Without his Lady

Epilogue

This chapter is kinda just for funsies lol

~♡~one year later~♡~

Adrien didn't go to school that day. Despite the fact it was a Friday. He wouldn't have gone even if it was open.

Nothing was open today.

The 5th of december had become something of a national holiday. Schools were closed, malls were closed, not even Adré's Sweethearts Ice Cream Shoppe was open.

Everyone was on the brink of celebration and mourning.

The fifth of December.

The day Hawkmoth had been defeated.

But also the day Paris's hero had perished.

For many, particularly those who held no real affiliation to Ladybug aside from Nationalist loyalty, the day planned to be similar to the American Fourth of July ceremonies; a celebration of freedom from Hawkmoths reign of terror.

For some, namely, Adrien Agreste, the past couple of weeks had been rife with memories long buried, habits thought to be dropped, and the day was already turning out to be a nightmare at just nine am.

Unlike most normal mourners, Adrien was being forced to go have a "special 5th of December Ladybug-iversery picnic" (Alyas words, not his) at the 'prime spot' right next Ladybugs memorial statue, followed by a visit to the cemetery for what was hopefully "a peaceful visit to an old friend" (again, Alyas words, there was no way Adrien would call the stress that came with visiting Marinette 'peaceful')

It was nine am. Five past nine actually. And Adrien was having what seemed like a panic attack twenty minutes before he had to leave.

He was dressed, he had a light breakfast, the kwamis were all asleep, and he was supposed to be packing his bag for the picnic.

But now, Adrien was flat on his bed, facing the ceiling, having trouble remembering his left and rights, right before he needed to meet half his class at the statue. It felt like a whole herd of elephants had decided to have a nap on Adriens chest, compressing his lungs and increasing his anxiety.

His palms were sweating, his throat was tight, the elephant's weren't showing any signs of leaving and he was stuck laying on his back, trying to regulate himself by doing simple maths.

Simple proved not so great however because Adriens head was so consumed with a seizing anxiety that he couldn't even tell his left hand from his right.

"Hey kid you ready- are you okay?" Plagg asked, waking up and downing a wheel of cheese.

"I- I can't..." breath. He can't breath.

"Oh. Oh!" Plagg exclaimed, zipping infront of Adriens face and attempting to focus his attention.

Adrien shoved as much of the ensuing panic as he could into the darkest corners of him mind, hoping that by ignoring it and focusing on Plaggs slow movements...

Nope! He was in his head again. He needed to remember what Ladybug had told him, the one time he'd panicked over an akuma. Something about toes and...and fingers?

On a whim, Adrien divided his attention between keeping his eyes trained on Plagg, wiggling his extremities, and tackling the anxiety that polluted his mind like a drug.

Plagg.
Wiggle.
Happy.
Think happy.
Don't think about Ladybug.
Don't think about the picnic.
Don't think about how late you are.
Keep your eyes trained on Plagg.
Listen to Plaggs rambling.
Think of anything else.

One by one, the elephants abandoned their place on his chest, the boa constrictor unravelled from his throat, he could tell his left and rights again.

In a moment of calm, Adrien launched himself off the bed, going with 'it can't catch me if i keep moving' like a petulant five-year-old.