Does he remember?

Chapter Seventeen

She could almost feel his presence, but it didn't give her the joy it used to. In fact, it now overwhelmed her, making her eyes sting and an object create in her throat. The presence was no longer beside her, the presence was moving. In the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of him. Marinette knew she couldn't avoid him forever, and she was so deeply tempted to turn her head towards him. Memorize his face like she used to.

Slowly, she twisted her head to the direction of his once familiar face. The moment her eyes caught his, she felt like someone had stabbed her in the chest. Swiftly, she turned her back to him, the sight of him doing harm to her body. Him being here was more overwhelming than she had ever imagined. All their memories, good and bad, came rushing back like a tidal wave and sweeping her right off her feet. She no longer has control of her body and her thoughts. Marinette felt useless like she did when he left her. The object in her throat was hard, blocking any sound she tried to let through.

"I know", he calmly reassured. "I get it."

Hearing his voice so calm like she used to hear when he would comfort her felt like someone had stabbed her in the chest and twisted it in a circle, deepening by the second. Her heart hurt, her mind hurt, everything hurt because he was once again standing near her. The last 5 years never could've prepared her for this moment. She gulped, lodging the object in her throat elsewhere. Through every second of looking at him, she grew more upset. Her anger towards him began to rise through and melt whatever object was lodged in her throat, preventing her from speaking.

"You don't", Marinette harshly stated. She was surprised by it herself. "You have no right coming back here like this."

"I know", Chat Noir said again. "Trust me, I-".

"Trust you?" Marinette felt hot tears roll down her face as she finally braved her nerves enough to turn around and take a small step toward him. She felt the simmering heat of his presence again, but she pushed past it and let her anger through. "You know what happened last time I trusted you?"

"I want to explain everything", Chat Noir begged. 

Marinette didn't answer. Her eyes shifted everywhere, desperately trying to anchor on anything but his eyes. 

Chat Noir let out a sigh. "I don't deserve....any kind of forgiveness. I don't expect it, either. All I'm asking is that you hear me out and allow me to explain why everything happened."

"Just go", Marinette squeezed her eyes shut, letting the last of her tears roll before she dried them.

"As you wish", Chat Noir bowed his head before disappearing, once again.

Marinette didn't move so quickly, though. She stared off into space, wondering if that just happened or if it was another one of the dreams she's had before. 

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"Alya", Marinette panted as she ran through the front door. "Outside. Now."

Alya met Marinette outside in a rush. "What? What happened?"

"You know", Marinette rubbed her face in frustration. "It's definitely all over the news by now."

Alya shook her head. "I don't know, girl. I haven't been on my phone, I've been playing with Emma."

"Check it", Marinette nodded toward Alya's phone. 

Marinette watched her best friend's reaction when she saw the news. Her jaw had dropped and her eyes grew wide as she slowly glanced back up at her friend. "Oh..oh my...um. Did you...see him?"

"I had to", Marinette crossed her arms. "He talked to me."

"WHAT?" Alya shouted. "How? Where? When?"

"Alya", Marinette warned. "Listen, I ran when people saw him and he followed me. He tried to explain everything and I wouldn't let him. I told him to go."

Alya let out a breath. "Girl, I'm so sorry. Are you okay?"

"No", Marinette shook her head. "If I'm being honest, I wish I would've let him explain, but I just..."

"Couldn't bring yourself to hear any of it", Alya finished the sentence for her. "I don't blame you."

"Alya, what am I going to do?" Marinette rubbed her temples. "I felt so weak and helpless with him there. I want him to explain but I don't know how to be around him."

"If you want him to explain", Alya began. "Then you just have to be able to be strong there. I get that it's hard, but you have to go through with it if you want to understand."

"But is it even going to be worth going through all that heartache again? I mean, what if he just tells me a stupid excuse and I'm expected to believe it and move on with my life as if I hadn't just spent the last 5 years of my life being depressed and lonely about the whole thing?" Marinette said all in one breath. 

"Slow down", Alya calmed her. "Nobody expects anything from you. I mean, if you really think about all of this. It's almost like he had to leave you for some important reason and came all the way back to Paris for you. Believe it or not, but that's what it's sounding like."

Marinette let out a breath. "Okay, I'll deal with this tomorrow."

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"You've been back in Paris for one day, and you're already causing news networks to blow up", Gabriel angrily said to Adrien when he visited his father. "Come on, now. I gave you back your miraculous so you could protect yourself in New York City. What were you doing going around Paris, anyway?"

"I was, uh, just trying to remember what it was like", Adrien nervously smiled.

"That's so sweet", Gabriel sarcastically said. "Was it worth getting recognition again? We had a deal, you know."

"Yeah, yeah. I remember the deal. I had to cut all ties with everyone here and move to New York City and work for your branding over there and you would leave Ladybug and I alone", Adrien recited as if he's said it millions of times. 

"Very good. And don't forget the fact that I could've easily received Ladybug's miraculous, right? Since I know who she is. Or was, I guess. And how you proposed to her. But I guess it doesn't matter because she hates you, right?" The corner of his lips turned upward displaying an evil smirk. "So why are you back in Paris when you're supposed to be over in the United States?"

"I'm only here for a week, father", Adrien whined. "Can't you just let me go for that long? I mean, I grew up here and it was all taken from me so fast, I-I", Adrien sighed. "I just want to feel at home again. It gets lonely over there, you know?"

Gabriel sighed. "Alright, then. And I guess you're not staying with me?"

"I've been on my own for so long, I guess I'm just used to it now", Adrien frowned.

Gabriel scowled. "So, then, where's Kagami? Shouldn't she be keeping you company?"

"She's busy working for her mother's brand", Adrien explained. "We see each other at work, but afterwards I kind of just go back to my place."

Gabriel sighed disappointingly. "I thought you two would be together by now."

"I don't have feelings like that for her, father."

"Well, maybe someday, that'll change", Gabriel said. He said it more of a promise than a thought.