From Ashes to a New Beginning: A Miraculous Fanfiction

Chapter 7: Chat noir is Adrien?

Adrien ducked his head back down. He waited a few seconds, holding his breath, in hopes that Marinette didn't hear him. After a few seconds, he walked away and paced around his room.

"What's wrong, kid?" Plagg asked, munching on a piece of cheese.

"I overheard her conversation on the phone," Adrien confessed.

"And?"

"She said that her parents are moving to the U.S." Adrien sighed, sitting down on the couch with a huff, letting his face land in his hands.

"She's an adult, isn't she? Convince her to stay." Plagg smiled.

"She won't leave her parents, Plagg. She won't stay with me." Adrien groaned.

"Not for Adrien," Plagg smirked.

Adrien turned and looked over at Plagg and saw him smiling. He was right. Marinette wouldn't stay for Adrien. Would she stay for Chat noir? He is Paris's superhero. He was her boyfriend after all. He needed to talk to Ladybug, he needed to confide in his partner about the situation and explain everything. He trusted her completely and she trusted him. He heard footsteps coming down the ladder from the roof and his eyes shot to Plagg and he saw Plagg disappear into the next room where his stash of cheese was.

He saw Marinette's usual causal face, hiding her saddened mood from him.

"Oh- good morning. Did I wake you?" She asked, smiling.

"No. I just woke up actually." He smiled back.

They both felt the awkward tension between them and both let out a nervous laugh.

"Well... I guess we should get ready for school then." Marinette said, going over to the bathroom to change.

"Y-yeah," Adrien said. "I... have practice after school. So I won't be home until late tonight." Adrien lied, hoping she wouldn't catch on.

"Oh, that's alright. I'll see you tonight." Marinette called over, walking past him in her newly changed apparel.

"I'll see you downstairs." Marinette smiled.

Adrien changed and they went to school like normal, though they didn't talk about the conversation he heard. He noticed Alya being a little more nosy than usual which from the phone call, was normal for her, but he brushed it off. As the last class ended, he waved them goodbye. He turned a nearby corner and transformed, hoping to catch the eye of Ladybug.

He ran across rooftops and made appearances with civilians for hours until finally, she showed up.

"LB." He said, seeing her zip her way over to him.

"What's up? Did something happen?" She asked.

"I have something we need to talk about. Something important." He confessed.

"I would imagine so if you wanted to meet." She smiled, sitting down beside him.

Chat noir was quiet, unsure how to explain it to her. He knew if he explained it to her in a certain way she would shoot him down instantly. He needed to be careful how he worded it.

"That... dupain cheng girl." He started.

"The girl that was in the fire?" She said, turning her head.

"Yeah... we've actually been dating." He said, turning his head to see her reaction.

Ladybug blushed and he saw her eyes widen with surprise.

She wasn't surprised to hear the information but surprised to see he let the information slip, especially since he and Marinette made it clear to keep it a secret. What was he thinking? Why would he tell Ladybug about it?

"Ok? Why are you telling me about it? Are you trying to make me jealous?" Ladybug laughed.

"N-No! Actually the complete opposite... I... found out from someone that..." He swallowed.

"I found out that she... her parents are moving to the U.S.," He said, his eyes turning sad, trying to fight back his own tears and keep up the tough guy act, but Ladybug could see he was hurting.

Her eyes widened at him knowing the information. How did he find out? She just found out this morning. Did Adrien actually hear her? Did Adrien and Chat noir know one another? Were they actually friends and Chat noir didn't tell her? Why did he not tell her? Or... was... Chat noir... Adrien...? Her mind was running wild with so many questions.

"So... uh... what does that mean?" Ladybug tried to remain calm.

She couldn't let her mind run wild with those questions. There was no way that Chat noir was Adrien... right? She would ask Adrien. She would ask Adrien if he told anyone and not make it suspicious and then ask Chat noir separately. She would be smart about this. She would be level-headed about this, she was the guardian after all.

"I want to know if... I could..." He swallowed again, almost scared to ask her.

"I know you're the sole guardian of Paris. I love her. I know she would never do anything to hurt me. I don't want her to leave. Can... I do anything to make her stay?" He asked.

"I... don't understand what you're asking me Chat?" Ladybug asked puzzled, trying to hide her blush under her mask from the sudden confession.

"I...Ugh... I want to tell her who I am so she can live with me instead!" He turned his head away from Ladybug in embarrassment.

"Chat... you know we can't do that." She said, sighing.

"But... Ladybug." He pleaded.

"Chat..." Ladybug sighed, putting her hand on his shoulder. "I have some bad news to tell you as well." She frowned.

He turned back to face her.

"Due to some complications, I won't be able to remain the guardian. I need... you to be..."

"No!" He yelled, swatting her hand off of him.

"Chat..." Ladybug pleaded.

"No! I won't. I'm not going to lose Marinette and you. I won't do that!" Chat yelled, tears running down his face.

They both sat in silence until Chat just sighed and left Ladybug to sit on the rooftop alone.

"I'm sorry Chat..." Ladybug whispered to herself, looking out at Paris.