Ladrien June 2022

Beret

Fun fact: this was originally what I had generated for the first day of Ladrien June, but I decided to generate a different prompt because I felt as if this wouldn't be a proper start to the series. I really love the concept, but it wouldn't be the best for day one.

TW!! Ladybug has a pretty severe panic attack/flashback if this is potentially triggering, feel free to skip this one!                                                                                                                     -Colorado

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Ladybug stared at the piece of black fabric in her hand. Adrien stood by her, watching nervously as she ran her hands over the design. She knew it well, it was her own handiwork after all. She had tried to forget it, but she couldn't.

"I don't have a fan club in Brazil." Adrien whispered, joining her on his bed. "I looked it up because I wanted to send them something to show them my thanks. It didn't exist, at least, not an official one. I even got in contact with my biggest fan there, they told me that they never sent me anything."

Ladybug couldn't meet his eyes.

That beret, the stupid beret. She had never wanted to see it again, but here it was in her hands. The hearts on the side betraying her. She had spent hours pouring her heart into the beret. She thought it would be easy to confess her feelings that way. That way she didn't need to worry about stuttering or anything like that.

But of course, things just couldn't be that simple, now could it?

That stupid beret...

"Ladybug? Are you alright?" Adrien placed a hand on her back.

She shook away blue eyes and a destroyed moon.

"F-fine." She hated how her voice trembled.

"So, about the fan club? Was it stupid for me to ask? I just thought that since we're a bit closer now, I feel more comfortable asking." Adrien rubbed the back of his neck.

"No uh, it wasn't your fan club. I lied to you, I'm sorry about that."

"But why?" Adrien's eyes pleaded with her.

"I, well, it's a long story. I had to." Ladybug squeezed her eyes shut, but the face appeared in her mind.

The hateful look in his eyes, filled with unshed tears. The bitter edge to his voice, yelling after her, calling her something she never thought she would hear. The white glow growing bigger and bigger, threatening to destroy Paris.

Try as she might, she couldn't forget it. She just couldn't. The memories followed her around everywhere. A warning to what might happen if she wasn't careful. It was the reason she had to deal with the hurt look in Chat's eyes when she would hide things from him. It was the reason why Ladybug couldn't tell anyone her identity, especially not Adrien. It was the reason why she hated the color white.

"You never have to lie to me, Ladybug. I thought I was your friend?" Ladybug turned away from Adrien, she couldn't stand that look on his face. It was too similar to a look she had seen a million times before.

"We are friends, Adrien. But there are just some things that I can't tell you. My identity-."

"Has to remain a secret, I know, believe me. But I don't see how this is related? Unless I can somehow figure out your identity from a beret, why can't you tell me the truth?" Adrien grabbed the beret back from her, straightening out the wrinkles.