Adrien
He was cold. So cold. Why was it so cold in here? He opened his eyes, squinting into the dim room. Marinette was next to him, holding his hand. Her face was buried in her arms, and he relaxed a little, knowing she was alright. He could barely remember what happened. He was in his room. There was so much blood. And... hawkmoth. His stomach churned, and he closed his eyes again, his heart aching. His father had been hawkmoth. Grant was right. How could he have missed it? All those years, hunting him down, and he had been right under his nose? It meant his father had done those things. All of them. Acumatizing his friends, Paris, even stooping as low as going after children. He felt sick. Tears welled in his eyes again, and he hated himself for it. His father didn't deserve his tears. And yet, he found himself crying for him. For everything he had done. For all of the people he had hurt. For being so stupid, he couldn't see what was in front if his eyes the entire time. Hawkmoth was Gabriel. He tried to gently pry his hand from Marinette, using the other to wipe his face. He didn't want her to see him cry. Not for hawkmoth. Not for a man who had wanted nothing to do with him. She stirred, and her head shot up. He looked away in embarrassment, and she released his hand.
"Adrien?"
He wiped his eyes again, trying to force something, anything to come out of his mouth. But he couldn't. He had failed. He should have stopped the acuma, he should have known. He should have known who hawkmoth was, but he didn't.
"I'm so sorry."
She whispered, her voice cracking. She stood up, wrapping her arms around his neck, and he broke all over again. He had failed her, and she was apologizing to him.
"I didn't know."
He sobbed, burying his face in her shoulder. How could he have missed all of the signs? She held him tighter, and he wrapped his arm around her, pressing his face harder into her shoulder.
"I'm here."
"I didn't know."
He said it again, feeling like a broken record. But he didn't know what else to say. He should have known. Gabriel had done the exact same thing Marinette had done when he suspected she was Ladybug. He should have connected all of the dots, and there had been so many. She shifted onto the bed with him, and he sat up with her, keeping his face out of her view. Her shoulders shook with silent sobs, and he clung to her as if the ground was no longer beneath him. That's what it felt like anyway. His entire world had crumbled in an instant, and she was all that was left. His single lifeline.
"I'm sorry."
He whimpered, hearing a soft sob escape her lips. Nothing made sense anymore except for her. He knew her. He knew her secrets, and he prayed he knew all of them. He wouldn't be able to bear it if there was anything else, anything he didn't know. The difference between her and Gabriel, was that he knew Marinette wouldn't lie to him. Not after everything they had been through. Not now that hawkmoth, his father, was gone.
"It's not your fault."
Those words were a small amount of relief, but he didn't truly believe them. If he had paid more attention to his father, he would have known. Just like with Marinette. If he had paid more attention, he would have noticed the similarities between her and Ladybug.
"I'm not going anywhere."
She mumbled into his hair, and he realized it was her answer. When he had asked her not to leave him during their dance. He closed his eyes, sighing into her shirt. At least one person wasn't going to leave him. At least he had her, his lady by his side. She was his ray of neverending sunshine. And tonight, during the rain and the thunder, he had really needed the light.
*Graduation*
He looked up from the sink, staring at himself in the mirror. He had always secretly loathed this day. Because it meant everything he had come to love, was coming to an end. He took off his graduation cap, ruffling his hair. Alya and Nino were leaving Paris, Alya was heading to New York, for an internship at some reporting company. And Nino, well he wasn't going to let Alya go alone. And from what he said, New york had alot of DJ-ing opportunities. Chloe was going to follow her mother, wherever she went. Honestly, he figured it was for the best. Maybe if she and her mother spent some quality time together, they'd both turn out a little better. At least Marinette wasn't leaving. She could, if she wanted. Now that hawkmoth, or Gabriel was gone, she could go wherever she wanted. He closed his eyes, willing his nausea to ease off some. He didn't want to graduate. Not yet. There was still so much of the high school life that he hadn't gotten to experience.
"You almost done? The ceremony is about to begin."
Nino called from the doorway, and Adrien looked back into the mirror, putting his cap back on. He dreaded walking across that stage. Everyone in Paris knew about what his father had done, and he feared the pitying eyes he would receive. He was sick and tired of pity. He took a deep breath, marching back out into the hallway. Marinette was across the hall, leaning against the lockers and trapped in one of Alya's selfie storms. She offered him a smile, and he returned it. Since that night, she was the only person who hadn't looked at him with pity. Why, he didn't know, but he was grateful for it.
"Can I borrow my girlfriend?"
"Sharing is caring Adrien."
Alya chimed, and he chuckled, grabbing Marinette's hand.
"Maybe later."
Alya grinned at the both of them, before running off to get pictures with everyone else.
"You okay?"
Marinette asked once they were in private, and he sighed, pulling her against him. She immediately wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly. This he realized, was one of the things he loved about her. She knew what to say and when to say it. Lately he had needed nothing but her presence, and he was grateful she understood. She was quiet, and he kissed her forehead.
"I love you mi'lady."
She smirked, something he was slowly getting used to. He had seen it on Ladybug's face loads of times. But Marinette had rarely smirked at him.
"I love you too Kitty."
He didn't mind when she called him that anymore. Now that she knew his name, he didn't mind at all.
* * * * *
"Adrien Agreste."
He held his head high as he paced across the stage, taking his diploma and shaking hands with Mr. Damocles.
"It was an honor having you at our school Adrien."
"Thank you."
He smiled, his gaze wandering to the crowd. They had been told to please hold all applause until the end of the ceremony, but there was a small group, a couple in fact, who were cheering, loudly. He grinned, giving a small wave to Marinette's parents as he exited the stage. They had always made him feel welcome, and he was grateful for that. It almost made the absence of his father seem less important, though it still hurt. His father was now in prison, facing a list of charges. He deserved all of it, but it still hurt. He marched to the side of the field, waiting for everyone's names to be called. He stared at Marinette's back, watching her get up as her name was called. She marched across the stage, grinning proudly. He was proud of her too. She took her diploma and shook hands with the principal, smiling for the camera in front of the stage. Marinette jogged up to him, and he smiled, holding his arms out for her. She jumped into his embrace, laughing loudly. He held her tightly, so relieved. After catching... Gabriel, Marinette seemed to return to normal. She was happy again, without the stress of acumas or hawkmoth weighing heavy on her shoulders. He wished he could be that happy. She kissed him, and for a moment his thoughts melted like snow in the sun. His head spun from the intensity of the kiss, and she pulled away, grinning at him. He grinned back, momentarily forgetting his father's absence. Alya grabbed the two in a hug, squealing as she did.
"We're graduates!"
She whisper-shouted in excitement, and Adrien couldn't help but laugh. Nino soon joined them, giving Alya a big kiss. Adrien looked around at his class, at his family and his friends. These were the people that mattered. The people that cared about him. A song started playing, and all of the graduates lined up, his gaze falling back to Marinette. She was a few people behind him, and she grinned at him. He smiled, turning back to face the front. He sighed, marching across the field they were in. It was okay, to move on. He and Marinette could go to college together, and he could visit his friends whenever he wanted. Graduation didn't have to mean that everything was ending. This was a beginning. A beautiful beginning, with a beautiful girl. He glanced back as the line stopped, and everyone took off their graduation caps. He took a deep breath, locking eyes with Marinette. A whistle blew, and they all threw their caps into the sky. The sound of cheers and shouts erupted, and he felt Marinette grab his hand. He glanced at her, she was giggling as the caps rained back down on them, and he pulled her closer, leaning down and kissing her. New, beautiful beginnings.