Beyond the Mask | Miraculous

v. chapter 5

"Adrien?"

Marinette was floored. She hadn't heard from Adrien since the last day of school- graduation? She had no idea that they'd be attending the same university, never mind in the same class! "Oh- Uh yeah of course you can!" She responded.

"Oh Marinette! It's you! Wow, this is so cool!" Adrien smiled, sitting down and preparing himself for class.

Marinette had stopped having a crush on Adrien a while ago. She knew in her heart that she would never be with him, their worlds were too far apart. And she was okay with that. She decided to continue being just friends, and now, with less pressure on herself, manages to complete a sentence or act normal around him.

"Wow, I didn't know you were coming here!" Marinette began a friendly conversation. She whispered over to him, as the professor introduced herself as Mme. Laroche. She was an attractive young woman, likely kept up with the trends of this ever-changing fashion world. She had wavy red hair that fell down past her shoulders, and piercingly dark eyes. She wore a white buttoned blouse with black dress pants, accessorized by a pair of small white heels.

"I'm just as surprised as you are. And I can't believe we have a class together too, at least I know somebody here that I'm good friends with." The green eyed boy smiled. It was such a nice smile, one that was plastered all over the city on dozens of different ads and articles.

"Yeah! Does Kagami go here?" Marinette knew this was a touchy subject. A few months before school had ended, Adrien and Kagami had gotten into a relationship. It was short lived, but Marinette never found out the real reason why.

"No- She moved back to Japan to study at home. I'm really proud of her. It's bittersweet, I miss her sometimes." Adrien responded, a small ping of sadness was visible in his eyes.

Marinette instinctively reached out, sincerely touching his forearm. "It's okay to feel that way, Adrien."

He nodded slightly. "So enough about me, what's new about you?"

- - -

The moon hung low in the Parisian sky as Ladybug and Chat Noir perched on a rooftop, the city below illuminated by a gentle glow. A hushed conversation drifted between them, punctuated by the distant sounds of traffic.

"I can't believe we're actually settling into real life," Ladybug said, a soft smile gracing her lips as she gazed out at the city.

Chat Noir chuckled, his eyes twinkling in the moonlight. "Yeah, it's a bit weird, isn't it? After all those akuma battles and supervillains, it's like we've finally caught a break."

Ladybug nodded in agreement. "True, but don't let your guard down just yet. Hawk Moth could strike at any moment."

Chat Noir's playful grin faded, replaced by a more serious expression. "You're right. Our responsibilities as superheroes always come first."

Ladybug placed a hand on his arm, a reassuring gesture that spoke volumes. "We're in this together, Chat. Just like always."

Their eyes met in a moment of shared understanding, the bond between them unspoken yet undeniable. They had fought side by side for so long, their partnership forged through battles and triumphs. Chat Noir refused to hide his admiration for Ladybug, and she still failed to reciprocate any feelings. It's safe to say she was content on her own.

A sudden burst of dark energy in the distance caught their attention, snapping them out of their trance. Ladybug and Chat Noir exchanged a determined look, their bodies instinctively tensing for action.

"Looks like we've got a situation," Chat Noir said, his voice low and resolute.

Ladybug nodded, her eyes focused on the source of the disturbance. "Let's go."

With a synchronized leap, they bounced across the rooftops, closing in on the epicenter of the energy surge. As they arrived at the scene, their eyes widened at the sight of an akumatized victim wreaking havoc.

A menacing figure clad in a swirling dark cloak stood amidst a chaos of twisted shadows, his vile laughter echoing through the night. He raised his arms, sending tendrils of darkness spiraling towards innocent civilians.

"We can't let him hurt anyone else," Ladybug said, her voice firm with determination.

Chat Noir nodded, his claws extending as he prepared to join the battle. "Agreed. Let's show him the power of Paris's protectors."

With a swift leap, Chat Noir lunged at the akumatized villain, his agile movements evading the swirling shadows. Ladybug followed closely behind, her yo-yo whirling through the air as she strategized her attack.

The villain countered with waves of darkness, attempting to ensnare Chat Noir in his grasp. With a graceful backflip, Chat Noir narrowly avoided the attack, countering with a well-placed swipe of his claws. Ladybug used her yo-yo to collect her Lucky Charm, which was a mirror. After quickly thinking, she used it to create a barrier of light, deflecting the oncoming shadows.

As they battled, their movements flowed seamlessly, each anticipating the other's actions. It was a dance of unity, a testament to the trust they had built over countless battles.

Chat Noir used his cataclysm to destroy the villain's staff, and with a final, triumphant burst of light, the villain's dark aura dissipated, leaving behind only the sound of defeated groans. Ladybug and Chat Noir stood victorious, their chests heaving as they caught their breath.

"You okay?" Chat Noir asked, his gaze flickering to Ladybug.

She nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

Ladybug turned towards the akuma and caught it in her yo-yo, letting the magic change it back into a beautiful butterfly. "Bye bye, little butterfly." She said before tossing her lucky charm into the air, the magical ladybugs fixing all the wreckage from the villian.

"Okay, mon Chaton, it's a big day for me tomorrow so I need to rest now. Plus, I'm about to transform back." Ladybug said, reaching for her blinking earrings. "Goodnight kitty!"

"Night, m'lady!"