Adrien
He stared through the windshield, glaring up at the building.
"Adrien... are you sure you don't want me to come with you?"
She asked, her hand on his thigh. He forced a smile, pulling her hand up and kissing the back of it.
"I need to do this on my own Mari."
"Okay. I'll be here if you need me."
He nodded, opening his door. Plagg started to follow, and Adrien held up his hand.
"I won't be long Plagg. Stay here with her."
His kwami pouted, and Adrien smiled, patting him on the head. He knew they were both worried, but it really was something he needed to handle alone. He closed his door, heading into the prison. Natalie had told him everything. From the start of hawkmoth, to her role, to what happened in America. She even told him about the body in the basement. He felt sick again, pushing himself forward. He had to do this. He walked through the metal detector, the only thing setting it off being his ring. He was waved through, and he stepped into the small room. He sat down at the table, nervously tapping his foot. He already knew what he had to say. Gabriel was led in, and sat down in front of him.
"It's good to see you're alright."
Adrien stared at him, trying not to glance down at the orange jumpsuit his father wore. He hated seeing him like this, but it was the right place for him to be. He couldn't be forgiven, not for the things he had done.
"Why?"
"Why? You're my son. I care ab-"
"Not that. You know what I meant."
Gabriel's face hardened some, and he looked down at Adrien's hand, where his ring was.
"I did it for your mother. I promised I would bring her back."
"Would she have wanted it to be like this? Being the reason everyone around her was in pain?"
His lips twitched, and he glared.
"It was the only way to get her out of that coma."
"She didn't have a pulse. She's dead."
Adrien said flatly, putting his hand under the table, to get his father to stop staring at his ring. He had mourned for his mother a long time ago, and he wished his father had been able to do the same.
"It doesn't matter. Because now you can keep my promise. You can bring her back. You just have to get Lad-"
"No."
Gabriel snapped his gaze up to his face, looking astonished.
"What?"
"No. I won't do that. I won't play god. She's gone. You need to move on."
Gabriel sat back, his glare tainted with tears.
"You'd turn your back on her?"
"She's gone. I won't bring her back. It's wrong, it's unnatural. I won't risk it. Using the miraculous like that is wrong, and it comes with a price, it always does."
"Price? This is your mother we're talking about. You owe everything to her! To me! I just wanted us to be a family again!"
His shouts echoed in the room, and the guard standing on the other side of the door started to open it, when Adrien shook his head at him. A long time ago that tone would have sent him cowering. But not now, not anymore.
"I'm not willing to pay that price. I just wanted my father. You should have grieved with me. I had to grow up without either of my parents because you were so obsessed with bringing her back. Natalie said you even set a building on fire, with people in it."
He fought to keep his tone controlled. His father was openly weeping now, the tears rolling down his face. He couldn't remember the last time he had seen him cry, and it was painful to watch.
"I did what I had to."
Adrien stood, glancing at the guard to let him know he was finished.
"I just came by to let you know I buried her. She didn't belong in the basement."
Gabriel looked horrified, standing up.
"You have to bring her back!"
He ignored him, stepping around the guard, heading for the hall.
"Adrien! Don't turn your back on me!"
He flinched, walking out into the hall, the door slamming behind him. He could hear his father screaming his name behind it, and he rushed down the hall. He couldn't listen to that. He burst through the doors, taking a gasp of fresh air. Marinette opened her car door, stepping out and looking at him.
"Are you okay?"
He couldn't answer, but he was. He was surprisingly okay, despite everything. He was in pain of course, but it wasn't overwhelming. It was just a small ache in his chest, that he knew time would lessen. He wished he had been there for his father, he wished he had been able to get him to grieve. Maybe things could have been different. But it didn't matter. He couldn't change the past. He looked at Marinette, a faint smile touching his lips. He was going to focus on his future. One he wanted, one that wasn't written out for him. One with no expectations from anyone.
* * * * *
He was half asleep, dozing in and out watching the movie. Marinette had her head on his chest, and it helped calm him. He had been staying at the bakery since he found out, he couldn't bring himself to stay at the mansion. A lot of good memories were tied to that place, but they were all tainted by hawkmoth, and the body of his mother beneath the floor. He was looking for a place to stay, because he knew he couldn't stay at the bakery forever, though it was appealing.
"Adrien?"
He flinched away from his thoughts, forcing his eyes open. He was so tired they actually burned.
"Yeah, Mari?"
"Did you know I was Ladybug from the beginning?"
There was something about her voice, something that made him sit up slightly. He tugged at one of her shoulders, forcing her to move so he could see her face. Her eyes were watery, and her lip quivered in the slightest way.
"Why are you crying?"
"Did you know the whole time?"
He furrowed his eyebrows, watching her. Was she worried that he was only with her because of Ladybug?
"Don't wound me bugaboo. Sure, I fell in love with Ladybug first, but I didn't know that she was you until Grant hinted at it. Then I started seeing all of the similarities."
"You weren't disappointed?"
God no. How could he have been?
"Of course not. I fell in love with the same girl, twice. It's actually kind of funny. When I found out you liked Adrien, everything clicked into place. That stutter, the clumsiness, even that raging blush you always wore."
He gently tapped her on the nose, earning another one of those blushes.
"I can't believe I didn't realize it before. Guess I am pretty clueless."
He grinned, and she giggled.
"I love you."
She murmered, and he pulled her up higher, kissing her gently.
"I love you too. And someday, I'm gonna marry you."
Her blush spread from her ears to her chest, and he laughed loudly. She scowled at him, burying her face in his neck. Yeah, he had gotten pretty lucky with her.
"I'm glad it was you princess. I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Me too."
She mumbled into his shirt, and he closed his eyes. He would marry her someday. She just didn't know how close someday was. He had already thought about rings, just hadn't gone to buy one yet. But he would. There was no way in hell he was going to let this girl slip through his fingers again. He was born to love her and that was fine with him. He wanted to make her happy, like she made him. She was his new beginning. She was his chance to have a normal, happy life.
"You two disgust me."
Plagg whined from somewhere in the room, and Adrien grinned.
"Just imagine what it'll be like when we actually get married Plagg."
Gagging sounds echoed in the room, and Tiki snickered soon after. Marinette leaned up and kissed him again, and he responded instantly. She hummed against his lips before pulling back, a grin on her face.
"Marry me."
He raised his eyebrows, and shook his head.
"Oh, absolutely not princess. I'm asking you."
She sat up, moving and straddling his waist.
"What makes you think I'll say yes?"
She crossed her arms, and he chuckled, his hands landing on her hips.
"Oh princess, I think you'll find I can be very... Purr-suasive."
She cringed, dramatically grasping at her heart.
"Dear god, not the puns. How will I be able to control myself? It's too sexy, too alluring. Why, my panties are already on fire, how could i-"
He flipped them over, playfully glaring at her.
"Yeah yeah I get it. I'm so attractive, and the puns make you want to ravish me, but I can't help it."
A blush dusted across her cheeks, and he watched with interest.
"Purrfectly a-cat-urate."
He grinned, leaning down and kissing her fiery cheeks.
"Careful, I may not be able to control myself."
He murmered, and he could see her inhale sharply, before exhaling slowly.
"Promises, promises."
He chuckled, tangling his hands in her hair and kissing her again. So much had happened lately. This, was one of the things he was glad had changed. His lady and his princess. His love and his light. Someone who would eventually be his wife. And in that moment, he wanted nothing to change.
Well, I suppose this is the end. I hope you enjoyed. I do have a couple more chapters to post, so look out for those. Thank you for reading.