A Masked Game

Level 7: Overshadowed

Flashback Cutscene: Running Away

9 years and 8 months ago...

"Do you ever dream of running away? Like packing everything up and just leaving Paris? Without telling a soul where you've run off to?"

Ladybug was sitting on top of his piano as he played effortlessly from the stool. He wasn't playing anything she knew, it seemed like something he might have composed himself. She watched as his fingers glided skilfully over the keys, the pressure meeting each being met with the most tuneful of sound. She peered over at the musical score, the title scribbled on the top in Adrien's cursive handwriting. Ladybug's theme. He continued to play and she couldn't help but close her eyes. He'd written this for her. It was composed about her, her stomach becoming a butterfly net struggling to hold the little delicate animals in, as they attempted to break free.

"All the time," he laughed. "It was always a dream of mine to live on a desert island."

"Really?" She smiled at his innocent expression, one so young and carefree. If only it was that simple. "I couldn't imagine you living anyway without indoor plumbing, or without a hairdryer?"

Adrien burst out laughing, taking his hands momentarily off the piano keys to write something down on his manuscript. "If you must know, I always thought I would marry..." He stopped and looked at her before shaking his head and placing his fingers back on the keys. "You know what? It doesn't matter."

An uncomfortable feeling engulfed her as she looked over at his frowning eyebrows. The soft gentle sounds of the piano had changed, the song he was playing growing increasingly louder and darker.

"No," she said softly. "Tell me."

He closed his eyes and took his fingers from the keys. Adrien grabbed hold of the cover and lowered it down onto the piano; threading his fingers together and placing them under his chin, he looked up to study her face.

"Promise you won't laugh?" he asked.

"I promise," Ladybug said, pushing from the piano and seating herself next to him on the piano bench.

"This is just a childish dream, so don't take it too literally. But I used to dream that I would marry and run away with... you." He looked under his eyebrows at her and her heart almost smashed out of her chest and disassembled the piano. This was unbelievable. Adrien Agreste had always loved her! So much so, he wanted to move to an abandoned desert island with her.

"Me?"

Adrien nodded before stretching up and rubbing the back of his neck. "Obviously that's changed now and I dream of running away with Marinette, getting married and having three kids."

"A hamster?"

Adrien chuckled. "Probably. I've always wanted one."

"Me too." She smiled in response, quickly moving and placing an elbow on the piano cover. She tilted her head to face him and allowed a soft, inquisitive smile to grace her lips. "Tell me more."

"You don't want to hear this," he laughed, his cheeks tinting with the most wonderful blush.

"You're wrong there. I'd love to know. Please!"

He rolled his eyes and stood from the piano, placing his hands on it and looking over at her. "Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you."

Ladybug listened intently as Adrien talked animatedly about his future — their future — and she couldn't help but want it too. The beachside house in the heart of a warm island. Living each day under the blistering sunshine as they laughed and loved, creating both memories and children as they lived off the land. It sounded like heaven, she just wished it could be possible.