From Ashes to a New Beginning: A Miraculous Fanfiction

Chapter 4: Conversations

The day went well and Adrien sent Nathalie to the store to get Marinette clothes and things instead since Marinette didn't really want to leave.

Adrien practiced his piano like normal while he every once in a while would secretly glance over at Marinette... who would be sitting on his bed doing her homework, or texting, or doing whatever she was doing in a sketchbook. He tried to give her some space and let her get comfortable.

He knew she wasn't comfortable. It was a new home. They were best friends but... she had no idea that he loved her. She had no idea that she loved him either. She wouldn't give any signs to it though because she loved Chat noir.

He, however, would have to restrain himself. He would have to remain like the dense, clueless best friend that he always did before they started dating. If only she fell for Adrien instead of Chat noir. Though... things probably would have been a lot different, probably horribly different. He might not have saved her from the fire if she would have dated him as Adrien. Yikes.

Adrien stopped playing the piano and looked over at his phone, looking down at the time. It was well after 9pm. Patrol for Paris with him and Ladybug was usually around 9... how could he get out of the room?

"Umm... Adrien?" Marinette asked, looking up from her phone.

"Yeah?" he asked.

"Can... I take a shower?" She smiled nervously.

"Now?" He asked.

"Yeah, it might help me go to sleep." Marinette smiled.

Which was true. Warm showers did help people relax and he couldn't blame her.

"Yeah go ahead. Towels are in the closet, beside the sink." He said. "I will be right back too. I need to... go get blankets and a pillow." He smiled.

Marinette and Adrien passed one another, going their opposite ways. Marinette went into the bathroom and locked the door. She sighed, transforming and zipping through Paris to find Chat noir. Adrien went to his window a few seconds later and transformed, and ran across the rooftop, somehow the opposite direction from one another. They both met up at the Eiffel tower, their normal meeting spot, and Chat noir was less than happy to see her.

"Hey, Chat." She smiled.

"Hey." He said, monotone.

"Is... something the matter?" She asked, seeing that he was clearly upset.

"Yes, why didn't you step in to help that girl and her parents the other night? I was all by myself to save them LB." He said.

"I didn't see it until it was too late, Chat." She said, frowning.

"But... firefighters... ambulances... the news... they were all there, but... you weren't. You never showed up. At all. I even waited around for you... for hours." He said.

"I'm...sorry. I..." Ladybug stuttered, unsure of what to say.

She knew Chat noir was upset, which he had the right to be. She was Paris's superhero. He was there to protect civilians and she wasn't. Though how could she explain that she was the civilian that he was protecting?

She was the guardian of Paris. She has been for years. They have trusted one another for so long, can't he just trust her?

"I would have been there if I could have. You know that." She said, frowning.

He turned away, almost as if he was conflicted.

"I promise Chat. I promise you on our partnership that I couldn't do anything." She said, pleading for his forgiveness.