolen her work or anything that could actually view the designer in the bad light. She had known that Alya would assume that it was Marinette but that didn't matter because Alya should have investigated it and found the truth. She should have done what an actual reporter did but instead she believed a liar that had no real evidence. She had been the one who had driven Marinette to give up and switch schools. She had destroyed her friendships. Lila may have started it but Alya was the one who continued it and she would never forgive herself for that. She would forever be punished for that both by herself and everyone else. She let out a sigh as she continued to walk. She felt alone. After all, this mess Nino broke up with her and she didn't really have any true friends in school. Sure, Adrien still tried to talk to her but she suspected that was because he was in a similar boat to her. Though not as bad. People were willing to forgive him. Probably because he was never really malicious with it. He really believed that she would be caught out. She guessed they could blame his father for that. As for Marinette... Well, Alya hadn't seen her neither had the majory of the class. In fact, the only person who had seen her was Juleka. No one else had nor tried. Well, they did try once but got turned away from the bakery. Tom and Sabine didn't exactly ban them but their discount was lifted permentally. Alya hadn't gone in the bakery since destroying the sketchpad. She was too afraid of what Sabine might do to her. She turned the corner and came to a stop as she saw a familiar person stood on the Pont des Arts.
"Marinette?" She stated to herself. The girl was staring dreamily at the Seine as she seemed to be waiting for someone. Alya wanted to run over to her and ask her how she was doing and how was her new school but before she could, someone else joined her. Marinette turned, causing Alya to no longer see her face.
"Luka!" Marinette called out before hugging the boy. He hugged back and smiled at her with a look of love. It made Alya feel guilty for pushing Adrienette. Adrien never looked at Marinette like that. The two chatted before taking a seat on the benches as Luka reached down to his bag.
"I got a gift for you," He stated, making Marinette look at him. "I'm sure you probably have one but..."
He handed her a gift bag, causing her to open it and take out an expensive looking sketchpad before she pulled out some pencils.
"I saw them and thought of you..." He admitted before she suddenly hugged him.
"Thank you so much!" She gasped, clearly happy. "But you didn't have to replace my old one. Alya destroyed it but I got a new one..."
"I know," Luka replied, gently placing his hand on hers as she looked at him. "But I wanted to. Think of it as a reminder. There are those who want to destroy you and there are those who want to watch you rise. I want to watch you rise and shine like the star you are,"
Marinette didn't stay anything. Instead, she pulled Luka closer to her and kissed him. He wrapped his arms around her as he kissed back, making Alya to decide to turn away. Marinette was happy again and the truth was out now... even if her best friendship got destroyed in the process...
------------------------------------------------
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I just realized today that there are other people who see what a bitch Marinette is and why did I never think to check the internet before now? I love it here! Yes she is a stalker and a creep. Alya is an enabler. And characters like Chloe and Adrien deserve more screen time because a show focused on them would have been so much more compelling. Minus any romance between the two.
I mean the series major plot is wrapped around Hawkmoth,who is Adrien's father. What better way to experience the villain than seeing him through the eyes of Adrien.
Marinette obviously can still be a character whose POV weighs heavily since a lot of minor plot is tied to her. But we don't idolize her. If this new Marinette in my own world were to maintain her current characterization she wouldn't be a bad guy because she's still Ladybug but she'd be a lot less beloved since I won't be handing out rewards for her shitty behavior. Lying,stealing,stalking. All that shit creepy girl.
I want to see Adrien's relationship with his father. Want to see the turmoil as he wishes for happier days and is given glimpses of those only to have Gabriel crush his hopes. I want to see how his father's treatment of him resulted in the way he is and how he acts. I want to see his friendship with Chloe. How they were so close then fell apart when Chloe chose the path to being her a person she believed her mother would love and loosing someone who liked her for who she was because of it. I want Chloe to keep her goddamn character development and reconnect with the only person who gives a flying fuck about her. I want her to teach Adrien not to be such a passive dum dum and actually stand up for himself when people like LadyBug or his father try to shut him down.
But nooooo. The writers give me creepy teen stalker girl with the perfect life who doesn't understand boundaries and never learns any lessons because everything goes her way.
Also headcannon. The only reason Marinette isn't suffering is because the LadyBug gives her goodluck on some astronomical levels. Like you can murder god and you'd still be beloved type shit.
I absolutely fell in love with @unmaskedagain‘s HBIC Marinette AU, and I thought maybe I should try to write something. Enjoy!
.
As soon as the words “We’re not friends anymore,“ were uttered, the entire courtyard went silent.
Marinette raised an eyebrow. “What?“
Chloé winced. She could tell Marinette was giving the reporter every chance to take back what she had said, but alas, the death wish had been cast. “I said we’re not friends anymore, Marinette!”
Marinette made a tutting noise and looked back at her lunch. “You’re sure you want this?”
“Why wouldn’t I? You actually hurt someone, Marinette! You hurt my friend.“ Alya spat, her voice getting softer and softer towards the end.
“Then I’m sorry, guys,“ Marinette said, her voice emotionless. “but you deserve what comes your way.“ And with that, she stood up and walked away, leaving the dumbfounded group to scramble for the meaning in her last few words.
“What does she mean what comes our way?“ Alix asked to nobody in particular.
“How am I supposed to know? I wasn’t even there!“
Chloé, still watching from afar, shook her head sadly. Under all the pink polka dots and flowers, there was a stone-cold killer.
- 👑 -
When Marinette just stood up and walked away, Alya was immediately confused. This wasn’t part of the plan!
They had expected Marinette to do something along the lines of beg for their forgiveness, or shower them in gifts to regain their favor! Not–whatever that was!
But as soon as they were about to go after her, the bell rang, so they walked back to class, muttering among themselves. But whenever Alya looked at the faces of the other students, all she saw was pity and loathing, with the occasional furtive glances.
And for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out why!
When they got back to the classroom, they decided to ask the one person who seemed to know–well–anything about their situation. And whyle they weren’t exactly happy with who it was, they had to talk to Chloé.
“You can’t be serious,“ Chloé said. “You’re that dense?“
“Hey, if all you’re going to do is mock us, we’ll leave.“ Alya threatened.
Chloé rolled her eyes. “Fine. The reason everyone hates you now is because you have literal targets on your back. Happy?”
“What?“ Max spluttered. “That makes no sense! Logically, we haven’t d–“
“Can it, robo-nerd. You know how in cheerleader movies, there re always the queens of the school?“
There was a murmuring of aggreement.
“Yeah, well, it’s not just in the movies, hon. Marinette’s been the head bitch in charge since sixth grade, and I guess she took pity on you and decided to be nice. She did a great job, too,“ Chloé added as an afterthought.
“But Marinette’s just…Marinette! She’s not like that!” Alya protested.
“You wanna know why I don’t like Dupain-Cheng? Because I’ve had to compete with her for the top spot for four years. And she’s won every single time.“ She turned on the group with a vicious smirk on her face. “But you…you’ve got it in for yourselves.“
Chloé flipped her hair and walked out, as it was evident no teacher would be showing up.
Alya and the rest were confused. On one hand…Marinette. On the other hand, Marinette. What were they to do?
Apologize? Nah.
- 👑 -
Marinette walked into the empty classroom with a cold expression on her face.
“Dupain-Cheng,“ she heard distinctly, from somewhere inside the dusty area. She flipped on the lights.
“Quit it, Chlo. You don’t have to pretend to hate me anymore.“ Chloé heaved a sign and flopped onto one of the tables.
“Good. It was exhausting pretending I was such a tyrant! Have any food to help me regain my energy?“
Marinette rolled her eyes and tossed a plastic baggie of macarons in Chloé’s direction. They hit her face and she gasped dramatically. “How could this have happened to someone as majestic as I?”
“So can I have the cookies back?“
“Not a chance.“ Chloé stuck out her tongue and started munching on the treats, shrugging when Marinette glared at her playfully. “What? You gave them to me.“
Marinette sighed and laid out a map of the school.
“Here’s the plan. First, we wait for them to think what you said was just a joke.“ She moved a group of variously colored pom-poms across the map, onto where Bustier’s class was.
“And since we transferred to a different class, they’ll have a false sense of security,“ Chloé finished, catching on. “And once they think they’re in the clear, we pick them off one by one.“
“Exactly!“ Marinette beamed. “Since we’re saving Lie-la for last, let’s start with the second-worst offender.“
“Adrien.“ they said simultaneously.
Marinette pulled a white pom-pom out of the group and placed it next to a pink one and a yellow one. “I’m thinking something involving Chat.”
“Maybe ‘Ladybug’ makes a public declaration of love for Marinette Dupain-Cheng?“ Chloé suggested, wiggling her eyebrows.
“No way, Chloé!“
Chloé made a humph noise and rested her head on the desk. “Then I got nothin’.”
“No, I was thinking something along the lines of a ‘hey, Chat, do you have that one person that you’ll hate forever and ever? Mine’s Adrien Agreste’ type of scenario.“
Chloé bolted up. “That just might work!”
Marinette pulled out a fluffy black pom-pom and a glittery gold one. “And you’re going to be there to witness it.”
Hi so basically I have read multiple saltfics and rants about alya, adrien etc.
And today I want to rant about alya decision and her credibility as a reporter
So really! chloe is labybug. Like what the heck in origins ladybug was seen rescuing chloe so how she came to that decision is beyond me
In ladybug when she was trying to be a detective it was clear that either marinette was lying or lila like lila accused marinette of pushing her down the stairs!! but noooo it's "innocent until proven guilty"
Jagged stone having a cat like come on anyone can prove otherwise with a single Google research.
She calls herself ladybug's biggest fan and later believes that she can cure diseases which are not because of akumas like if that was possible then what was the need of hospitals!!!!
Lila has just moved from Italy and is saying she is ladybug's best friend like even if ladybug is a best friend to a civillian in her superhero form she will absolutely tell them not to tell anyone but here lila is offering a interview firsthand on ladyblog which should have rung warning bells in alya mind cuz she is literally betraying ladybug's trust but she is more sorely focused on her blog and views.
Okay, this is it. I’ve been working on this story for over a week. It’s seventy pages and twenty thousand words. I basically wrote you a short story. Enjoy it. Review.
I’m not fond of Rom-Coms and rarely if ever watch Romantic movies. But there are a few that i’ve liked. So THROUGH OUT THIS i’ve sprinkled some of my favorite lines from my favorite romantic movies over the years. Some also came from tv shows. See if you can point them out.
This is Adrien-centered fic. It’s also slash.
Don’t you wish that people came with warning labels?
Adrien did. He wished more than anything because his life would be so much easier if everyone could see each other’s warning labels.
Bustier: Terrible teacher. Needs to please everyone. Hates confrontation.
Lila: Waring massive Liar, manipulative shrew.
His father: Workaholic, possible sociopath. Might be allergic to hugs and any affection whatsoever.
Adrien: A little needy. Emotionally scarred. Touch starved. Famous. Trust issues. Lacks some basic social skills. Probably going to be in therapy for the rest of his life. Likes to run around in a skintight leather bodysuit.
You know? The basics.
Okay, maybe that’s too much. Too personal. Fine. Whatever.
But at the very least, if he could meet someone and just know, you know?
Know that this is the one.
This is it.
This one.
They’re the one that’s gonna break your heart.
Adrien’s life would be so much easier if he could at least get that one warning.
Maybe he’d run the other way. But maybe he wouldn’t. Adrien had a terrible habit of always making the stupid choice.
Still, it would be nice to know before he gets into deep.
Before his heart isn’t just broken…
It's shattered beyond repair.
Iron’s Kid: When did you realize you weren’t like other guys?
Chat Galore: I was twelve. You?
The first time Adrien realized he might not be like other guys his age came AFTER he put on a magic ring and ran around Paris as a superhero in black spandex. And yes, that statement alone makes him realize how insane he sounds.
But in his defense…
Okay, there was no defense. He didn’t need to defend himself. There was nothing wrong with him. He knew that. There was nothing wrong with…
Iron’s Kid: Fourteen. And it took me completely by surprise. Like a bite in the neck.
Adrien always really liked his penpal. It had been Chloe’s idea. Adrien signed up when he was thirteen, anonymously, through a program at school and was given an American penpal the same age as him. The schools vetted all participants in the program for authenticity. They’ve never told each other their real names, never seen so much as a picture of one another, but still, Iron’s kid became one of the few people who knew him best.
The blond knew a lot about Iron’s Kid too. He even had a list.
Iron’s kid:
A year older than Adrien.
Huge geek like Adrien.
He was a guy.
He loved Legos
Said he had brown hair and eyes.
He was bisexual.
He was really funny.
Really smart. Like Genius smart.
He was an intern at Stark Industries.
He was a huge iron man fan and adored Spiderman a bit as any New Yorker did.
He loved superheroes and memes (like a lot) and stayed up late a lot.
He made as many puns as Adrien did as Chat Noir.
. They got along really well. They texted constantly. And, Iron’s Kid slowly became one of Adrien’s dearest friends. After the first year of being Penpals, Adrien asked if Iron’s Kid wanted to meet. The answer was no. Adrien asked Iron’s Kid at least once a year if they could meet up (or skype or trade pictures); the answer was always No. It was only after Adrien revealed that he was a supermodel, that Iron’s Kid revealed he had a famous face too and just wanted to be treated normally.
That did stop Adrien from still asking once a year. Iron’s Kid was one of the few people, outside of being Chat Noir that Adrien could just be himself with.
But unlike Iron’s Kid…
Honestly, Adrien always kind of knew, ya know?
He was always as into Harry Styles as Chloe was. Maybe a bit more.
When he binged watched Stranger Things with Marinette; he noticed Finn Wolfhard as much as the bluenette did.
Maybe, he noticed Kim’s biceps just a bit too much.
So he started to suspect early on.
He didn’t know for sure until…
Luka.
And that’s the worst (and craziest) part because knew Luka. He had been sort of, kind of, friends with the guitarist for quite some time. He had never even thought of the blue-haired boy like that.
Until one day, Adrien, Marinette, and Luka were playing video games after school. They were just laughing and chilling out like they always do. It was perfectly ordinary.
Then out of nowhere, Adrien noticed just how blue Luka’s eyes were. Then that was it. Suddenly the blond couldn’t help but think how cool Luka was, how funny he was, how artistic. And Adrien was really self-conscious. When Luka was in the same room as him, Adrien was hyper-aware of everything his own body was doing and everything he was saying.
It was like he existed outside it for a few seconds and was just watching the chaos.
How does my hair look?
Why did I JUST say that? No, don’t say that THAT’s even worse.
What is wrong with you?
Don’t stand like that! Who stands like that?
Does it look weird?
Am I being weird?
He totally thinks I’m weird.
Iron’s Kid: How could you NOT have seen Princess Bride?!!!!!?!!
Chat Galore: It doesn’t look like not my type of movie
Iron’s Kid: But you’ve seen the Labyrinth???!!! WTF
Chat Galore: It was my mom’s favorite movie!!! You haven’t seen vampire diaries yet!!!
Iron’s Kid: That is BESIDES the point. Princess Bride is a classic!!!!
Chat Galore: Oh just shut up
Iron’s Kid; As you wish.
Adrien slowly became a blushing, stuttering mess.
And he didn’t know how but somehow this was how Marinette figured it out what was going on.
“…You have a crush on Luka,” Marinette said slowly and quietly, one day after school as they sat in Marinette’s living room as if the words were as hard for her to get out as they were for him to hear.
The two had gotten closer as friends as a result of the Lila situation at school worsening. Once most of the class made it clear how quickly they were willing to drop Marinette for a shiny golden ticket; the blond and bluenette quickly washed their hands of the situation. They decided to let their ex-friends sink or swim on their own.
Adrien did not need fair-weather friends. Marinette was tired of being everyone’s doormat. They decided to sit in the back together and wait for the fireworks. Surprisingly, not long after Nino joined them. The glasses-wearing boy hadn’t cared if Lila was lying or not (though Adrien and Marinette would provide him with enough evidence to convince him later), he just knew that Marinette was his childhood friend and Adrien was his best friend. Nino trusted them, and sure wasn’t going to abandon them.
That was over a year ago. Marinette, Nino, and Adrien were best friends. Then the bluenette and the blond found out they were really Ladybug and Chat Noir effectively ending their crushes on each other. (Though Marinette took a bit longer)
“No!” Adrien said quickly. “I mean, I can’t, I, uh. I used to love Ladybug, remember!”
Marinette shrugged, “So? I dated Kagami for like three months last year, and I’d still wouldn’t say no to seven minutes in heaven with Luka. Or longer,” She smirked. “I used to like you. I’m bisexual; lots of people are.” She then tilted her head. “It’s okay if you like boys.”
Adrien glanced down shyly. At that point, He hadn’t thought too much about his sexuality. He always figured he was straight. It was the standard some people would say. But… Did he? Did he like-like other guys like that?
…He definitely liked Luka like that. But was it just Luka? Maybe Luka was special. And dreamy. And nice to look at. And he made Adrien’s stomach feel a little weird when he was around, “…I have a crush on Luka.”
“Everyone does,” Marinette nodded. “It’s a fact of life. He gets Kagami to blush. Chloe says he not completely awful. Hell, even Nino said, and I quote, ‘if I ever I had to pick a dude.’” She said but then her eyes widened as she looked at Adrien. “Wait! I just realized have you ever had a crush on a girl besides Ladybug? I never heard you talk about any. This is the first crush besides Ladybug.”
Adrien blinked and then blinked again. “I went out with Kagami once,” He offered, and then gave Marinette a playful glare. “Before you stole her away from me.”
“It’s not stealing if she practically jumped into my arms,” Marinette defended with a laugh. “Don’t hate the playa!”
The blond snorted.
“I mean, what did you like about Ladybug?” Marinette asked. “Not me! Not now. But before you knew that I was Ladybug. What did you like about her?”
Adrien bit his lip as he thought, “She was always fun to be around. When I was with her I never had to worry, you know? I could do what I wanted, say what I wanted. There was no pressure or anything. I was just me… but more. And I liked that. It was easy being around her.”
Marinette nodded, “Ladybug used to be the only one you could be free around,” She said. “As Chat Noir, you never had to censor yourself for fear of what your father would do. It was freedom. A type of freedom you always wanted; to be wild and carefree. You got to do that whenever you are Chat Noir, and whenever you were Chat Noir, Ladybug was there. Did you ever… you might’ve… I think you,” She sighed. “…Adrien, I don’t think you ever loved Ladybug. I think you loved how you got to feel when she was around. You might have equated the two.”
It went quiet as Adrien thought about what his friend said. It helped that his crush had been long gone so he could view it without the bias he used to have. And yeah, the more he thought about it, the more he realized Marinette was right. Adrien had been more infatuated with the fun and freedom of being a superhero, being Chat Noir that he ever was with Ladybug.
He also comprehended that His crush had ended it rather instantly the second he found out who was behind the mask. Marinette was amazing; the girl of most guys’ dreams. Yet Adrien just didn’t see her like that. He didn’t have romantic feelings for her. It was then he realized that no matter who was behind the mask, what girl, Adrien wouldn’t have been happy. “She wasn’t real to me,” He admitted. “Not really. Ladybug was this unattainable dream. Anything was possible with her. I got to think up outlandish fantasies all the time of what our future could be and nothing was too extreme or impossible. The second she became real, the fantasy ended, and… I didn’t want her anymore; not like that.” He told Marinette. “Don’t get me wrong, I love you! You’re practically my sister. You’re the best! But… It is strange, I know.”
Marinette shook her head, “It’s not!” She would know better than most what it was like when the fantasy ended and you had faced reality. “We’re kids. Feelings are all haywire.”
“It’ll get easier.” He asked. “I mean it has to. Soon, right?”
“No!” Sabine, Marinette’s mom, called from the kitchen. “Try in about a decade. If you’re lucky!”
“Mama!” Marinette yelled as she face-palmed. “Private conversation.”
“In our very public family room,” Sabine sassed back. “Adrien, honey, besides Luka, have you ever thought about any boys like that?”
Marinette just sighed.
Adrien turned bright red. He had more or less been adopted by the Dupain-chengs, and he was still getting used to having an involved parent. “I, uh, like Kim’s arms.”
“Who doesn’t?” Marinette asked. “Drool-worthy.”
“Harry Styles,” Adrien offered. “I like his face.” The bluenette snorted, earning herself a face full of the pillow. “Oh, you are so helpful!” After that, they erupted into a pillow fight.
Chat Galore: I’m late
Iron’s Kid: For what?
Chat Galore: Reality.
Iron’s Kid: Oooh someone’s feeling deep today. What’s up?
Chat Galore: I’m
Adrien paused writing.
Iron’s Kid: You’re…
Iron’s kid: Chat? You still there?
Chat Galore: I’m gay.
Chat Galore: You’re the first person I’ve told.
Iron’s Kid: I’m honored. And proud of you man.
Chat Galore: TY!!
Iron’s Kid: So who made you realize you were finally into Luka?
Chat Galore: …I hate you. GO AWAY!
Iron’s Kid: As you wish.
It took another month, and a lot of introspection but Adrien finally came to terms with it, and while getting ice cream with his friends, he said, “So, yeah, I’m gay.”
“And the sky’s blue,” Chloe shrugged.
Marinette elbowed, “That’s not how we’re supposed to react.”
The blonde huffed, “What? We’re supposed to pretend to be surprised. I’ve known him since we were in diapers. I was there through OUR One Direction phase. We were just little kids but just because he blocked it out or whatever doesn’t mean I forgot he called dips on marrying Harry.”
“All good, dude,” Nino told Adrien. “Still my boy.” He told him. “Does this mean you’re finally gonna ask out Luka?”
“NINO!” Marinette groaned. “I didn’t tell them. I swear!”
“What?” Nino licked his ice cream. “It was obvious Sunshine digs Luka.”
Adrien’s froze. “…How obvious?” Dread slowly crept onto his face.
His friends quickly went to assure him.
“It’s barely noticeable!” Marinette said.
“Everyone wants Luka; he probably doesn’t even realize it at this point!” Went, Nino.
“It’s not as obvious as the crush Marinette had on you!”
“Chloe! Seriously?!”
“What!”
Chat Galore: My friends suck as much as you!
Iron’s kid: Ahh, they call you out on the Luka thing too?
Chat Galore: Fuck off
Iron’s Kid: lol
Iron’s Kid: As you wish.
Adrien just groaned, seriously wishing the earth would just swallow him up. It was official all of his friends were completely awful.
Not long after he came out to his father, Nathalie, and Gorilla. His father barely blinked twice and told him not to make a fool of himself. Nathalie scheduled when he’ll announce it officially on twitter. Gorilla at least hugged him.
Lila attempted to convince the class that Adrien was just confused and hiding his feelings for her. But even that was a bit too much to buy. Instead, the class shot the Italian girl pitying looks for being in love with an unreachable guy. Lila seethed with fury as what she thought was her ticket to fame and fortune going up in flame.
Pretty much everything stayed normal though. There were no big fireworks. Adrien never confessed to Luka about his crush; instead joined his dozens of other admirers in mooning from a distance.
Adrien was fine with that. He wasn’t looking for anything for his life to radically change. Or to completely lose his mind over some guy (though he did come close with Luka). In fact, he was rather happy if that never happened.
But since when does he ever get what he wants?
Iron’s Kid: If you could punch anyone in the face, who would it be?
Chat Galore: What did Flash do now?
Chat Galore: And the answer’s: Lila. But Marinette has dips. And then Chloe. Then Kagami for some reason. I’m also after Nino, which doesn’t seem fair.
Chat Galore: …There’s a line to punch Lila.
Iron’s Kid: lol.
Iron’s Kid: Flash embarrassed me in front of Liz. He got everyone at this party chanting the stupid nickname he gave me.
Chat Galore: What a jerk? I vote revenge!
Iron’s Kid: What happened to the high road?
Chat Galore: It went nowhere. Time to light someone’s car on fire now.
Chat Galore: OOOOHHH!!!! Get MJ to put a porn virus on his computer! Let it hit during that school project you guys got next week.
Iron’s Kid: You’re a cruel man. And you and MJ are never allowed meet!
Chat Galore: Lol
Iron’s Kid: I can’t do that. Revenge isn’t my thing. I wouldn’t even care if Liz wasn’t there.
Chat Galore: You really like her, huh?
Iron’s Kid: Yeah I do
Adrien grinned at his phone. Iron had fallen hard for Liz a while back, and it was the cutest thing when he gushed over her. Plus it gave the blond some relief to know that there was someone as bad as him when it came to romance.
Iron’s Kid: So my dads suck
Chat Galore: We should start a club!
Iron’s kid: Lol.
Chat Galore: Your dad or your pops?
Iron’s Kid: Both. They totally freaked out on me! They’re so overprotective it is insane.
Chat Galore: Been there. Am there.
Iron’s Kid: Me and dad totally got into it. He thinks I’m reckless and stupid. Like I don’t know what I’m doing. I just wish he’d trust me
Chat Galore: Stop treating you like you’re a little kid?
Iron’s Kid: Exactly!!!!! I can do this! I know I can! If he just trusts me!
Iron’s Kid: Instead I’m grounded.
Chat Galore: What are you going to do?
Iron’s Kid: Whatever I have to!
Chat Galore: just be safe, ok? I don’t know what’s going on. And I know you can’t tell me. But just Be. Careful. I’d miss you.
Iron’s Kid: I’d miss you too.
Chat Galore: Goodnight!!
Iron’s Kid: As you wish.
It was Christmas. Adrien was staying with Marinette’s family while his father was away on business and avoiding all things happiness. Marinette told him that her Uncle was coming. Her dad’s great uncle from New York. He broke up with his boyfriend not too long ago and wanted to get out and see more of the world.
Adrien had expectations of what Marinette’s great uncle would look like – like any Uncle. Old, kind of fat, who made way to many dad jokes, and smelled like mothballs. And he definitely wore tacky clothes.
The guy who walked into the Dupain-Cheng home, following a laughing Tom Dupain, was NOT that guy!!
First of all, he was young; like two or three years older than Adrien and Marinette. He wore was pale with dark eyes and hair. He was dressed in all black and wore an old black leather bomber jacket. He was unnaturally handsome.
“Who is that?” Adrien hissed.
“My uncle,” Marinette said. “I told you he was coming.”
“How is that your great Uncle?”
Marinette shrugged, “Magic. Demigod. Prince of the Underworld. What can you do?” She said. “His name’s Nico.”
Adrien’s life was already so bizarre he didn’t even question the demigod part. All he could see what Nico. His mind turned to mush. “Boing!” He pointed.
“That’s my Uncle, Adrien,” Mariette reminded him
“Sweet! I would be your Aunt,” Adrien said. “Uncle. I don’t care. I’ll be whatever he wants me to be.”
Marinette laughed and got off the couch to greet the newcomer, “Uncle Nico!”
“Marinette!” Nico smiled as he hugged his niece. “I told you to call me Nico.”
“Uncle is a bit weird,” Marinette nodded in agreement as she let go.
As soon Nico let go, he found his arms full of again but this time by a blond, “Uncle Nico.”
“Adrien, right,” Nico said as he hugged the smaller boy, “I’m not your Uncle.”
“Even better!”
Marinette snorted and pulled her friend away.
Nico looked them up and down. “Aww, it’s good you two are still so close. I still got that picture your dad sent me of you two in Halloween costumes; Harry Potter and Ron Weasley.” He said. “Adorable. You two must have been, what eleven?” He shrugged and smiled at Adrien. “It’s been a while. You grew up gorgeous.” And then walked off to say hello to Sabine.
Adrien turned bright red and a big grin spread across his face.
Marinette crossed her arms, and gave him a serious look, “You are not going to be my Aunt.”
“I can’t hear you!” Adrien sang. “Buh dah Bu da da Da!”
“He’s almost eighteen; physically and mentally anyway!” Marinette said. “We’re fifteen.”
“Almost sixteen,” Adrien snapped quickly. “Which is practically seventeen. Which is a skip away from eighteen. Two plus Two, you know?”
Marinette rolled her eyes, “I know Two plus two equals four. But with your logic, two plus two is three with a wig on.”
He hissed at her.
Chat Galore: I think I found my Liz
Iron’s Kid: Someone Completely unattainable, and probably a bad idea?
Chat Galore: MJ or Ned?
Iron’s Kid: …
Chat Galore: Seriously? Give Iron back his phone!
Iron’s Kid:
Chat Galore: WAIT! What do you mean about Liz? What’s going on? Why is she a bad idea?
He would get a response an hour later. It was just after dark.
Iron’s Kid: Sorry! MJ took my phone!
Chat Galore: NP. What’s this about Liz?
Iron’s Kid: A good friend will ignore whatever MJ told you!
Chat Galore: A best friend’s gonna get answers out of you!
Adrien’s phone remained silent as he waited for Iron’s reply.
Iron’s Kid: ‘sigh’ Liz’s dad a supervillain. He tried to kill me.
Chat Galore: Shit. I’m sorry. Are you okay?
Iron’s Kid: It sucks. Liz’s dad in prison. She had to move.
Chat Galore: that blows
Iron’s Kid: Yep
Then Adrien did something daring; something he thought about doing before but just stops short of being brave enough.
He called Iron’s kid. It rang a few times before finally answering?
“Hello?”
“Iron’s kid?” Adrien whispered.
“Chat Galore?” Was said. “You called?”
“I thought you might need someone to talk to,” Adrien said. “Really talk to. It is fine if you don’t want to. I just thought…”
“No!” Was quickly said. “This is great. I mean, yeah. I’m cool with this if you are.”
They ended up talking to each other for hours like they always did. But this time it went on even longer; to the point where Adrien was genuinely surprised to see the sun starting to rise.
It was the first Adrien began to suspect he might be falling a little bit in love with Iron’s Kid.
It didn’t end there. As the weeks went on Iron Kid and Chat Galore kept texting and talking. Iron Kid was going through a hard time and Adrien just wanted to be there for him.
Iron’s Kid: It’s never been easy being me. I love my parents. But normal doesn’t exactly coincide with our last name
Chat Galore: It is like no one can look past it, right? They don’t see you, they see your name. It’s all they care about.
Iron’s kid: Exactly!!!!! Who I am doesn’t matter. Its who my dad is, who my pop’s is. Hell sometimes who my grandfather was, and he died way before I was even born. It’s not fair!
Chat Galore: And you never know if anyone likes you for you. Or if they just want something from you. Or from your dad. You just want people to see YOU for who you are!
Iron’s Kid: Makes it really hard to trust people. My parents always did their best to give me a normal life but
Iron’s Kid: it’s whatever I guess.
Chat Galore: It’s not whatever. And its okay to feel like this.
Iron’s Kid: It’s sometimes I feel a little lost. Or maybe just…
Iron’s Kid: I mean, I can be surrounded by a sea of people and still feel all alone. Like no one really knows me or sees me. Then I think of you. I think of talking to you. And I don’t feel so alone anymore.
Chat Galore: I see you.
Iron’s Kid: I see you too.
Then once more Adrien asked Iron’s Kid if he wanted to meet, even though he knew he’d be turned down. That was fine. Adrien would wait.
If Marinette thought it was over when the holidays ended, she was dead wrong. Nico got an apartment to stay in Paris and to spend time with his family.
And Adrien got used to his brain going all gooey when Nico was around. He always said goofy things; things that made him wish he’d never learned to speak in the first place. He read books that Nico casually mentioned just so they’d have something to talk about. He did ridiculous things try to get the older guy’s attention. And whenever, Nico asked the gang if anyone wanted to hang out, Adrien would be the first to shoot up and practically yell yes.
And all Adrien would get from Nico would be a placating smirk; the same type Nino would give his younger brothers’ when they did something outlandish to impress him.
The weird thing was when Adrien was going all googly-eyes at Nico, they got along really, really well. They both loved art and classic noir films like Gun For hire and Laura. The two once spent an entire afternoon in the museum just talking about the pieces, ignoring the whines of Marinette and Nino who got dragged along.
Still no matter what Adrien did Nico never took the hint to ask Adrien out. Or even hint that he was open to Adrien possibly asking him out.
His friends got used to Adrien sighing wistfully.
“Gods’ he so handsome, it makes my face hurt,” Adrien whined.
Marinette giggled, “You’re young, you’re dumb.”
“Just so we’re clear,” Chloe pointed a fork at him that still had a bit of salad on it, “That those are not necessarily correlated. You’re just an idiot.”
Nino leaned forward, “Bro, just ask him out!” He said with his mouth half full of pizza.
“I can’t do that!”
“Why not?” Marinette, Chloe, and Nino asked/yelled at him.
“What if he says no?” Adrien asked, because duh, why else wouldn’t he have asked Nico out already.
Chloe glared at him, “Then you look in the mirror and remind yourself that you’re the second hottest dude, around our age, in Paris?”
“Ahh, Luka’s first,” Marinette put in.
Nino raised his hand, “Just so we’re clear, I’m at least in the top ten, yeah?” Silence. “Guys? Top fifteen?” Nothing. “Top twenty?”
“Eehh,” Chloe offered as she flipped her hand side to side rapidly.
Nino grinned, “I’ll take it!”
It all came to a head during the Dupain-Cheng family game. Marinette invited Chloe, Nino, and Adrien, who had become Tom and Sabine’s additional adopted children, when Tom walked in, with Nico trailing behind him. “Family game night to the max!” Tom cheered.
Nico chuckled and gave everyone their hellos.
Marinette holding a hat on her lap, “Time to pick the games tonight: Mom, Chloe, and Nico’s turn to draw from the hat.
Sabine drew Uno.
Chloe drew Pictionary.
Nico drew dungeons and dragons which caused everyone in the room to groaned, “What?”
“That game always takes forever,” Nino whined.
Marinette flopped on the couch dramatically, “Mom’s always the dungeon master and she never lets us win. Dad always dies before anything good starts.”
“We always get frustrated,” Chloe added with an eye-roll. “And snap and try to kill each other!”
“In the game?” Nico asked.
Nino glared at his friends, “Not. Always. Marinette!” He called her out, and she had the decency to blush. “Some people walk with scars.”
“Mental and emotional ones,” Adrien winced. “Marinette.”
Chloe caught Nico’s confused look, and explained, “Marinette’s a bit competitive.”
“A bit!” Everyone else in the room said.
“Let’s just play!” Marinette gave them a playful glare.
Uno was fast. Marinette won, of course.
Pictionary resulted in tears. (Sabine was just as competitive as her daughter, and Tom was a bit sensitive.)
The Dungeons and Dragons came took hours. Tom died right away and was content to watch the show. The kids turned on each other by the second hour, and it took Nico’s taking leadership and forcing them all to work together to achieve victory, for the suffering to stop.
By the end, nearly everyone in the room was dead asleep, their characters long since dead, apart from Marinette, Sabine, Adrien, and Nico. Until the die was rolled for the final time and Marinette raised her tired arms in victory, “Finally. Six hours, friends came together on a harrowing quest; the longest game of my life. And we finally, finally won!”
Seconds after she was cuddled against her mother, both having fallen asleep.
Adrien gave them a sleepy smile from where he sat on the floor before every cell in his body suddenly felt like it was hit by lightning when he caught Nico’s dark eyes staring at him. It was then that Adrien realized that, with the others all asleep, this was the first time Nico and he were ever technically alone together.
Be cool, he thought. Just be cool, damn you.
It was all for naught as Nico got up off the couch and went to sit next to Adrien, who let out a small happy squeak.
“Let’s talk,” Nico told Adrien, who fought to stop his entire body from shaking. “We’re sort of friends, right?”
Adrien winced a little but nodded eagerly, “Yep, friends, totally. I’m happy being friends. Yeah, friendship!” He waved his fist around in a small cheer and died a little inside as soon as he did it.
Why am I such a loser, he asked himself.
“Can I tell you something?”
“Yes, sure,” Adrien said. “Anything. Whatever you want. You can ask me anything too. I’ll probably say yes. I’ll defiantly say yes. Yes!”
Nico just gave him a small smile, “When I was just about your age, maybe a bit younger, I had a crush on this older guy Percy. I was ten when I met him. He was fourteen, almost fifteen. In my eyes, he was all my dreams come to life; a real-life Greek demi-god hero. He fought monsters, saved lives. I had the biggest crush on him instantly,” He told Adrien. “Not that I knew it then. I was too young. I was from a completely different time where things like a man liking a man just were okay, or… Or Legal. I didn’t handle it well. Even worse after my sister died and wrongly placed at least part of the blame of unfairly on him. It took me a long time to realize I never hated him, I hated myself. I only stopped hating myself when I realized and accepted I was gay. And a little bit in love with Percy.”
Adrien had no idea where this was going but he listened intensely. He always enjoyed listening to Nico whenever he told tales about his life as a demigod.
“Still I ended up doing a lot of stupid things,” Nico said. “Just to get his attention, to help him; to get him to fall for me back. A lot of stupid things.” He chuckled. “When I found out he was Bi, I thought I had a chance. But I didn’t. I never would’ve. Percy just saw me as a brother. I was too young for him. Way too young. There was no way Percy could’ve ever seen me like that. I accepted that. I moved on. I got over him. I even admitted to him about my crush; after telling him that he wasn’t my type. Asshole fell down laughing.”
Adrien laughed a bit.
“We’re still friends,” Nico added. “Great friends actually. And I’m glad. Do you know why I’m telling you this?”
The blond frowned and suddenly found the game board very interesting. Because, yes he did know why Nico was telling him this.
“You know I’m too told for you, right?” Nico asked quietly as to not wake up the others.
“Yeah,” Adrien nodded slowly, his throat felt a little dry, and his eyes stung. “I know. I kind of always knew.” He glanced at the Dungeons and Dragons, and a strange sense of hope-filled him. The blond shot the older dark-haired boy a smirk, “But I’m playing the long game.”
Adrien tried to be hopeful about it. Or least pretend to but…
Chat Galore: I just got my heartbroken.
Iron’s Kid: That Douchebag. I knew that weird death kid was no good!
Chat Galore: He’s not that bad. He said I’m too young for him. I get he’s trying to be a good guy but…
Iron’s Kid: It still hurts.
Chat Galore: Yep
Iron’s Kid: I get that. How about we watch Star Wars and make fun of Kylo Ren, that’ll make you feel better!
Chat Galore: I’ve seen less teen angst in my high school. The dude has problems!
And that’s what they did. They texted each other while watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens; sending each other stupid memes and jokes. And Adrien felt a lot better by the end it of it.
Chat Galore: Thanks for this btw. I think I really need this.
Iron’s Kid: No Problem
Iron’s Kid: And for what it’s worth, I’d never turn you down.
Adrien stared at that message for an hour, mentally screaming. Because… What. The. Hell.
Chat Galore: Oh be quiet! Lol
Iron’s Kid: As you wish.
The next day, Adrien sent Iron’s Kid another request to meet. The answer was a simple: Not Yet. That was Fine. Adrien would wait.`
“You are not playing the long game, Adrien Agreste,” Chloe glared at him. “Do you hear me? I will not take this into my twenties.”
They had talked Adrien into ditching one of his many lessons and were hanging out downtown. Eating ice cream.
“But!”
“No!”
“I agree with her man,” Nino said, and Adrien gave him big green puppy dog eyes. “You can spend your life swooning over some guy. There’s other fish in the sea.”
“I don’t want fish,” Adrien complained. “I just someone to ride the Ferris Wheel with me!”
“Ferris Wheel?” Nino asked confused.
“Gay culture,” Chloe explained.
Marinette nodded, “We just mean that… You need to Get some more life skills. Learn how to talk to guys. Get cool!”
“I’m cool!” Adrien defended and was met with multiple snorts. “I am. I got my dad to let me have more freedom. I paint. I went to comic con last year. I ride the metro now. And I can talk guys. I’ve successfully learned how to be cool.”
Chloe smirked, “Okay, let's see how you react when you see him,” She looked over his shoulder. “Guy’s been checking you out since we got here.”
“I’m cool,” Adrien said as he casually glanced over his shoulder and saw just who was checking him out, he let out a series of nervous chuckles. And couldn’t stop.
The guy looked about his age, with dark hair and blue eyes, a jawline that was similar to ones Adrien’s had seen on Greek statues; and he had muscles, so many muscles. He sat on a park bench and was writing or sketching in a red notebook.
Nino shook his head, “Yeah you still need some lessons in cool.”
“Lesson one: go talk to him,” Chloe demanded.
Adrien’s eyes went wide, and he let out a squeak. “Nope! Can’t do it. Won’t do it!”
His friends shared a look, and Adrien suddenly fears for his life. He found himself all but pushed/carried over to the guy on the park bench. He struggled a bit. Suddenly when they got close enough, Adrien was pushed (By gleeful and vindictive looking Chloe, his official witch of an ex-best friend), right into park bench guy, who caught him at the last second. And Adrien found himself sitting in the lap of a virtual stranger.
“Hi?” Adrien offered weakly. “Me and my friends were just talking about you.”
The guy gave him a big smile, “I know,” He said. “I figured. I’m Jon.” He said with a southern American accent. “Jon Kent. And you can talk about me any time you want.”
“Adrien,” The blond laughed. “Adrien Agreste.”
“I like your laugh, Adrien.”
“I like your smile, Jon.”
Then Adrien’s phone started ringing. It was Nathalie and Adrien had to rush home. Mourning his chances of ever seeing Jon again. He was probably a tourist who’d be gone the next day, the blond figured.
Chat Galore: I have the worst luck with guys!
Iron’s Kid: I don’t know. I think you have better luck than you think.
Chat Galore: Lol. What’s up with you lately.
Iron’s Kid: Flash finally left me alone. All it took was a school field trip to my job. Suddenly I’m not a liar anymore!
Chat Galore: Oh I would’ve killed to his face, lol.
Iron’s Kid: It was basically the crying emoji.
Iron’s Kid: Oh yeah, I met this guy named Johnny; totally gorgeous, rides a motorcycle, and my dads’ hate him
Chat Galore: Last ones’s the best part, right?
Iron’s Kid: YES!!
The next morning Adrien and his friends were happily sitting in the back of the class. The other kids in the class ignored them as usual. Even Lila more or less pretended they didn’t exist. (Though she had been reluctant to let Adrien go and had made several attempts to get him under her thumb. Until Adrien got his dad to fire her under threat of dying his hair neon green, and wearing plaid, the one pattern his father hated above all others.)
They had entered a cold war with her. As long as she stopped trying to make their lives hell, they’d stop exposing trying to expose her.
Bustier was once again proving she had no control over her classroom as she struggled to teach a simple history lesson about the French Revolution. It didn’t make a lick of sense and Bustier tried way to hard to get the kids to relate on a personal level.
“History shows that bad things happen when you don’t know who you are,” Bustier said just as the classroom door opened and in walked two boys and a girl.
Adrien’s eyes went wide, and leaned over to Chloe, “Park bench guy!” He whispered.
“Foreign exchange students,” One of the boys said. He had dark hair, green eyes, olive skin, and a thoroughly unimpressed look on his handsome face. He wore a black turtle neck and slacks. “Damian Wayne, Gotham.”
“Lian Nguyen-Harper-Queen,” Said the girl. She had Auburn hair and gray eyes. Lian wore a pink headband, a pink cardigan over a white top and blue shorts.
“Hi I’m Jon Kent,” He said. Jon wore a red plaid shirt over a simple t-shirt and blue jeans. “I split my time between the Farm in Smallville and Metropolis.” He looked at the back of the classroom straight at Adrien. “And I’m happy to be here.”
Bustier nodded, “Welcome. Always happy to get new students! Let's find you some seats…” She looked around the room.
“OH! Damian can sit with me!” Lila waved her hand. “I’ll be happy to show him around.”
“Declined,” Damian simply said. “We’ll sit in the back.”
Alya leaned forward, “But Lila’s goes to Gotham and Metropolis all the time!” She said and didn’t notice the way Lila paled. She seemed to have forgotten Damian Wayne was apart of her many, many lies. “Damian, you showed her around last time she was there. You guys became such a good friend. She just wants to return the favor.”
Damian scoffed, “I’ve never seen this girl before in my life.”
Marinette smirked at Adrien, “You’re going to need to move. I have a new best friend.”
“Mean,” Adrien said. “But understandable. Still not moving.”
Jon and Damian sat in empty seats in front of Adrien and Marinette.
Jon turned around in his seat, “Hi.”
Adrien smiled shyly, “Hi.”
Then they just stared at each other.
Chloe let out a long-suffering sigh, “Oh this gonna be exhausting.”
Iron’s Kid: Best day EVER!!!
Chat Galore: SAME! What happened?
Iron’s Kid: Johnny asked me out!
Chat Galore: AWESOME!!!
Chat Galore: Park Bench Guy is in my class NOW!!!
Iron’s Kid: ‘High Five’ Maybe fate DOESN’T hate us.
Chat Galore: …
Chat Galore: …I swear to the Gods if you jinxed us
The two guys in class quickly joined the Adrien’s friends’ group. They blended in seamlessly like they were always there as the weeks went on. Before anyone knew it, they were pretty much attached to hips. Even going as far as joining family game night.
Through them; Damian, Lian, and Jon were able to get all the information they needed to survive Paris. The three had heard whispers of Hawkmoth but had been a little shocked when the Akuma alert went off and everyone had to duck for cover. After the third or fourth time, the new kids got used to it and easily swallowed the excuses Marinette, Adrien, Chloe, and Nino made about having to run off and go home during alerts.
Around the same time as the fourth akuma of the new semester hit, three new heroes arrived in Paris.
Well, new wouldn’t necessarily be the right word. They weren’t new heroes, they were just new to Paris.
Robin, Superboy, and Arrowette. They assisted in fighting back akuma that turned people into candy; a toddler whose mother refused to buy him sweets. Afterward, they explained that they would be in the city for quite some time, and would assist when they are able.
They didn’t reveal why they were there though. All Robin said was, “Justice League business.” And the Parisian heroes decided to leave it at that after offering to help if needed.
Paris went nuts over the arrival of the new heroes.
Alya cried in class when she found out Ladybug gave Aurore the exclusive interview about what was going on. Ladybug also publically endorsed Bugout, Aurore’s website, as the only reliable main source for credible information on the Parisian heroes. She didn’t say a word about Ladyblog, which was pretty much all anyone needed to know what they had already expected.
Ladybug hadn’t given an exclusive on the Ladybug blog in almost two years but now it was official…
The Ladyblog was out. Alya was out.
Time went on. The kids grew closer as friends. Jon and Adrien got closer as… Well, Adrien didn’t know.
He did know that his dad despised Jon because of time he picked Adrien up wearing a green plaid shirt but Gabriel wouldn’t admit it. Jon was the son of famous reporters Lois Lane and Clark Kent, godson to Lex Luther. And Gabriel Agreste was anything but stupid.
“I miss my family,” Jon told Adrien one day while they were studying in the library. “All the time. But I guess also miss the pets I have.”
“I always wanted a dog,” Adrien said.
“In Smallville, I have twelve chickens,” Jon said. “Three horses, four pigs, two cows, and a dog.”
The blond nodded, “You win. Tell me about them.”
And Jon did. He told all about his life in Smallville and metropolis. And Adrien told him what it was like growing up in Paris and being a supermodel.
Adrien grinned, “I want to be a lawyer when I get older,” he told Jon. “I want to fight for people who can’t fight for themselves. Like I read about this law firm called Nelson and Murdock who take all these pro bono cases to help people who usually have no chance of winning against bigger, bad-er, and richer people. It gets really dangerous for them but they just keep helping. Because it’s the right thing to do. I want to do that too!”
“I think when I grow up…” Jon said slowly. “I want to be like my mom. She goes above and beyond to get her story; to find out what’s really going on in the world and reports it honestly. I want to do that too. I want to be an investigative journalist. I want to hunt down the truth. Because people deserve the truth, even if they don’t like it. I know the truth can be scary sometimes, and a bit sad. But They deserve to hear it. But I’ve probably said too much.” He laughed.
“No,” Adrien shook his head, and smiled, “Tell me more.”
Still the more their friendship and bonds of trust grew, the more Lila became frustrated. As far as she was concerned things just weren’t going her way. First, she lost her future as the world-famous fashion model Lila Rossi/Mrs. Adrien Agreste. Then Damian Waynes comes to town and won’t even look twice at her; too busy trailing after Miss Goody two-shoes. Then she finds out that Jon Kent is the son of Lois Lane and Clark Kent, godson of Lex Luther, only AFTER she privately threatened to make his life hell for siding with Marinette. She didn’t bother to try to get close to Lian Queen, granddaughter of Oliver Queen, the girl had been glaring at her since the second she heard Lila tell her first lie.
So instead of The Italian girl, once again, tried to sow dissension in the class, tried to force Damian to sit next to her; loudly bragged about her trips and famous people she knew to get attention. Damian ignored her. Then she tried making Marinette look bad again; lied about how the bluenette was bullying her. It didn’t work. Damian was quick to point out inconsistencies in her tales.
That didn’t stop the class from believing them.
“Morons,” Damian called them one day after school.
“They’re not that bad,” Marinette tried.
“They kinda are, dudette,” Nino said. “I really expected Alya to catch on by now. But it’s like she doesn’t want to.”
Chloe scoffed, “Of course she doesn’t!” The blond sneered. “She betrayed her best friend, ditched her best friend, broke up with her boyfriend, pretty much led the charge in exiling us, spread Lila’s lies on her blog which included Lies about Ladybug. It’s not just admitting she was wrong.”
“It’s having to deal with consequences,” Lian agreed. “That Alya got herself into this mess. If Marinette and all us aren’t the bad guys in this, that means she is. That’s a hard pill to swallow.”
Jon shook his head, “I don’t understand why Lila lies so much,” he said. “Dad’s always told me honesty is the best policy.”
“You’re a long way from the farm, boy scout,” Damian tsk’d.
“Damian,” Marinette sighed and grabbed the boy’s hand and pulled him away.
Adrien snickered, “Those two are so into each other, it’s not even funny!”
“I know,” Jon laughed in agreement. “I’ve never seen Damian be so nice to anyone before. I’ve known him since we were in the sandbox, and he just stopped calling me Kent last year.”
“Yeah…” Chloe drawled. “Watching two people dance around each other for months, neither making a move. It’s the worst.”
“Waiting for one of them to finally make a move,” Nino said, “Literally. Kill. You. Inside.”
Lian nodded, “They like each other. Everyone knows they like each other. And Yet nothing. And we'll have no choice but watch and wait for them to pull their heads out of their asses,” She told them. “When all you want to scream is: hey, you two! Just freaking kiss already!”
“Yep the absolute worst,” Nino repeated.
Then Lian, Chloe, and Nino stared blatantly at Jon and Adrien who merely shrugged.
“Damian will make a move soon,” Jon assured.
“I’ll try to get Marinette to say something,” Adrien promised.
“…I hate you,” Chloe said.
Adrien gave her another confused look. Because what did he do wrong now?
Chat Galore: Dude!
Iron’s Kid: Dude!
Chat Galore: I need Hufflepuff support now!
Iron’s Kid: …Crap, I never told you Pottermore sorted me into Gryffindor, did i?
Chat Galore: WHAT!
Chat Galore: Traitor. Never talk to me again
Iron’s Kid: As you wish.
“How do I look?” Marinette asked as she twirled around in the living room. She wore a soft pink dress. Her hair was down and slightly curved. She looked like a princess from a fairytale.
“Flawless,” Adrien said, for the tenth time. “Why am I here?”
Marinette narrowed her eyes at him, “Because!” She said. “You’re my bestie. I have my first real date. Chloe’s shopping with Lian. Nino won’t answer my calls. I need you here!”
“Take a deep breath, Mari!” Adrien told her. “You look absolutely beautiful. Damian’s already head over heels for you, and the way you look is gonna make his purpose.”
The bluenette blushed a lovely pink, “Shut up!”
The door opened, and in walked Nico, “Looking lovely, niece,” He said. “Big date tonight, huh?”
“Yes,” Marinette sighed dreamily. “He’ll be here soon.”
Nico smirked, “Good. Don’t worry, I’ll only threaten him a little.”
“Nico!”
The dark-haired boy chuckled before flopping down on the couch. “Hey, Adrien.”
Adrien felt his mind go a little mushy. He never quite got over his crush on the older boy. At least not yet.
The two still hung out every now and then, still always with Marinette. Nico frequently split his time between New York and Paris. So Adrien didn’t see him that often, though Nico had been around to wish Adrien a happy 16th birthday.
Adrien tried to play it cool, but ended up sitting in awkwardly in the recliner, “Hey Nico!” His voice squeaked, and once more Adrien wanted to die.
The doorbell rang.
Damian brought Marinette a dozen red roses, let himself be mildly threatened by Nico, endured the massive amount of pictures Tom and Sabine took and ignored Adrien’s snickering in the background. Then the two love birds were gone. Sabine and Tom went to go finish closing the bakery for the night. And then it was just Adrien and Nico.
“So,” Nico said as he put his feet on the couch. “What are you doing tonight, Blond Wonder? Any plans?”
Adrien shook his head, “Not really,” Jon was visiting his parents. Nino was watching his siblings. “I’ll just go home and watch Bleach. Or something.” Stuff his mouth with the hidden box of Oreos he had.
“Why don’t you hang out with me?” Nico offered. “The Maltese Falcon at the old theater on 3rd street. It’s your favorite right?”
Adrien nodded eagerly, “Me and my Mom used to watch it all the time.”
The two had a great time at the movie theater and ended up staying to watch another movie. They laughed. They ate lots of overpriced junk food. They talked. And Adrien finally managed to have a non-blushing, stammering, mind mushed, conversation with Nico. It was still just a bit awkward but it was not the cause of something either of them did.
At the end, Nico walked Adrien to the front door of his house.
“It’s weird,” Nico said, “But I kind of always forget how great it is hanging out with you.”
Adrien shrugged, “You’re not too bad yourself,” Then he smirked, “Though you’d probably be happier if you add some color to your wardrobe. Do own anything that’s not the color of sadness?”
Nico barked a laugh, “I am the son of Hades,” He defended himself. “It’s our aesthetic, okay. And we all can’t be made from rainbows and sunshine.”
“Excuses.”
The dark-haired boy shook his head, and smirked at Adrien, “This was fun. We should do it again sometime.” He said as he backed away.
“Yeah,” Adrien smiled. “Go to the beach, see what happens when you go out in the daylight. Even money, you burst into flames.
Nico chuckled as he turned around, “Goodnight, Sunshine.”
“Night, Twilight!”
“You’re dead to me!” Nico called back.
Ladybug and Chat Noir and the other Parisian heroes got used to the Three Justice League sidekicks appearing out of nowhere and assisting in battle. It had been strange at first; a little tense. Mostly due to Robin interrogating them every chance he got. Arrowette glaring menacingly at them. Even Superboy was a bit intimidating. Still, they never revealed why there in Paris.
During this time, Adrien and Jon became much better friends. And the blond started to suspect that Jon would prefer to just stay friends with him.
Iron’s Kid: Johnny and Me are over.
Chat Galore: Ouch. What happened?
Iron’s Kid: ‘Dramatic Sigh’ we’re just too different, you know?
Chat Galore: Different is not always bad. You really liked him, right?
Chat Galore: And did you actually type ‘Dramatic Sigh’, you dramatic bitch?
Iron’s Kid: I like that he was different at first. But we barely had anything in common. We were fire in and ice. Sure it is steamy at first but when the steam is gone…
Iron’s Kid: And yes I did
Chat Galore: You okay?
Iron’s Kid: I’m fine. I just realized I want someone I can talk to about everything and nothing.
Chat Galore: Someone to geek out over Star Trek with, and go to when you need a shoulder to lean on.
Iron’s Kid: Someone who’d stay up all night talking just because he wants to be there for me.
Chat Galore: Dating shouldn’t be this hard
Iron’s Kid: It’ll only get harder.
Chat Galore: Shut. Up.
Iron’s Kid: As you wish.
For Marinette’s sixteenth birthday, she had a party. It was much bigger than she wanted, but not smaller than her friends tried to make it. The bluenette was always there for them, and they wanted to remind her how special was.
However, for the first time, Adrien was pleased to say, he was not the one trying to overdue everything to the extreme. Chloe was pleased that she wasn’t the one making the party planner cry whenever she called them. Nino was pleased that he wasn’t the one to be overly critical of the musical entertainment for being just a bit subpar.
No! That was Damian Wayne.
And unlike Marinette’s best friends, Marinette’s boyfriend’s craziness could not be contained.
The party was huge. There were hundreds of balloons. Everyone was wearing fanciest party clothes. There were hundreds of balloons. Gourmet food. All of Marinette’s friends, close acquaintances, and anyone who loved and or adored her had shown up. Jagged had come. Cara Nightingale did a surprise performance.
Adrien had a blast. His friends found out that while the blond boy had lessons in practically everything, dance wasn’t one of them. He was a terrible dancer. Laughably bad. Still, everyone had fun. Nino danced in a giant glow in the dark dinosaur costume.
Then Marinette, Adrien, Nino, Chloe got on stage and sang Born to Brave from High School Musical: The Series. Damian, Jon, and Lian joined them. The crowd sang with. Bubbles filled the air. It was exhilarating.
So much so that Adrien stepped out to take a small break. He sat on a white wood bench outside, looking up at the stars, and let the cool brisk night air relax him. Even from where he sat, he could still hear music playing from the party.
“Needed a breather,” Jon asked as he sat down next to Adrien.
“Parties,” Adrien shrugged. “They can be a bit much.”
Jon shifted in his seat, “Yeah. Yeah, I guess.”
Then Blue eyes met green…
And then everything suddenly felt really the world was holdings breath. Adrien had no idea where the tension came from but it was there. And it was like he was waiting for some imaginary bubble to burst. And Adrien just… Ugh!
He glanced down at his hands, suddenly not knowing what to do with them. He was also intensely aware of every millimeter Jon so much as moved. In fact, Adrien was aware of everything, including how many times he was blinking.
“This kind of reminds me of how we met,” Adrien finally blurted.
Jon cast him a curious look but nodded, “Yeah, the park bench, right?”
“Mmhmm.”
There it went quiet.
“Why are parties a bit much?” Jon asked.
“Not all parties,” Adrien said. “Just the ones my dad usually drags me to. Everyone is always overly polite while giving backhanded compliments; they pretend to be nice but they don’t mean it. No one’s straight forward. I don’t know why it is so hard.”
“It’s not!” Jon turned to him. “Let’s try it now. Hi, I’m Jon and…” He took two plugs out of his ears, “…I wear earplugs because I can’t handle loud noises sometimes.”
Adrien chuckled, “Hi. I’m Adrien. And apparently, I’m a terrible dancer.”
“God Awful!”
“Hey!”
Jon laughed, “My little Pony is one my favorite shows.
“I once had an imaginary friend named Phineas!”
“I like fried broccoli!”
“I like fried Oreos.”
“You’re disgusting.”
“Oh because fried broccoli so much better.”
“Hey, being straight forward here!” Jon defended. “I like raining days over sunny.”
Adrien smiled, “I like you,” he took a deep breath. “Like really like you.” He glanced down and then back up at Jon and tried to be brave. “Like I the way I thought you might’ve used to like me but don’t anymore.”
“Really?” Jon asked looking just a bit stunned. “How very straight forward of you.”
Adrien stood up quickly, slightly panicked, “That’s it. That’s all I wanted to say. If you don’t like me anymore, I get it.” He said. “I… I just really wanted you to tell you. Even if you change your mind.”
“Adrien,” Jon said, standing up too, facing the blond. “I’ve never changed my mind.” Then he leaned forward and kissed Adrien. “I really like you too.”
Adrien and Jon held hands as they walked back into the party.
Later, after the party ended, Adrien would tell Marinette, Chloe, and Nino about his first kiss, and go partially death from Marinette and Chloe’s screams.
Chat Galore: You know what I like?
Chat Galore: Life!
Iron’s Kid: Things going good then?
Chat Galore: Jon kissed me. My grades are perfect. My dad’s letting me cut back on modeling.
Iron’s Kid: Awesome! You’ve need a break.
Chat Galore: We need a happy song!
Iron’s Kid: We. Do. Not.
Chat Galore: We need a happy song so when we can sing the happy song when we’re happy.
Iron’s Kid: We will never have a happy song.
Iron’s Kid: That’s more of a Hufflepuff thing
Chat Galore: I’d be offended if it wasn’t true!
Adrien’s life really was going great. He became good friends with Nico. Lila’s lies in the class were starting to unravel, and she was quickly losing her supporters. Jon and him were sort of, kind of, officially dating. The sun was shining. Rainbows were everywhere.
…He should’ve known it wouldn’t last forever.
Adrien got a 911 group text from Chloe; with like a dozen exclamation points and several frowny faces so he knew it was serious.
When he got to Chloe’s place, he found Marinette and Nino already waiting on the couch, while Chloe paced the floor. Adrien joined on the couch.
“Okay,” Marinette said. “We’re all here. What’s up? What’s the emergency?”
“They’re spies,” Chloe hissed, rage clear on her face. “Lian, Jon, Damian; they’ve been spying on us all this time.”
“What? Dude, no way!” Nino shook his head. “They’re our friends. Lian hates traitors!”
“Damian would never!” Marinette denied. “He loves me. I love him.”
Adrien agreed, “They’d never do that us. Jon couldn’t. He’s like the most honest kid ever.”
Chloe picked up a nearby face and smashed against the wall, “They’re two-faced lying little creeps.” She yelled. Though it was clear she was angry, they could also see the hurt clear in the blonde’s eyes.
“Chloe…” Marinette started slowly but was cut off.”
“Lian is Arrowette!” Chloe growled. “Jon’s Superboy. And I’ll give you one big fat guess who Damian is. And for the record he is not as wonderful as his nickname implies.”
Pollen flew out from wherever she was hiding, “It’s true!” She said. “I saw them myself. They are the American heroes.”
“Pollen followed them,” Chloe explained. “She saw everything. They’ve been following us. Reporting intel to the Justice League all about us. That’s why they’re here. That’s why they got close to us. They know we’re heroes!”
Horror and understandingly slowly crept over Nino, Marinette, and Adrien’s faces.
Pollen nodded eagerly, “They have reports all about your lives in and out of the mask. It's very detailed.”
Adrien was glad he was sitting down because he felt like the floor has disappeared under his feet. Shakily, he stood up, “I need too…” He shook his head. “I have too…” He couldn’t finish his sentence instead he just ran from the room.
And kept running and running.
Until he found himself standing in front of the apartment where Jon, Lian, and Damian lived. He stared at the olive green door as if he didn’t recognize it. As if he hadn’t been there, in that same spot, standing in front of that door, a hundred times before.
He closed his eyes and he knocked.
Jon opened the door, “Adrien!” He had a large grin on his face that slowly disappeared when he saw the look on the blond boy’s face.
“Can I come in?”
“Sure, yeah!” Jon moved out of the way to let Adrien pass. “Is everything okay?”
Adrien walked into the living room and saw Damian and Lian sitting on the couch, “Go see Marinette,” He ordered Damian. “If you want any chance of saving your relationship, if you ever really loved her like you said you; you will go see Her. Right. Now.”
That was all Damian needed to here to fly out of the room.
Adrien turned to Lian, “I need to speak with Jon alone, please,” He said as politely as possible. “I would suggest going to go speak with Nino and Chloe.”
Lian frowned but nodded and left the room.
“Adrien, what’s going on?” Jon asked again. “You’re scaring me.”
Adrien let out a shorter bitter laugh, “I’m going to ask you three questions, and I need to be honest with me, okay? Is your name Jon Kent?
“Yes,” Jon stated firmly. “Jonathan Kent Lane.”
“Are we friends?”
“Of course!”
Adrien nodded and swallowed the lump that was building in his throat, “Why did you really come to Paris?”
Jon frowned, “I’m here on a foreign exchange-” Adrien cut him off.
“Don’t lie to me, Superboy!”
The boy of Steel flinched back.
“Tell me it isn’t true!” Adrien all but begged. “Tell me you didn’t come here to spy on Chat Noir and Ladybug and everyone else. Tell me this wasn’t all a big lie. Tell me you weren’t using me for information. Tell me! Tell me wrong I’m, please.”
“Adrien…” Jon whispered, pain on his face. “I’m sorry.”
That was Adrien needed to here. “All this time. You… I thought… Was any of it real? Was anything you ever told me real? Do I even know you?” He asked. “
“The Justice League was concerned about Hawkmoth,” Jon tried to explain. “They received intelligence that Ladybug and Chat Noir were teenagers, and wanted to know more. They sent us.”
Adrien just stared at him, “I like you,” He said. “I really liked you. You were my friend, Did you do all just because you were ordered to?”
“No!” Jon nodded, “I swear. I’d never do that to you, to anyone.”
“But you thought it was okay to kiss me,” Adrien said “To date me! When I had no idea who you are really?”
Jon tossed his hands in the air, “You know who I am. Nothing’s changed. I’m still the same guy. I’m still me!”
“Everything’s changed!” Adrien yelled. “I’m questioning everything. Everything I’ve ever said to you, everything we ever did together!” His entire body shook. “You were sent to get close to us. You were sent to get close to me. To. Get. Information.”
It went quiet. Neither knowing what to say.
“…That day in the park,” Adrien whispered. “You were on the bench and Chloe thought you were checking me out. You weren’t, were you? You were watching me, us. Gathering intel. Weren’t you?”
Jon looked away, “…Yeah, I was.”
You knew I was Chat Noir even then?”
“I did.”
Adrien nodded, “It’s been a lie since the beginning,” He clenched his fists. “In the library, you told me that people deserve the truth. I believed in you. I trusted you. I told you things I’ve haven’t even told people who’ve known my entire life. Because I trusted you. I trusted you were honest and good and you would tell me the truth. Why didn’t I deserve the truth?”
He looked up at the mantle that was covered in pictures of people that Adrien knew as friends and family of Jon, Damian, and Lian, and at all of the pictures of Chloe, Nino, Adrien, and Marinette together with the three; laughing and smiling. And it hurt to look at it. “You’ve been here for almost a year. You three pretended to be our friends, to care, for almost a year.”
“It wasn’t pretend. Or a lie,” Jon looked ready to cry. “You are our friends!”
Adrien ran a hand through his hair, “Then Why? If we were your friends, why?”
Jon shrugged, “I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say. Everything was so complicated. We were never supposed to be here this long. It was our first big mission. The first mission JL trusted us to handle alone. I could give you a thousand excuses but I know they wouldn’t be good enough.”
“They wouldn’t be,” Adrien agreed. “They aren’t. They never will be.”
It went silent again. Jon and Adrien just stared at each other.
“You weren’t sent to get close us,” Adrien repeated. “Not just learn about Hawkmoth. But you were specifically sent to get close us; learn who we are as heroes and as civilians. Hawkmoth was a bonus. But you were sent for Ladybug and Chat Noir and Queen Bee and Carapace. Right?”
Jon looked down, away from Adrien’s soul-piercing gaze, and admitted, “You were the mission.”
Adrien closed his eyes, stood up straight, and with every ounce of control he could muster, he calmly said, “Goodbye, Jon.”
“I never meant to hurt you,” Jon said.
“That doesn’t really matter, because, in the end, it all hurts the same,” Adrien replied and left.
For the next few hours, Jon saying, “You were the mission,” Kept echoing in Adrien’s head on a loop.
Not long after leaving Jon’s place, Adrien would find himself in Marinette’s room, letting the bluenette cry her eyes out into his shoulder, shedding his own tears too. Chloe would arrive next with bloodshot eyes, and cuddle next to them. Nino, just after her, looking like a wreck and would take the spot next to Adrien.
It would be hours before they’d calm themselves down. But it wouldn’t be until the next day that any of them managed to ask what they should next.
Chloe spitefully suggested kicking them out of Paris.
Nino agreed halfheartedly.
Adrien was fine with just ignoring them. At least he hoped that he could. He would try really, really hard to.
Marinette didn’t say a word. Instead, she just let them talk with a faraway look on her face.
In the end, it wouldn’t matter.
By Monday, Jon, Damian, and Lian would be gone. Bustier would announce that the exchange program ended.
And Adrien would find himself frequently staring at Jon’s empty seat.
Chat Galore: So it turns out… Jon’s a big jerk
Chat Galore: He wasn’t who I thought he was.
Chat Galore: It’s complicated but to summarize he’s a jerk.
Iron’s Kid: Screw Prince Charming if he turned out to be a warty, jerky frog.
Iron’s Kid: You deserve better.
Chat Galore: To quote Gabriella Montez: Now I know you're not a fairy tale And dreams were meant for sleeping And wishes on a star Just don't come true
Iron’s Kid: Crap, you're quoting high school musical. You're really hurting, aren’t you.
Iron’s Kids: Want to watch shitty Disney Channel movies and talk?
Chat Galore: …Yes.
Three months, two weeks, six days, nine hours, and twelve minutes. That was how long it took for Adrien to move on. For all of them to move on from the sense of betrayal.
Iron’s Kid: YOU STILL HAVEN’T WATCHED PRINCESS BRIDE
Chat Galore: It doesn’t seem like that good of a movie
Iron’s Kid: ‘Insulted Gasp’ How. Dare. YOU!
Chat Galore: You still have watched Vampire Diaries!
Iron’s Kid: I have taste!
It took almost three weeks for Chloe to stop growling whenever someone mentioned Damian, Jon, or Lian’s name.
Iron’s Kid: I might need to hide out in Paris for a while
Chat Galore: Did you blow up your dad’s lab again?
Iron’s Kid: Worse!
Chat Galore: You superglue legos to your Pop’s shield again.
Iron’s Kid: That was an accident. They were supposed to come right off. And it's worse.
Chat Galore: Melt another hole in your living room floor?
Iron’s Kid: So. SO much worse.
Chat Galore: You didn’t call Natasha fat did you?
Iron’s Kid: Never that bad
Iron’s Kid: I may or may not have caused MJ’s laptop to crash
Chat Galore: … Shit
Chat Galore: Not even the gods could save you.
A month for Marinette to not look like she wanted to cry when she thought about Damian.
Chat Galore: I’ve decided to learn to cook
Iron’s Kid: Sweet
Chat Galore: Just think One day you will try my cooking.
Iron’s Kid: Sorry, Can’t I’m on a new diet.
Chat Galore: WHAT DIET?
Iron’s Kid: Photosynthesis
Two months for Nino to redownload all the songs he deleted because Lian recommended them.
Iron’s Kid: Archie is one of my best friends
Chat Galore: *doing the Fortnite dance*
Iron’s Kid: I lied I don’t know you
Three months for Adrien to be able to sit in the park and not think about Jon.
Iron’s Kid: I think are MJ and Shure are laughing at me
Chat Galore: Don't be so paranoid
Iron’s Kid: They're pointing at me and laughing.
In the fourth month, things are pretty much the same as they ever were. Though everyone picked up the habit of pretending they didn’t know Marinette started texting Damian again. Eventually, the gang was okay when Marinette announced she was seeing Damian again; even if they, themselves, decided not to deal with the American heroes.
Chat Galore: I really thought 2020 would be a great year!!!
Iron’s Kid: …WWIII was trending in the first week of January.
Time went on. Adrien went on dates, had fun, had a boyfriend or two. He grew up a bit, and kind of understood the position Jon had been in better. And then he wasn’t so angry. Still, a bit hurt though.
Iron’s Kid: I’m sending good vibes your way, they’re coming and there is nothing you can do to stop the
Chat Galore: that is the most threatening way I’ve ever been cheered up.
By the time summer hit, Adrien decided to take a step back from love and romance and just focus on himself. He finally told his dad his wanted to be a Lawyer, and to his surprise, his dad helped him get a summer internship at a prestigious law firm.
Chat Galore: I’ve decided if I kill Lila, I’ll make it look like an accident.
Chat Galore: Unlike Chloe who has plans to mount her head on the balcony like a warning to the next that may come
Iron’s Kid: How will you make it look like an accident?
Chat Galore: I have a crowbar and a banana.
Iron’s Kid: Quick request: Go look up accident in the dictionary.
He quit modeling because he never really liked it. He found out he liked to paint and was pretty good at it. He tried and failed to learn how to dance.
He did learn to surf.
Adrien hung out a lot with Nico, who had become a good friend.
By the time summer ended, the gang was back on speaking terms with Damian, Lian, and Job. Mostly at Marinette’s behest. She and Damian were going strong. And she really wanted everyone to forgive and forget and be friends.
Chloe just agreed to be civil.
Nino agreed to try being friends again after the three apologized.
Adrien, mostly out of love for his all but sister Marnette, put his best foot forward and start over with them – even Jon. They agreed to be friends. Just friends.
Iron’s Kid: I don’t have a nervous system.
Iron’s Kid: I am a nervous system.
Chat Galore: I’m a Scorpio!
Their final year of school started with a bang. Next year they would all be off at University. And by Bang, Adrien meant Alya knocking Lila the fuck out during the first week.
Lila had told the one lie Alya couldn’t just live in denial with.
“I told Ladybug, I just couldn’t do it anymore,” Lila sighed, “I already have so many medical issues. I couldn’t be Rene Rouge anymore. Ladybug was devasted.”
Then the entire class heard Lila scream, and the thing they knew Alya was on top of Lila beating the hell out of her, screaming, “You lying little WITCH!!”
Chat Galore: ‘Video Sent’
Iron’s Kid: Lila’s the girl on the floor right?
Chat Galore: Alya SNAPPED
Lila transferred out of the school Alya transferred out of class. No one got an apology. Adrien didn’t know why he was still a little surprised.
Outside of school, Adrien was pleased to say the gang’s friendship with Jon, Lian, and Damian was back to full force. Even Chloe greeted the three warmly.
Once Adrien decided to move passed any lingering romantic feelings for Jon, they managed to have a pretty good friendship. Even the Superboy and Chat Noir team-ups were going well.
Chat Galore: what should I be for Halloween this year?
Iron’s Kid: a vampire, Batman, my boyfriend, Superman
Adrien laughs until everything processed in his mind.
Chat Galore: What?
He didn’t get a reply. And Adrien figured it was just autocorrected. But still… his mind couldn’t help but wonder. Just a bit… What if?
A while ago, he had vaguely considered that maybe him and Iron’s Kid had something, could possibly be…
In the middle of Winter break, Adrien got the best gift he could’ve ever asked for.
Iron’s Kid: I’ve been thinking
Chat Galore: Well that can’t end well
Iron’s Kid: Have you and MJ been talking behind my back
Iron’s Kid: Wait don’t answer that. I’m afraid to know
Iron’s Kid: Ned made a point the today
Adrien waited for Iron’s Kid to elaborate more, because what?
Iron’s Kid: I’ve been stupid.
Chat Galore: Ned makes a good point, lol
Iron’s Kid: WHAT I’m TRYING TO say is; I trust you
Adrien smiled as his phone.
Iron’s Kid: We’ve been friends since we were like 11
Iron’s Kid: I want to meet
Iron’s Kid: I want to know what you look like.
Adrien agreed instantly. Because he’s been waiting for like six years. They agreed to meet up that spring. Iron’s Kid’s was going on a trip to Europe for his spring break. It was just going to be him and a few classmates who were in the same club as him. Iron’s Kid said everyone else in their grade was looking forward to the Big Senior Ski Trip at the Brown Bear Ski Lodge that happened every year.
Adrien had family in England. They would meet at six pm at the London’s Eye.
Chat Galore: I always figured you were secretly a werewolf and knew we’d automatically be enemies.
Iron’s Kid: Wait, why would we be enemies?
Iron’s Kid: Oh You’re a Cat!
Chat Galore: And You’re supposed to be a genius.
Iron’s Kid: Meow!
Adrien’s seventeenth birthday came and went without any fireworks; metaphorical ones anyway. His party was huge.
He also met the Justice League and got to watch Chloe cuss out the greatest heroes in the world for the invasion of privacy. Marinette, Adrien, and Nino just watched with smiles on their faces.
He was counting down the days. Until he and Iron’s Kid finally met. It was strange to think it was really going to happen.
Chat Galore: Would you say you’re an independent person?
Iron’s Kid: MJ told me to say to yes.
Chat Galore: Stop being weird.
Iron’s Kid: As you wish.
Adrien chuckled.
“What?” Marinette asked. He showed her the text. “It kind of funny.
“Not the Mj thing,” Adrien shook his head. “Iron’s Kid always says ‘As You wish’ whenever I tell him to do something. It’s weird.”
“…Like in Princess Bride,” Marinette asked.
Adrien shrugged, “Never seen it. It’s one of Iron’s favorite though. Irritates him that I refuse to watch it. But I won’t until he watches the Vampire Diaries.”
Marinette stared at him, “And Iron’s Kid says ‘As you Wish’ every time.”
“Yep.”
“Adrien, WATCH. THAT. MOVIE,” Marinette ordered a firm look on her face.
Adrien pointed at her, “No!” He said firmly. “It goes against my principles.” She shot him a curious look. “I have a duty to annoying Iron’s Kid in any way I can.”
The bluenette nodded understandingly, a small smile on her face, “Makes sense,” She said. “I totally accept your reasoning.”
Adrien smiled happily… Like a fool.
In retrospect, he should’ve known Marinette would never back down that easily.
And that was how he ended up literally hogtied on the couch, the Princess Bride playing on the TV, with a smug Chloe and a gleeful Marinette next to him. Nino watched from the recliner with an easy grin on his face.
“You’ve could’ve helped!” Adrien complained to his friend.
Nino shrugged, “I did help!” He defended. “…Them.”
Adrien sighed and allowed himself to watch the movie; he fully knows two things.
One; there was no way he was getting out of this
Two; Iron’s Kid was never going to let him live this down.
The movie was actually pretty good. But then…
The scene played…
Grandpa: Nothing gave Buttercup as much pleasure as ordering Westley around.
Buttercup: Farm boy, polish my horse's saddle. I want to see my face shining in it by morning.
Westley: As you wish.
Grandpa: "As you wish" was all he ever said to her.
Buttercup: Farm boy, fill these with water - please.
Westley: As you wish.
Grandpa: That day, she was amazed to discover that when he was saying "As you wish," what he meant was, "I love you." And even more amazing was the day she realized she truly loved him back.
Buttercup: Farm boy ... fetch me that pitcher.
Westley: As you wish.
Adrien’s mind went blank. His heart started beating faster than it ever had before. It couldn’t mean…
Iron’s kid didn’t mean…
Right?
But what if he did.
Adrien always sort of held a small torch for his penpal. And he never had any concrete evidence that said he felt the same. And he was waiting until he did.
But what if Iron’s Kid was waiting too. What if he was waiting for Adrien to finally say something; to finally get his message.
Chat Galore: So…
Iron’s Kid: So… Did we agree to stop sending cryptic messages
Chat Galore: We did not
Chat Galore: So I finally watched Princess Bride
Iron’s Kid: YES!!!!!!!!! Finally!!! Fuck yeah! Tell you me loved it.
Chat Galore: It was good, you freaking loser
Iron’s Kid: It’s amazing. It’s a classic you asshat
Chat Galore: Learned something interesting though
Chat Galore: ‘As you wish’, huh? You say a lot
Chat Galore: To me.
Adrien stared as his phone waiting for a reply. It came after ten minutes.
Iron’s Kid: I do.
Chat Galore: Does it mean what it's supposed to.
Another five minutes, and it felt agony.
Iron’s Kid: It does
Adrien screamed a little
Chat Galore: Are you seriously just going to give me two-word answers? Why didn’t just you tell me
Iron’s Kid: In a way I sort of did
Adrien glared at the phone.
Chat Galore: You are the most frustrating person to ever exist!!!!!!
Iron’s Kid: Thank you
Adrien took a deep breath before dialing, “You suck!” He said as soon as it answered.
“I told you to watch the movie,” Iron’s kid defended.
Adrien gripped his hair, “You don’t tell someone you love them by using some obscure 80s movie reference!” He snapped. “How hard would it be to say: Iron’s Kid, I’m pretty sure I’ve been in love with you since we were twelve-years-old.”
It went quiet as both processed what Adrien just said.
“…That’s oddly specific,” Iron’s kid whispered.
Adrien took a deep breath, “Yeah it is.” He said. He was forcing himself to be brave, braver than he ever had before. “But its how I feel. And I can’t help that.”
“I love you too,” Iron’s kid said. “And I’ve loved you since the first time stayed up talking while Binge-watching Harry Potter. It was the first time I realized you know me best in the entire world, and you don’t even know my real name. I could be honest with you in a way I can’t be with anyone. If I could dream up the perfect guy, he wouldn’t even come close to you.”
“Boys meets world,” Adrien let out a small laugh, that sounded a bit more like a sob. “Most of my life I felt alone, even when I was with people. That was until I met you.”
“Pretty little liars,” Iron’s Kid stated.
“In a few weeks, we’re finally gonna meet.”
“I’ll be there,” Iron’s kid said. “I swear.”
Adrien smiled, “Good because I’ve been waiting for six years. And I know this is scary, but I will be there. Don’t let me down.”
“I won’t,” He promised.
Valentine’s day came and went.
Adrien was literally marking off the days on the calendar. The trip was all planned already; Nino, Chloe, and Marinette were tagging along.
Iron’s Kid and Adrien talked every day.
“Okay if you sigh dreamily one more...” Nico teased.
“Ahh,” Nico nodded understandingly. “The mysterious penpal. It’s been what seven years?”\
“Six,” Adrien corrected. “Feels like twice that. We like each other,” He admitted. “Like really, really each other. We told each other a few weeks ago.’
Nico frowned, “Just before meeting each other. Sounds like a lot of pressure. You ready for that?”
The blond took a deep breath, “Yeah, I think so. It’s time. It’s going to be perfect. We’re gonna meet at London’s eyes, under the stars; it’ll be like a movie.”
“Your Ferris wheel moment,” Nico concluded. “Marinette told me,” The older boy explained. “Just… be careful okay.”
“I will be.”
Nico gave him a hard look, “I’m serious. I know you. You’re all in. You always are,” he said. “Just don’t build this some more than you should. Don’t go in thinking it’ll be this picture-perfect movie moment. I don’t want to see you let down.” He told Adrien. “You’re my friend. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Adrien gave him a small smile, “I don’t care if the Ferris wheel is broken when I get there. Or its raining cats and dogs. It’ll be perfect.”
“Just be careful,” Nico repeated.
The big day came. Adrien arrived in England on late Thursday with a stomach full of butterflies. Iron’s Kid had texted that he had been in London with his friends for a few days and that he couldn’t wait to see Adrien.
Iron’s Kid: I have brown hair. I’ll be wearing black slacks, and a rose lapel flower pin.
It wasn’t the first time the blond had been to England; he had more than a few photoshoots there. Yet somehow it all felt different. It all felt new. And it was like he was looking at everything again for the first time.
He was to meet Iron’s Kid on Saturday at 6 pm. And he could barely contain himself
He spent most of the Friday touring with his friends. They went to Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, The British Museum; standard tourist spots. And eating really, really British cuisine.
Adrien woke up bright and early on Saturday and pretty much had a panic attack. It took Nino twenty minutes to calm him down. However, even when he was breathing normally again, Adrien was adamant about running back to Paris. That was when Nino called in Marinette and Chloe as reinforcements.
“If I have to drag to London’s Eye by your tacky boyband haircut,” Chloe growled. “I will.”
Marinette tried the nice route, “Everything’s going to be fine,” She assured.
Chloe huffed, “I didn’t come all the way to London so you can be a little bitch.”
“You are so hostile,” Nino complained.
“What if this a mistake?” Adrien asked. “What if he’s disappointed? What if he takes one look at me, and is ‘You? I waited six years, and I get you. Waste of time.”
“That won’t happen!” Marinette said. “He’s gonna love you. He already does!”
Nino nodded, “Yeah. You two are practically soulmates.”
“No!” Chloe held up a finger. “Listen to me clearly, Adrien Agreste; Just because he likes the same nerdy crap you do doesn't mean he's your soul mate. And if it doesn’t work out, not that it won’t, you will be just fine.”
Marinette sighed, “No matter what happens everything is going to be okay.” She said firmly. “But you should really change that blazer. It’s not doing you any favors. Then we’re going to get breakfast and go to the museum. You have 11 hours until you have to be at the London’s eye. You’re going to relax until.”
“While we stop you from fleeing the country,” Nino yawned tiredly.
That had to stop Adrien at least three times. One time Ladybug actually had appeared to pick Adrien up when he was halfway to the airport. This was all before one pm.
The blond boy managed to calm down after that. Then he went back to bursting with excitement. He was still afraid but he couldn’t let that stop him. Adrien has been waiting six years to meet Iron’s Kid, to meet Iron’s Kid.
He arrived at the London’s eye, half an hour before six. He wore a silver suit Marinette had designed for him.
Adrien took calming breaths. Marinette rolled her eyes as she fixed his tie, “See? This isn't so bad. You look amazing.”
“Are you kidding?” He gave her a nervous smile, “He traveled over three thousand miles to me. Any second now he's gonna get here, look at me and go, "Ha. Yeah, right, you're so not worth this.”
Marinette gave him a hard look, “Yes, you are.” She patted his chest. “Take a lot of pictures. Text if you need anything.”
And then she was gone.
Adrien texted Iron’s Kid.
Chat Galore: I’m here. Blond; silver suit.
The blond looked up at the London’s eyes, the biggest Ferris wheel had ever seen, and knew this was it. This was the moment Adrien had been waiting for. He smiled.
When six pm came, Adrien was practically bursting at the seams. He was literally shaking in excitement. He watched the people go by and held his breath every time he saw a guy his age with brown hair but would frown when he didn’t see the rose lapel pin.
Chat Galore: You here yet?
Six turned into seven. The sun had gone down. The stars were shining. Everything looked so perfect. Adrien was sure Iron’s Kid was on his way.
Chat Galore: If your running late it’s cool. I’ll wait.
Seven turned into eight. Adrien refused to give up hope. He would wait no matter how long it took.
Iron’s Kid was worth it.
Chat Galore: Still here.
Chat Galore: Did something come up?
Eight turned into nine. The London’s eye closed. People started leaving. Adrien texted his friends that he was fine.
He wasn’t feeling as hopeful as he did a few hours ago. But he’d wait.
Chat Galore: Still waiting.
Chat Galore: Well past feeling just a little pathetic.
Nine turned into ten. Hope kind of then.
Chat Galore: Still here. Still waiting.
Chat Galore: What happened?
Chat Galore: Just say something!
Ten turned to eleven. Adrien didn’t even know why he was still waiting.
Chat Galore: Anything! Please!
A quarter to midnight, Adrien finally got an answer.
Iron’s Kid: I’m sorry.
That was it. That was all he said.
Adrien got back to his hotel room a little after midnight; feeling numb. His throat burned a little. His eyes were a little red.
Nino greeted him with a big grin, “Back late, huh? Must’ve had a good time…” He trailed off when he saw the look on Adrien’s face. “Oh god, what happened?”
Adrien shoved his hands in his pockets, “He, uh, he never showed up,” he said and swallowed the lump that had been building in his throat. “It’s fine. I’m fine. It’s okay.” Adrien nodded. “I need to, I have to, uh. I got to the bathroom.” And then he fled into the bathroom, locking the door behind him; willing the world to just stop existing for just a few moments.
“Dude, it’s okay,” Nino said through the door. “I know this has to be rough. But you’ll get through it. I’m here. I called Chloe and Marinette, they’re on their way.”
Adrien didn’t say anything. He just wiped the tears off his face, and then gripped the bathroom sink.
“They’ll probably be banging on the door any sec,” Nino added. “Unless, Marinette’s trying to stop Chloe from committing murder,” He joked. “Which would be way rude by the way. I’d have liked an invitation. I thought our friendship was stronger.”
Adrien heard loud knocking and the sweet voice of Marinette asking where he was, and the furious voice of Chloe already talking about how she knew how t to hide a body.
The blond boy figured it was only a matter of time before Nino or Marinette convinced him to open up the door. Or Chloe broke it down.
However, surprisingly after twenty or so minutes of his friends pleading with him to open the door, the door would gently swing open to reveal Marinette kneeling with a lockpick set in her hands.
That got a smile out of Adrien. After all these years, the bluenette was still full of surprises.
Adrien spent the rest of the night letting his friends comfort him. They left England the next morning.
When they got back to Paris, and Adrien was back in the comfort of his room, he finally texted Iron’s Kid back.
Chat Galore: Why didn’t you show?
He’d wait for a reply all day but wouldn’t get one.
The next day, Adrien texted again.
Chat Galore: I’m not mad.
Chat Galore: I promise
Chat Galore: just a little hurt.
Again, he’d wait for a reply all day, but it didn’t come.
Though his friends tried to get him to talk about it, Adrien wouldn’t budge. He just couldn’t…
It just stung too much. It burned too much.
Chat Galore: I get it if you were afraid or something
Chat Galore: It’s okay.
And was the truth; it was fine.
He would be fine. Everything was good. It was okay.
Adrien would be fine.
That was what he told everyone.
Chat Galore: We can pretend this never happened if you want
Chat Galore: Just be friends.
Adrien still didn’t get a reply. That didn’t stop him from waiting for one. He figured Iron’s Kid was just embarrassed that he didn’t show or something. Everything would go back to normal after a few days.
Chat Galore: I’m going to see Onward. Heard its pretty good.
But a few days became a week. A week became two. Two weeks a became a month of radio silence. And a seed of worrying starting to grow in Adrien’s stomach. Nevertheless, Adrien wrote Iron’s Kid once a day. He refused to give up hope.
Adrien kept a smile on his face to stop his friends from being concerned. There was no reason to. He would be fine. It was okay. It wasn’t the first time he got his heart broken; probably would even be his last.
His days were split between studying and fight Hawkmoth. The villain was getting bolder and more desperate. Every Akuma seemed worse and stronger than the last. The kids got used to the feeling of always being dead on their feet.
Marinette finally decided they needed a break and ordered a family game night. She got the newly permanent heroes Luka, Kagami, and Aurore to cover for them.
Adrien tried to give all his attention to the monopoly game they played; laughed when he was supposed to. Tried to ignore that in the back of his mind, his attention was still a bit focused on his phone, and that fact that it's been a month since he heard from Iron’s Kid.
A month since London.
He barely even blinked twice when Marinette successfully bankrupted him, even though he was the first one out. Instead, as soon as the game got more intense, Adrien stuck away. He found himself on the roof the bakery, staring at the stars, clutching his phone in his hand.
Chat Galore: I’m running out of things to say
Chat Galore: Hard to have a one-sided conversation.
Chat Galore: I’m not even sure you’re reading this.
Chat Galore: Maybe I’ll just you send you movie quotes until you respond
Adrien looked back up at the stars and wished. He wished never agreed to meet Iron’s Kid. He wished he never told him he loved him. He wished he could take it all back because at least he’d still have his friend.
He wrapped his arms around himself. Adrien blinked back the tears that were building.
He heard the door open behind him and figured it was Chloe or Nino coming to check on him; whoever got kicked out of the game firsts. Because Marinette was going to win.
“Beautiful night,” A voice said. “Nothing quite like Paris in the springtime.”
Adrien cast a quick smile at Nico, “I always preferred it during Winter. A Snowy wonderland.” He went back to looking up at the stars.
“You know someday someone will walk into your life,” Nico said as he walked to stand next to the blond, “And make you realize why he never worked out with anyone else.”
“Go ahead,” Adrien laughed bitterly. “Tell me I told you so.”
Nico shrugged, ‘Iron’s Kid’s a kid. And an idiot.”
“Yeah,” The blond sobbed. “That doesn’t mean much coming from you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Nico crossed his arms.
“Nothing,” Adrien rolled his eyes. “I’m just tired… I'm so tired of falling for guys that don't fall back. It hurts.”
“Adrien, I…”
Adrien cut him off, “It’s the same thing every time. I’m all in, and they’re not. I’m the one left out in the cold. I’m waiting, looking like a total idiot. Because I was stupid enough to give all my heart when no one else ever does. So you wanna help me, Nico? Tell me what I do wrong.
“Nothing!” Nico gripped Adrien’s shoulders. “There is nothing wrong with you. You’re smart and talented. You’re caring and you’re funny. You look at this world like everything is possible, and you make me believe it too. You’re not the problem.”
“Tell me why I'm so easy to give up then,” The blond asked. “And maybe I can fix it”
“You’re asking the wrong guy, Sunshine,” Nico whispered, his forehead against Adrien’s, their lips inches apart. “There is no time or place or world, where it would ever be easy to give you up.”
Nico moved closer; so did Adrien…
“Hey!!” A voice called from downstairs. “New games starting. It’s Poker! Hurry your butts up!”
The two guys snapped back to reality and away from each other.
“You should go,” Nico said dryly, looking away from the other boy. “I’m going to stay here for a bit.”
“Nico…” Adrien said, looking a bit confused.
The older boy shook his head.
The blond nodded and started for the door.
“For what it’s worth,” Nico called. “He made the wrong choice.”.
A small smile spread over Adrien’s face, “I know.”
“I wonder what would’ve happened if we met when we were older,” Nico asked.
Adrien shrugged, “Someday we will be.”
“Long game?”
“Long game.”
He went back to the living room where everyone was waiting, with the cards and poker chips already dealt.
Adrien settled in the seat next to Marinette.
The bluenette shot him a concerned look, “You okay?”
“I’ll be…” Adrien sighed. “Eventually.”
The blond boy decided to chalk up whatever happened on the roof with Nico as… Just the two of them being caught in the moment. Emotions were high.
…That didn’t stop Adrien from smiling every time someone mentioned Nico’s name.
Chat Galore: Everything is possible.
Chat Galore: Even the impossible.
He still wrote Iron’s Kid once every day. Adrien didn’t say much. He just sent a movie quote he liked, just to let Iron’s Kid know he was still there. He was still waiting… if Iron’s Kid ever changed his mind.
Chat Galore: When you can’t look on the Brightside, I will sit with you in the dark.
A month became two.
Chat Galore: In the garden of memory, in the palace of Dreams, that is where you and I shall meet.
Two became three. They figured out who Hawkmoth was. The battle had been epic. Adrien’s father had hesitated when he realized Adrien was Chat Noir, long enough for Ladybug to make the killing shot.
Figuratively anyway.
Ladybug blasted Hawkmoth into a wall. The heroes banded together to remove his miraculous. Then they erased his memory. And then Natalie’s. Of any and all knowledge of magic permanently; defeating Hawkmoth once and for all.
As far as Gabriel knew he was just a recluse workaholic with what barely passed as a decent relationship with his only child.
Adrien was devastated to learn who his father really was. Even so when he discovered the reason behind Hawkmoth’s villainous pursuit; his comatose mother and learned from Fu there was no way to save her; not even with a wish.
The blond boy had long ago mourned his mother and moved on but that it didn’t hurt.
Emilie Agreste was officially declared dead and buried on a sunny Tuesday afternoon in the middle of Spring.
Chat Galore: Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it
Three months became four.
At this point, he knows Iron’s Kid’s never going to write him back. And that was okay. Adrien was okay.
People move on. And while Adrien would always wonder why Iron’s Kid never showed, he could live without knowing.
If anyone asked why he was still writing, Adrien would say he didn’t know.
But that was a lie.
He did know.
Iron’s Kid had been a really big part of his life, had been one greatest friend he ever had; had been his first love in a way.
So yes, Adrien knew exactly why he was still writing.
He could live without Iron’s Kid in his life but he couldn’t live without one thing.
Chat Galore: Here's looking at you kid
Adrien officially graduated from school. He was accepted into Columbia. He’d be living in New York. And so, would Chloe, Marinette, and Nino. They decided they wanted to stick together and keep being heroes.
Chloe would be going to Columbia with him to study business and public relations. Marinette would study business and fashion. Nino decided to dedicate his life to being the next great movie director. Adrien would study Law.
They decided to get two apartments across from each other like in F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Because that was pretty much all they knew about New York.
Damian would be attending Columbia; he was gearing up to take over Wayne Industries one day. Him and Marinette were still going strong. Lian would be going to Princeton, as Oliver Queen would be damned if his granddaughter went anywhere else. Jon would take a year off to explore the world before attending Metropolis University; he still wanted to Major in Journalism.
Damian kept hinting hard that the Titans, not the Teen Titans, were looking for new members. And as he was the current leader of the Titans, it was less of a hint and more like being actively headhunted by the most aggressive Robin to ever walk the earth.
It was official, they weren’t kids anymore.
Chat Galore: You know that place between sleep and awake where you’re always dreaming? That’s where I’ll always love you. That’s where I’ll be waiting.
They had a few months before they had to move completely to New York, and decided to do something special. Or rather Tom and Sabine did.
And mostly because they just wanted to see where their kids would be living from now on.
Sabine and Tom claimed to find this great deal on a ski resort near New York. Everyone was invited; Nico, Kagami, Luka, Aurore, Lian, Jon, and Damian.
They did the whole tourist thing, led by Nico who was excited his cousin would be living in the same city as him and explored the great New York City, and Tom and Sabine got to see the penthouses, Gabriel and Audrey had bought each their perspective children and were assured their kids would be living in a safe location.
Chat Galore: So maybe it won’t look like you thought it would in high school, but it’s important to remember that love is possible. Anything is possible. This is New York
The Brown Bear Ski Lodge was packed, apparently, some class from a school called Midtown had booked a trip at the same time they did. So the entire lodge was filled with graduating seniors, between the ages of seventeen and eighteen years old.
To say it was wild was an understatement. Sabine vocally wondered why the school though three chaperones to watch over an entire class of students were enough. Tom just comforted Mr. Harrison when he started to cry.
Adrien got to meet loads of kids his age, a few that would even be starting at Columbia the same time as the French kids. It turned out most of the kids from Midtown were insanely smart.
The blond boy ended up spraining his ankle while skiing and ended up spending most of the time on sitting on the lodge’s bay window watching nature and relaxing. He ended up sitting there long after nearly everyone else had gone off to bed.
“Having fun,” A boy his age asked, one of the few people left in the room. He was handsome with light brown hair and kind brown eyes.
“As close as I can get,” Adrien answered.
The brown-haired boy smiled, “Well if you get bored out of your mind, I got some movies on my tablet if you want to watch. I know some pretty good ones.”
“I’m good,” Adrien said. “You can join me if you want. I wouldn’t say no to company.”
The boy did, “Name’s Peter.”
“Adrien.”
“By your accent, I’m guessing your not with the Midtown group,” Peter asked. “Also, because I’m from the Midtown group.”
Adrien snorted, “France. I’ll be living full time in New York come autumn.”
“Is that right?” Peter looked excited by the news. “You’re gonna love it.”
“Yeah, and why’s that?”
And then Peter went on to tell Adrien all about the places and people he loved in New York. They talked for hours until morning rays hit them through the window.
Over the next week of the vacation, the two ended up finding themselves repeating that; talking and letting time disappear.
Chat Galore: I wish I knew how to quit you.
Adrien introduced Peter to Marinette, Chloe, Nino, and the others. Peter introduced him to his friends Michelle, Ned, and Gwen. Like Adrien and his friends, Peter and his friends were pretty much attached at the hip.
“He pissed me off, so I put a porn virus into his computer,” Michelle answered the Marinette’s question as to why a Eugene kept running from her.
Marinette and Adrien had decided to enjoy a nice cup of hot chocolate by the fire, only to be joined by Peter’s friends: Michelle and Ned. Another would’ve joined them but he scampered away the second he saw the girl.
“He deserved it,” Michelle added.
“He totally did,” The large Asian boy nodded in agreement. “But MJ you might’ve taken it too far when you made it happen during class.”
Marinette giggled. “Harsh!”
“No mercy, Ned!”
Adrien laughed until his brain processed what was said, “Wait, I thought your name was Michelle?”
Michelle and Ned froze like deer caught in the headlights.
“MJ’s my nickname,” Mj explained cooly. “And we should really be going…”
“Geniuses,” Adrien suddenly recalled; his mind finishing a calculation, he didn’t even realize he was trying to figure out. “Who goes to a school for super-smart kids. MJ, scary queen who could rule the universe,” He pointed at her. “Ned; loveable teddy bear nerd with a fixation on Legos. A bully named Eugene who I’m guessing goes by Flash.” He swallowed hard, and fixed hard green eyes on the two kids in front of him. “Did you take a class trip to Europe in Spring? Keep in mind I would really like you to say no.”
Ned and MJ paled.
“Ned and MJ,” Adrien repeated. “Iron’s Kid’s best friends…” He whispered. “Peter’s best friends. Peter is Iron’s Kid, isn’t he?”
MJ narrowed her eyes at him, “Chat Galore: Adrien Agreste.”
Adrien’s entire body froze. He tried to remain calm, “This can’t be happening.”
Marinette glared at them, “Your friends with Iron’s Kid!” She growled. “Peter is Iron’s Kid. What was he thinking? How could he just stand Adrien up? I’ll kill him!”
“I never told you my last name!” Adrien realized. “How did you?”
“We hacked into Peter’s phone a few months ago,” MJ shrugged. “And traced your Ip address.”
Adrien glared, “And Peter knew? When I got here, he knew who I was didn’t?” He accused. “He lied right to my face!”
“It’s complicated!” Ned looked at Adrien with wide eyes. “Yeah, he knew who you were when he saw you. He just wanted a do-over. It’s weird I know. I told him not to do it!”
MJ looked at Marinette, “You should kill him. It was a bitch move,” She said. “But if it means anything, he regrets not showing up at London’s eye.” This part she told Adrien.
“Like super regrets it!” Ned added. “You can’t beat him up half as much as he does himself.”
“I can try,” Marinette crossed her arms.
“He reads your texts every day,” Mj said.
Adrien stood up angrily, “Then why doesn’t he text back?” He demanded to know. “Why didn’t he show up at the London’s eye. I waited! I’ve been waiting!”
MJ shrugged, “I can’t answer that,” She said. “Only he can. I can only tell you he was stupid. And he overreacted. You deserve to hear everything from him.”
Ned nodded eagerly, “He really likes you. He nearly dropped dead when he saw you were here. Just let him explain!”
“No!” Adrien snapped. “I don’t want to see him. Ever.” He clenched his fists. “I… I just can’t.”
And he stumped away.
He went to his room and packed his bags. He was getting out of there. He was leaving he had nothing to say to Iron’s Kid. Or Peter. Or whoever he was.
There was a knock on his door.
“Go. Away!” Adrien snapped.
“I can’t do that!” It was Jon that surprisingly said that.
“Come in!” The door opened. “What do you want?” Adrien asked. “Sorry, I’m just a bit busy right now.”
Jon wore a red plaid shirt over a white t-shirt and blue jeans, “Don’t leave,” He told Adrien.
“I have to,” The blond said he snuffed his suitcase.
“You can’t!”
Adrien all but snarled, “Look you don’t understand. You don’t get it.” He said. “I have to leave.”
“Yeah I do,” Jon said and shut the door behind him. “Super hearing, remember? I know everything that’s going on. You can’t go, not like this.”
“Yes, I-” The blond started but was cut off.
Jon grabbed his shoulders and sat him on the bed, “You deserve an answer. You’ve been waiting for an answer,” He stated. “You deserve to know why he didn’t show up.”
“And why he decided to mess with me for the last week?!!”
“That I understand!” Jon said. “He wanted to start over. Second chances are hard to come by. And once upon a time, there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t have done for one.”
“And you think he deserves one?”
“Just talk to him,” Superboy said. “Or scream at him. Whatever.”
Adrien ran a hand through his hair, “I haven’t been waiting for an answer,” He admitted. “I would’ve liked one, but I wasn’t waiting for it.”
“You love him,” Jon said. “You did. Or do. I know. Because I remember how you used to look when he texted you. I know… Because you used to look like that around me.”
“Jon…”
“I saw you two together,” Jon said. “You’re good together. Leaving now would be a big mistake. I’m saying that as your friend. Meet him, talk to him. Even nothing happens. Or everything does.”
Adrien hid his face in his hands and groaned, “Even if it’s just to reject him?” He crossed his arms. “Wouldn’t it be better to just leave?”
“Not for you,” Jon shook his head. “Look, if you reject him now, he's gonna make it his life's mission to go out there and meet the most perfect, beautiful guy or girl in the world just to try and get over you. And he'll end up marrying this other person and spending the rest of his life with them. And you know, he'll tell himself that they're perfect and... He really must be happy, but they won't be you, you know? And that’s the worst thing that will happen.”
It went quiet.
“Follow your heart, Adrien,” Jon added. “It’s what you do best. And it’s the best thing about you.”
Then the boy of steel left.
And Adrien was alone with his thoughts.
Chat Galore: Relationships are messy and people’s feelings get hurt. Who needs it?
Adrien left. It wasn’t his finest moment and not his bravest. But he left. Because he wasn’t ready to see Peter. Not yet. He texted his friends and tom and Sabine that he was leaving and that he’d okay… eventually.
He’d go back to New York City, leave on the next flight out. He’d back to the big Apple two months later, move into his apartment with Nino, Marinette, and Chloe and start his life there.
Two weeks after that Chloe would get the opportunity of a lifetime, a PR internship for college credit at Stark Industries. The blonde girl invited them all to go on her tour with her; apparently, she was told she could bring friends.
Adrien would frown when he heard but not say anything. Peter wasn’t the only one with friends that could track an IP address.
It was time. No more running.
Stark Tower was everything, the kids all dreamed it would be. A scientist, futuristic wonderland. They oohhh’ed and awed. And Adrien tried to enjoy himself and keep his mouth closed.
Even when the most advanced elevator in the entire world “mysteriously” malfunctioned and took them to the very top floor; otherwise known as the place the Avengers lived.
“Sorry about that,” Tony Stark, himself, gave them his most charming grin when the doors opened and he was standing right there. “We’ll get that fixed right away.” He promised. “Come on kiddies, let me show you where the big kids play.”
He led them to the living room where Captain America was watching TV.
“Hey, babe!” Tony grinned. “This is Chloe, Pepper’s newest intern. Marinette, Nino, and… Adrien.”
“Tony…” Steve Roger gave his husband a chastising look.
“Cap…”
Adrien huffed and glared at the occupants in the room, “Cut the crap,” He ordered them, drawing surprised looks from his friends. “Where’s Peter?” He asked. “Iron’s Kid,” Tony smirked at the name. “Is Peter. Peter Stark-Rogers.”
His friends turned fierce glares at the Avengers.
“It’s a setup!” Chloe accused.
“Heroes are supposed, to be honest,” Marinette chided.
Nino crossed his arms, “What a letdown.”
“Where’s Peter?” Adrien asked again.
“He’s coming,” Tony said. “You three and my hotter than the sun husband come with me; I’ll show you the training room that you can use full time If Ladybug, Queen Bee, Carapace, and Chat Noir decides they wanted to ditch the Justice League and hang with the Major Leagues.”
His friends paled at the fact that Tony Stark and probably all the Avengers knew their superhero identities and followed Iron Man out of the room. Steve just sighed at his husband’s antics and follow him out.
Adrien crossed his arms and waited.
The elevator would ping, and five minutes later Peter would walk into the living room. They just at each other for a few moments.
“I’m sorry,” Peter finally said.
Adrien shook his head, “I don’t want your apologies. I came here… I waited here… for the same reason I’ve waited the last seven months,” He said. “I only waited to say goodbye.”
“Goodbye?” Peter gave him half a smile. “We’ve only just met.”
Adrien pointed him, “Don’t!” He said. “Don’t quote movies at me.” He snapped. “Why?” Adrien asked. “Why weren’t you there? How could you not be there?!”
“I was!” Peter said. “I was there. I saw you. I was terrified. And I left.”
“I was afraid too!” Adrien said. “The difference is I still showed up. I waited six years to meet you. And I waited at the London’s eye for almost seven hours, and you just left me. You blew me off.”
“I’m sorry!” Peter yelled. “I’m so sorry. It was the biggest mistake of my life.”
Adrien clenched his fists. “Why didn’t you write me back? Why did you pretend at the lodge?”
“I don’t know,” Peter admitted. “I really don’t. I don’t know what I was thinking. I just saw you and my mind just went blank. I thought it was like fate giving me a second chance. I didn’t do it right. I screw up. Again!”
“A second chance?” Adrien glared at him. “You think that was your second chance? No. Your second chance was I texted asking what happened. You got another chance every time I texted you. I texted you every day for six months. Those were your chances!” He yelled. “If it was over for you, you could have told me. Said something. But you left me in the dark. If you didn’t feel the same about me, you could’ve told me. I just wanted my friend back!”
“Adrien, I…”
“Why didn’t you write me back?” Adrien asked, tears burning in his eyes. “Why? It wasn’t over for me. Six months, that’s one hundred and eighty-two days. I wrote you one hundred and eighty-two times. I waited for you! It’s too late now. It’s over!”
Peter looked ready to cry, “I wrote you over three hundred emails. I have them saved on my computer I never sent them. I didn’t think they’d be enough. They’re still not enough. It’s wasn’t over for me. It’s still not over.”
“Why?” Adrien asked again. “Why didn’t Iron’s Kid show up? Why was he so afraid?”
Peter just looked at the blond boy for a moment, before taking a deep breath, “Iron’s Kid thinks about that moment every day. He used to think he didn’t show up because he was afraid of what would happen; that it wouldn’t work out. That he’d lose one his best friends.” He said. “That them being together would ruin everything. Because they were just kids; they were stupid and young. But that was just a lie he told himself because he was afraid. The truth is, He was at the London’s eye that night, he saw Chat Galore: the most perfect person he’d ever seen and got scared for a completely different reason.”
“Why?”
Peter stepped towards Adrien, “Once he figured that out, and he figured that out really quick but only when it was just too late, Iron’s Kid didn’t know what to do. Didn’t know what to say to make it right. So he said nothing. And it killed him every day. Iron’s Kid would give anything to go back to that night at the London’s eye, to back to that moment when they were supposed to meet. Before everything went wrong. Iron’s kid would tell Chat Galore everything he always wanted. But he couldn’t. Because doesn’t work like that. Instead, he was so sorry for what he had done.”
Adrien just listened.
“Because Iron’s Kid realized,” Peter said, “That he wasn’t afraid that night because he thought it wouldn’t work out; that Chat Galore wasn’t the one. He was absolutely terrified because he knew he was. And if Adrien could just give him one more chance. Just one more chance, he’d spend the rest of his making it up to him.”
“Peter…”
“I love you,” Peter said. “I’m totally and completely in love with you. And I don’t care if you think its too late. I’m telling you anyway. Because if I don’t, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life. Because I know in my heart, you’re the one for me.”
Adrien just sighed and looked away, wondering what he should do.
“I don’t what’s going to happen in the future,” Peter said. “I don’t if in the time I was an idiot if Jon or Nico or Luka,” He chuckled, and so did Adrien. “Won your heart. I just know… I may not be your first love, but I intend to be your last. However long it takes.”
A smile spread across Adrien’s face, “You watched it,” He said. “You finally watched the Vampire diaries. It only took you, what? Seven years.”
“Six and a half,” Peter corrected. “Sorry I made you wait.”
“I know,” Adrien nodded. “I need some time, okay. I need to get my head on straight. Before I decide anything.”
“I understand,” Peter agreed eagerly. “I get it. I’ll wait.”
Adrien would take two weeks to decide what he was feeling and what he wanted to do. And when the two weeks were over, he knew exactly what he wanted, and who he wanted. So he made a call.
And then ended up a Coney island, next to The Wonder Wheel, one of the most famous Ferris wheels in the world. He waited in line and happily got on the ride. The seats next to him were quickly filled by Marinette, Chloe, and Nino.
“Finally getting your Ferris wheel moment?” Nino asked as the ride started.
Adrien smiled, “Yeah. Except I wanted the people I love the most with me.”
“Awww,” Marinette hugged him. “We love you too.”
“That’s a dollar for the overly sentimental jar,” Chloe glared at him. “And no more rom-com for you.”
Adrien snorted.
The kids enjoyed the ride, and when it was over, and they got off, Marinette asked, “So you didn’t choose anyone?”
“Well…” He motioned to the guy waiting at the exit of the ride. “I wouldn’t say that. I’m done. No more waiting, no more long game, no more… anything. Its time I get a little more proactive.”
Chloe smirked, “About time. Get it, Agreste!”
“Just remember you have a roommate,” Nino smirked.
The three walked off to enjoy the rest of the amusement park.
Adrien smiled at them, and then smirked at the guy waiting for him, “Wait long?”