From Ashes to a New Beginning: A Miraculous Fanfiction

Chapter 16: Close your eyes

The next morning Adrien woke up and instantly ran over to his bed but found that Marinette was already up. He heard the bathroom door behind him open and saw her step out with a towel around her.

"Oh.. uh... Good morning... Adrien." Marinette said, walking past him to go to get her clothes.

"Good morning..." He blushed, seeing her wet dripping hair and her bluebells eyes once again like from the old poem he wrote about Ladybug from so long ago.

Marinette walked back into the bathroom and shut the door. A few minutes later she walked back out in her outfit and took the blow dryer with her into the bedroom so he could have the bathroom.

Could she really be Ladybug? He thought he was over that crush? He used to come to Marinette as Chat noir and sometimes... not complain but talk about Ladybug. If she did turn out to be Ladybug... how that would be embarrassing.

Was he fantasizing about Marinette being Ladybug? Wouldn't he know that by now? Ugh... He could always test that theory... right now he needed to act normal. He was Adrien... he can't be heartbroken... she broke up with Chat noir... not Adrien.

"Meet you downstairs?" She said, motioning for him to use the bathroom.

"Oh... uh... yeah sure." He said, still in a confused daze.

"Are you feeling alright?" She asked, as she flipped her head over and started blow-drying her hair, looking over at him.

"Y-yeah! Just fine." He rushed inside the bathroom and let out a sigh of relief.

"What is wrong with you? You're acting weird." Plagg groaned.

"I think Marinette... is Ladybug." Adrien said, flustered.

"Marinette? Ladybug? Don't you think you would have noticed that by now?" Plagg sighed.

"I mean... Yeah... but how did she know there was going to be a new Ladybug?" Adrien asked.

"Beats me." Plagg sighed, flying out to see if Marinette was gone.

"Where are you going?" Adrien rolled his eyes.

"Seeing if she is gone so I can get some cheese. Duh." Plagg stuck his head through the wall and looked around.

"Yep. She's gone. Bye... I'm getting cheese."

Adrien sighed again and watched his kwami disappear through the wall. Adrien took a shower since he didn't take one last night, as he only pretended to. He blow-dried his hair and put on some new clothes and went downstairs, contemplating whether he should ask her or not. The car ride to school was a little awkward considering he confessed his love for her and they hadn't talked at all and then on top of that... she broke up with him as Chat noir. A double whammy to the gut and heart.

Wait... could she have broken up with Chat noir because of the confession from Adrien? Did she like Adrien more than Chat noir? She would dump her boyfriend for her friend? That... was a long stretch... Marinette wouldn't do that. She was a smart and sweet girl, why would he even consider that? He was letting his mind run away with him now. Maybe his mind was playing tricks on him...

They stepped out of the car and went to class and they acted like the confession last night didn't happen, which for him he was grateful for. He didn't have it in him to deal with it, since she just broke his heart.

The last class let out and they were walking out together, still not talking to one another but a huge rumble shook the ground below them. A huge crack beneath their feet went up the side of the wall and went up to the ceiling. They heard screaming in the distance as the roof was starting to collapse.

Adrenaline started pumping through their veins as Adrien and Marinette started running down the hallway, together, side by side.

"What are you doing, Marinette?" He called over.

"Running for safety? You?" She called over.

"Uh... same." He said, with a smile.

The floor in front of them crumbled before their eyes and Marinette lost her footing. She screamed and felt the air beneath her feet as she began to fall, but as her eyes shot upwards, she felt Adrien catch her hand. He pulled her to her feet and they both turned back around from the way they came but saw the roof starting to collapse. They were trapped. They backed to the wall, away from the falling rocks, and looked at one another.

He looked around and saw no one around and looked down at Marinette, her face looking around in search of help as well. Should he transform? Should he wait for Ladybug? Should he test his theory to see if Marinette was Ladybug, but... what if she wasn't and she got hurt because of him?

The roof started to shake once again and Adrien gripped his fists. He gently pushed Marinette against the wall, shielding her with his body in case any rocks fell and hit them, and looked down at her. She looked up at him with a surprised look.

"Adrien! What are you doing?" She said, seeing him put both of his hands on either side of her on the wall behind her.

"Close your eyes." He said.

"W-why?" She asked.

"Just... do it." He said.

Marinette looked at him and saw that he was being sincere and nodded, closing her eyes. She heard another crack from the wall and her anxiety started to rise. She was about to give up and transform in front of him, but...was willing to give Adrien's plan... whatever it was, a shot first.

"Plagg... Claws out." He whispered.