He Can't Forget | ✓

21 | he can't forget

Something was wrong.

Marinette could feel it in the pit of her stomach. Call it a woman's intuition, but she knew something wasn't right.

After evacuating like Chat had urged, Marinette was insistent on waiting at a distance where she could still see the Agreste mansion. Alya and Nino were hesitant regarding her request and had a good reason for their hesitance. After their near death experiences and the anticipated war that could arise between Hawkmoth and Chat Noir, they wanted to get away as far as possible.

Marinette was just as hesitant, but for an entirely different reason. She was worried about Adrien. She was worried about him wielding both of their miraculouses at the same time. She was worried he wouldn't be able to defeat his father all by himself. She didn't want to leave him behind.

"Is Adrien going to be okay?" Emma asked from within her mother's tight embrace. A bit petrified by the events that had occurred thus far, Marinette hadn't let go of her daughter since she'd gotten her back, and Emma didn't necessarily want her mother to.

"I don't know, Mon Chéri."  Marinette whispered in response.

All Marinette could see from the distance she was at was the top of the Agreste mansion. She couldn't see the gates or even the courtyard. She had no idea what was happening.

Emma's arms tightened around her mother. "I don't want him to get hurt, Mama."

Marinette wanted to assure her daughter that he wouldn't be harmed... but she couldn't make that promise. Adrien being harmed was inevitable. Whether his father inflicted it on him or the miraculouses corrupted his soul...

Marinette shuddered at the thought. She could only hope he heeded her warning.

Alya and Nino stood by each other in silence. Nino had his arms wrapped around Alya, but Alya wasn't hugging him back. She was looking towards the mansion just like Marinette was, a sense of worry clouded in her irises.

Marinette wasn't sure if that worry was for Adrien's sake or theirs. She wouldn't bother to ask.

It look a long time before Chat Noir returned—or maybe it merely felt that way simply because of how anxious she was. When he landed on all fours atop the rooftop she had refused to leave seemingly unscathed, Marinette blinked at him unsurely. He was covered in bruises and scars, and blood was dripping from his brow.

Other than his visible injuries and his blank expression, he looked fine.

Marinette, however, knew better than to only rely on her eyes. She eyed him unsurely because her partner was still dawned as a superhero wielding both of their miraculouses combined. He hadn't de-transformed yet despite her warning.

He didn't speak when he landed in front of her. Marinette felt her daughter's grip tighten around her leg, but she couldn't bring herself to tear her eyes away from him.

He looked up at her and blinked once, his expression completely unreadable.

Marinette's eyebrows pinched together in concern. "Chat...? Are you okay?"

She watched as his throat bobbed when he swallowed. "I'm fine." He answered emotionlessly, but his voice was scratchy, as if he had worn it out by shouting too loud.

Her mouth fell agape as she intended to ask him if he was sure, but Nino quickly stepped forward, cutting off her unspoken words. "Did you defeat Hawkmoth?" His best friend asked him in a rather hopeful tone.

Adrien's eyes remained fixed on hers as he answered Nino. "Yes... I killed him."

There was hatred in Adrien's eyes. Marinette could see it clearly—and although that hatred wasn't directed at her, she felt a chill run down her spine just from his gaze alone.