No Way Out

A Blessing in Disguise and A Lead

The roles were reversed that night. While Adrien stayed awake, Marinette slept soundly for the first time in a week.

Adrien didn't want to fall asleep. After almost losing his wife again, he didn't want to miss a single second of being in her presence.

It was irrational. Of course he would have to sleep at some point, but it wouldn't be that night. All Adrien wanted was to be with Marinette.

He wanted to watch her chest rise and fall as she breathed. He wanted to listen to every cute little snore that came out of her mouth. He wanted to feel the warmth and softness of her skin. He wanted to smell the scent of her hair. And when she woke up, he wanted to taste her sweet lips.

He wanted everything that was almost stolen from him.

Annabelle was right earlier when she said that it was a miracle. It was a miracle that the Starfish Miraculous existed, it was a miracle that they had it in their possession, and it was a miracle that Marinette didn't die before they could use it on her.

Adrien almost lost her, and it wasn't the first time, nor the second, nor the third.

No, the first time was when she made that ultimate wish. The second time was when she was hit by the cataclysm. The third time was when the Starfish Miraculous was broken and the regenerating cataclysm caused an infection.

Now this was the fourth time.

Why did the universe keep trying to take her away from him? Of all the people in the world, why her? Why Marinette? She was the epitome of a good person, always full of love and kindness.

As Adrien lay there, he figured out what all four times had in common with each other. They were all the result of having the Miraculouses of the Ladybug and the Black Cat.

Marinette wouldn't have been able to make an ultimate wish without them. She wouldn't have gotten hit with a cataclysm. She wouldn't have gotten an infection. Those three times were obvious.

Less obvious was the fourth time. With the mounting evidence, however, it was looking more and more like Marinette was targeted for the attack on purpose.

Marinette didn't have any enemies, but Ladybug sure did.

The attacker must have known. Otherwise, why knock her unconscious? Why not just grab her purse and run? Why stay there and inflict more damage? No, they must have known that she was Ladybug. That's the only thing that made sense.

The Miraculouses weren't a gift. They were a curse. Maybe some of them were helpful in specific situations, but her earrings and his ring brought them nothing but suffering and turmoil.

Maybe the attack was actually a blessing in disguise. Maybe it was exactly the wake-up call that he needed, finally making him realize something that he should have figured out a long time ago.

He didn't need Ladybug. He needed Marinette.

Adrien had been wrong during their disagreement the other night. He didn't need Ladybug to go out and defend Paris. He needed Marinette to be safe.

If Adrien had to choose between the Miraculouses and Marinette, it wouldn't be an impossible choice. It wouldn't even be a difficult choice. It would be the easiest choice he would ever have to make.

Marinette would win every time. She was his wife, his best friend, the mother of his children, his true love, and his nightingale; the one who was always sacrificing herself to protect him.

She was worth so much more than any magical jewelry.

If he really thought about it, every single problem in his life was caused by the Miraculouses.