Part Nine

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A single flower petal who drifted into my life.

The worst first impression ever. The girl who rejected me constantly as Ladybug. My emotions are so full, do they reach you? Can you feel them?

His thoughts interrupted, "Adrien." He jumped to his feet at the sight of his father in his room. "Father."

"It's been 6 months since your mother..." "Dad." He interrupted him, "Let's not ruin mom's memory with our selfish arguing." His dad raised an eyebrow, "You've matured since the last time I've seen you, son." He smiled and pulled his son into a hug, "I'm sorry, Adrien. I'm so sorry." His voice barely audible.

**

"The door is for you, Adrien." Nathalie says before walking away swiftly. He gets up out of bed as he sees Master Fu standing in front of the big doors to his house. "I think we should have a... chat..." Master Fu laughed at himself, way harder than he should have.

They walked to the park and sat down at a secluded bench. "It's been awhile hasn't it, Adrien?" Adrien kept his head down in shame, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I left. I didn't even give back the miraculous. I ignored all of you and Ladybug's calls. I made you both worry—" "That's not why I'm here."

He tilts his head at the old man. "I'm the one who dragged you into all this. Without even thinking about it, I dragged your family into it too. We all have personal lives, Adrien. But you're back. Although you did pretty bad at both of your comebacks." He again laughs way harder than he should. They both see Kagami and Marinette walking towards them. "So what one are you in love with?"

Adrien's mouth goes dry, "W-what?" "Oh come on, I'm old, I can recognize the love in your eyes. You're just begging for one of them to notice. Your hidden emotions. The you, you've never known. Well I'll see you later." Master Fu gets up with a stretch and leaves the boy with the two girls.

His eyes go straight to Marinette, it's not like that. I'm just feeling gratitude. Besides, she could never have feelings for me. I'm just her partner. Nothing more. His eyes met Marinette's.

**

They walked Kagami to her fencing practice and were left by themselves. She shook her head at him, "You look so happy for being a hero who lost." "I see, I hoped for a little better than a train wreck. I wasn't faking anything. I gave 100%. That's everything I got." He said laughing as she smiled at him. "Well, if that's your 100% you're lucky to have a partner who always put in 200%." She gives his hand a squeeze.

You said let's go on a journey. I have no idea what lies ahead. But we've taken the first steps. We're still in the middle of our journey. That's right, I'm a superhero, just like you. That's why I'm moving on.

"You've changed. I bet you found a reason to save people again." She smiled at him and he nodded. "Despite it being my first loss, I am still extremely happy." They walked next to the train tracks which light up of the passing of a train. Adrien took off running. "Hey, Adrien!" Marinette called chasing behind him. He let out a scream while running. That's right, I'm a superhero, but I'm still a person. A mere person. Just like Marinette, Alya, Nino, and Kagami.

They stopped at Marinette's house and said their goodbyes. "How was Adrien?" Her mom asked her. "I think he's changing as a person." "What's that mean?" Her dad asked wiggling his eyebrows. She laughed, "Details later. I'm going to get changed. I'm drenched with sweat!"

She claimed the stairs to her room and laid on her bed. Breathing heavily at the breath she's been holding.

**

Marinette ran into the class early, knowing she'd find Adrien. She grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the classroom, "But Marinette, we have class!" "Not for another ten minutes nerd!" She ran to the staircase and sat down, careful that no one was around.

"Ladybug and Cat Noir got invited to an interview on TV!" She said excitedly. "Didn't we do one of those before? And to my memory it didn't end too well did it." She took the seat next to him, "That was before you left me for six months. And before we knew who each other were. I want them to know how much I care about my partner. My real partner!"

"You want to reveal our identities?" She laughed, "Oh no no! If I wanted to I wouldn't of dragged you to a secluded staircase. I want them to know. And never forget, that we're heroes. That they should believe in us." He smiled at her and intertwined their fingers, "Whatever you want, m'lady." She turned around and began to walk to class.

That small, tiny back. She looks like she'd crumble just from my touch.

She turned around once more, "Let's do this."

**

"What made you lift all the pictures of mom again?" Adrien's father asked him. "One day in April, I met a weird girl. She immediately yelled at me and hated me. But her smile was angelic. She believed in me, when no one else did. I love just being by her side. I want to see that sight with my eyes, just once more time. That made me think, I want to be a weird person, just like her." He smiled at the thought of his black haired beauty. "I see." His dad said in response.

**

Adrien and Marinette walked over the bridge they once jumped off.

"Are you gonna take this serious?" She asked eating a croissant. "I am. We had an interview before. That's about what you should expect." "Are you—" Marinette gasped and ran off.

"Hey!" Adrien chased after her to find her standing still in a field full of fireflies. "They're pretty, huh?", she grabbed one in her hand. "Are you squashing it?" He yelled out. She smiled, opening her hand as it sat on her fingers. "So ephemeral and weak. But it's shining with all its might. Thump, thump, like a heartbeat. This is the light of life." She put her hand up for the bug to fly away.

She turned her attention to Adrien and she brought a fake microphone to her lips, "Test, test." She pushed the fake microphone to his lips. "How did it feel fighting with Ladybug after all this time?" She giggled and smiled at him. He returned the smile, "I felt it there, that everyone has something deep in their hearts. We all have our personal emotions to lean on. Even as superheroes." "What about you? What did you have in your heart? What did you lean on?" His eyes met hers with a serious gaze, "I had you."

I'm going on a journey. The whole city cheering as a villain is defeated. Pursuing that moment when I inspire people. Pursuing that sight of her with her back to me. Until one day, I've pulled even with her. Until that day comes...

"Let's go home." "You know I'm not always going to be around to help you." Marinette's voice was almost a whisper.

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