He Was There | Miraculous Ladybug

Chapter Seven: Eventually

  Months later, Paris was continued to be filled with relief and joy, a freed society without magical threats. Which will continue to be protected by their superheroes, Ladybug and Chat Noir and their allies.
  Ladybug throws a card onto the throwaway pile smiling at her two wild cards left in her hand while Chat Noir had gathered at least 10 randomized cards within the last two rounds. He furrows his eyebrows staring at her card, "I refuse to let you win again, M'Lady." He smirks laying down a plus 4. She gasps, "Oh no!!!" She exclaims sarcastically placing down her own plus 4 card smirking back at him. 

  His eyes widen throwing the cards to the side crossing his arms in protest. Ladybug smiles waving her last card, "Uno, Kitty." She announces glancing at the scattered cards. He sighs looking back at her, "I'm getting sick of Uno, it's all we do nowadays!" He complains falling onto his back looking up at the Paris evening sky.
  Ladybug shrugs lying next to him staring at the orange and pink clouds float across the sky. "Yeah it has been a bit boring lately... saving cats from trees only brings so much enjoyment." She explains nonchalantly glancing back at him. 

  He frowns turning to face her, "Do you think it'll ever be safe enough?" He whispers looking at her earrings. She bites her tongue reaching for her earrings slowly. "I'm not sure, now. All the miraculouses are with their rightful holders... I trust them all but who knows if I will regret that one day." She whispers facing him.
  He sighs sitting up, "So, never is what you're saying. You'll always remain a mystery to me." He mumbles watching cars fly down the streets below them. 

  Ladybug turns to face the sky again, "It's unpredictable on what could happen. Tomorrow there could be some sort of disaster, we would never have anyway to be able to prevent anything." She mutters watching the first star peek through the darkening sky.
  Chat purses his lips standing up, "I get it, despite it not being a present issue now. You still think it wouldn't be a good idea even though you know the rest of the holders identities." He exclaims in a sour tone waving his arms around dramatically. 

  She glares at him from the corner of her eye, "You think I don't want to know who I have been working with... who I have been stuck to for the last year and a half? The stupid cat I had feelings for at one point? You think I don't want to know, that I'm not curious? This is for everyone's safety, Chat Noir." She growls sitting up watching him take a step away from her.
  He rolls her eyes in response, "Oh so now you're making it about your feelings? How do you think I feel?" He snaps taking out his staff turning to face the streets of Paris.
  She inhales sharply pulling herself up, "Maybe it's for the best then, we shouldn't know. For our own good. I can't imagine having to face you in public as a stranger who isn't a stranger to me." She hisses crossing her arms watching him extend his staff.
  He laughs angrily, "So I'm just a stranger to you? A minute ago you said you had feelings for me at one point and now you don't know me! Perfect Ladybug, just perfect!" He sneered cackling in between his words. 

  She grits her teeth swinging her yo-yo before throwing it at a ledge of a building to zip away, faraway.
  He watches her swing away in silence as his hard angry expression changes into a soften look of sorrow. He frowns falling to his knees, "Why did I say that?" He whispers covering his mouth gently.

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  "I shouldn't have implied he was a stranger, I know Tikki," Marinette explains pacing through her room pulling on her hair from the frustration. "You also shouldn't had made an excuse, Marinette. You know Paris is safer now than ever even if you two did know each other's identities there wouldn't be someone to manipulate your feelings like Monarch!" Tikki exclaims waving her arms floating over to her.
  Marinette slumps into her desk chair, "We don't know that, Tikki. Who knows what could happen a year from now. A new Monarch could appear and we would have no way to control that." She sighs staring at her computer screen with photos of Adrien. 

  "It's almost the end of the summer and we're starting school soon, I could tell him now..." Marinette whispers looking over at Tikki. Tikki grimaces, "What's so different between telling him and Chat Noir exactly?" She asks crossing her arms confused. Marinette feels the lump form in her throat, "You're right, if I tell him he would know I was there for his fathers final hours... AND WHO KNOWS HOW HE WOULD REACT I CAN NEVER TELL HIM!" She shouts covering her face hyperventilating. "I'm going to have to lie to him for the rest of my life, he can never know I was the reason his father is dead. I can't let him know. Neither can Chat Noir, it's too risky even now." She cries watching her phone light up on her desk as an incoming call from Adrien appears. She grimaces, "Of course... he has some sort of psychic powers or something." She sniffs picking up her phone accepting the call. 

  Adrien appears smiling at her through the phone, "Hey sorry for the sudden call, I hope you've been preparing yourself to discover your future career!" He winks cheerfully. Marinette titters nervously, "You know I already know what I want to do, Adrien!" She replies glancing at her unfinished fashion and designs projects scattered around her room. He nods in response glancing down at something off the screen.

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  After some long conversations about school coming up in the next few days Marinette becomes antsy thinking about his father. "I should go, was there something else you wanted to tell me? You look tired, Marinette." Adrien points out frowning through the phone. Marinette swallows the lump in her throat waving her hand in protest. "N-no, there's nothing! Just stressed about the new school and new responsibilities." She smiles looking at Tikki who was floating behind her phone watching in disbelief. 

  He nods gently, "I'll talk to you tomorrow then? Right?" He asks softly as if he was also holding something back. She nods in excitement, "Yeah! Remember Luka and Juleka are throwing a back to school party for all of us in celebration of the peaceful summer we've had!" She exclaims spinning in her chair happily, mostly to see him.
  He chuckles, "Goodnight, Marinette." He states smiling through the phone. "Goodnight, Adrien I'll see you tomorrow." She responds with a soft expression hanging up.

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  Adrien throws his phone across the room after she hung up bursting into tears. "I want to tell her, but I'm scared how she'll react, Plagg!" He sobs pulling his knees to his chest while he sits on his desk chair. Plagg groans watching the news, "Just tell her, believe me it'll explain a lot of things like why you flake on her so much when she wants to hang out but you have to deal with Ladybug and patrolling." Plagg explains watching Nadja interview Mr. Banana.
  Adrien whips his head towards Plagg, "You're right... she must assume I'm some sort of awful boyfriend who doesn't want anything to do with her." He mumbles pulling his knees closer to his chest. "What will I tell Ladybug?" He whispers watching Plagg tense. Plagg looks back at him concerned, "Be honest, she trusts you and shouldn't have a reason to be upset since she also told someone... remember Scarabella?" Plagg mentions crossing his arms. 

  Adrien nods, "You're right. I have the right to tell someone just like she did." He mumbles glancing at his phone. "I guess it'll have to wait for the perfect moment then." He sighs lowering his knees. Plagg nods in agreement, "You both love your perfect moments!" He mocks flipping through the channels.