Tales Untold

The Disappearing Act 2

His heart leapt into his throat, and he jumped off of the roof, getting as close as he could to the bakery.

Marinette was back?

So his theory was true. She disappeared the same day Ladybug died. He had always worried that the two were connected, he had just prayed he had been wrong. But it was her. He landed in an alley, trying to force his words out through the lump in his throat.

"Claws in." He mumbled, and Plagg appeared before him, sporting a worried look.

"Are you okay?"

"Was it really Tiki?" He whispered, knowing that Plagg would have been able to tell.

Plagg would have recognized an imposter.

"It's her." He stated with such confidence, that Adrien believed him.

So it was, without a doubt, the real Ladybug and the real Marinette. She was alive. He leaned against the wall, his eyes watering again.

"I'm scared Plagg. What do you think happened to her during those three years?"

Plagg didn't answer, moving into Adrien's pocket. His phone rang, and he answered without hesitation.

"Hello?"

He could hear Sabine sobbing on the other end, and he knew that they were tears of joy. Most of them anyway.

"She.... she's home. Can you come over?"

"I'm on my way."

He hung up immediately, pacing down the street towards the bakery. He would see Marinette again. His best friend. His partner. The love of his life. She was finally home.

* * * * *

The bakery had a closed sign hanging on the door, and he ignored it as he swung it open. No one was in the bakery, so he made his way up to their apartment. He was no stranger to just walking into their place, sometimes they'd even let him crash on the couch. He could hear sobbing through the door. He gently pushed it open, his gaze landing on the back of her head. She was sitting with her parents, a blanket wrapped around her. Tom glanced behind them, smiling and looking relieved. Tear streaks were obvious on his face, and Adrien felt his own fall.

"She came back." Tom whispered, and Marinette and Sabine both turned to look at him.

He couldn't move, staring into her blue eyes. She looked so lost. So broken. Marinette stood, offering him one of her gentle smiles. The tears fell harder, and he choked back a sob, forcing his feet forward. He stopped a few feet away, looking over her again, without the suit this time. She looked fine. No bruises. No scratches. No scars.

"Hey, Adrien." She said it gently, as if her words would break him.

They did anyway. Hearing her voice, hearing her say his real name. It broke him in a way he hadn't thought possible. Not after that day. Not after losing Ladybug, his father, and her. He grabbed her and pulled her into a hug, burying his face in her shoulder as he sobbed.

"I missed you. So much."

She wrapped her arms around him, letting out a shaky sigh.

"I'm sorry." She sounded guilty, as if any of this was her fault.

He held her tighter, taking in as much as he could and committing it to memory. Her smell, her warmth. The way her arms fit around him. All of it. She cried with him, and for the longest time he couldn't let go. He couldn't bear the thought of taking his arms from around her, terrified she would disappear again. He felt Sabine's hand on his shoulder, and he reluctantly pulled away, wiping his face on his coat sleeve.