Without his Lady

Chapter Two - Are You Okay?

The silver ring lay on his side table, beside a brown wooden box, the only piece of jewellery that remained outside.

He wasn't sure why he left the ring out, maybe to remind himself of who he once was, maybe because he couldn't bring himself to lock up his best friend...

Or maybe because the guilt he felt every time it caught his eye was all that was keeping him alive.

The silver band on the table did nothing but kick him when he was down, calling out on the uncharacteristic cowardice that had filled him upon his return to the hospital when he decided to remove his ring. For good.

The only way he managed it was the knowledge that if the time came, he would be able to regain his alter ego in a heartbeat as the new guardian.

Oh how he hated that title.

He would have left the Ladybug earrings out too, loath as he was to lock up something tied too closely to the love of his life, but he found himself thinking far too often about using them to bring her back, so he hid them in the miracle box, which remained unopened since.

Until today.

Today he sat on the edge of his bed, staring down at the box. Slowly, he reached out a hand, letting his thumb graze the cool wood before he pulled away, reaching for the lone ring instead.

Adrien hesitated only a fraction of a second before dragging the cold metal onto his finger, the object sliding into place as though he was born with it on.

Immediately, a green ball of light appeared, before exploding into sparkles and revealing a grumpy looking kwami in its place.

"Hey Plagg," Adrien whispered, something in him crumpling with relief at the sight of his best friend.

Plaggs anger seemed to deflate immediately. "How are you holding up kid?" Was all he said, even if he looked like he wanted to say more.

"Not great..." Adrien admitted glumly, "It's been...a long few weeks,"

Plagg, wirh some of his earlier moodiness creeping back in, muttered, "Probably would have been a lot better if you didn't trap me inside that ring,"

To Adrien's surprise, a huff of laughter managed to escape his dry lips, "I'm sorry Plagg, I've missed you you know?"

Plagg grinned, his mood swings were more rapid than a river, "you know what I've missed?" He said in anticipation, causing Adrien's lips to quirk upwards of their own accord.

"I brought your Camembert over, it's in the cabinet," he said, so unbelievably relieved that the little creature didn't hold his captivity against him.

Speaking of captivity...

"You know...I think Tikki mentioned that Marinette let the kwamis roam free in her room...do you think....they would like that?" He asked tentatively. In truth, he hoped that the tiny balls of optimism would lift him out of his depression and perhaps provide some company that could rival Marinettes.

"Plagg stopped mid-bite, "Huh, I didn't know that...I guess Marinette never was the traditional kind huh?" He said, providing Adrien with nothing other than heartache at the word "was".

"Do you think I should too?" He asked again.

"I don't know kid, it's up to you, you're the guardian after all,"

That he was.

But he still wished he wasn't.

That title should be Marinettes and Marinettes only.

If she let the kwamis out then...

Maybe he should too.

Reaching out again to the box, he rubbed his hand along the side until he could feel the little metal latch beneath his fingers.