"the moth's apprentice" chat noir x y/n

Mysterious Winds

Content Warning: suicide attempt

They found the torn journal page at the top of the Eiffel Tower.

His name, scratched onto the back, rang in Adrien's head like a dire warning. He didn't read it, couldn't bring himself to, but he couldn't leave it either. Marinette saw him slip the paper into his pocket when he thought she wasn't watching.

The only visible change in Paris was the weather—a consequence of the union of the Miraculous. It wasn't raining now, like it had been, but the sky hung heavy with bloated clouds.

The former superhero duo, cat and ladybug, stood together against the crippled railing, backs hunched against the wind that trickled through the rusted grates of the tower.

"You cannot go on like this," Marinette said, her face turned away from Adrien. The wind carried her words toward him, striking rather than landing softly.

Adrien's face blanched, but his eyes remained unreadable. "How do you expect me to forgive her?"

"I don't," Marinette said plainly. "But you need to go to her."

Adrien said nothing. The paper in his pocket burned like an ember against his skin.

He could not do it.

He could not see Y/N.

"It isn't right, Adrien," Marinette said.

"Yeah, well, she's the reason Paris will be destroyed."

"No," Marinette snapped. "It's not right how you're treating her. She made a mistake, but she did it for you. I don't know many people who would sacrifice an entire city just to bring back their boyfriend's mother."

"I never asked her to do that." Adrien's face flamed with anger. "She gave my father exactly what he always wanted. She became the villain for him."

Marinette's eyes hardened. She met Adrien's gaze with quiet fire.

"She sacrificed her heroism for you."

_ 

It was true -- there hadn't been any repercussions yet, but that didn't mean something terrible wasn't on its way, Adrien thought bitterly. The Agreste Mansion had become a tombstone in Emilie's absence, and now that she was back, it was more like a shrine -- every common object, every decision, every meal dedicated to her. 

It simply wasn't right, was all Adrien could think. Sooner or later something awful would happen and the consequences of defying natural order would rear their ugly heads. Once that happened, Adrien would finally be able to scream at his father, I told you so. 

He would say the same to Y/N -- a satisfying reprimand to her unthinkable action of betrayal. And yet, thinking the words "I told you so", felt off. In bad taste, perhaps. A sickening feeling coiled in Adrien's stomach. 

"It's dinnertime, my love," said Emilie from the doorway. "Your aunt and Felix are waiting downstairs." 

That's it, Adrien thought. 

The whole world has gone and lost its fucking mind. 

Gabriel had invited their extended family -- Emilie's sister and her son, whom he'd literally akumatized two weeks ago -- to celebrate Emilie's return. Only, the power of the Miraculous made the outside world unaware Emilie had ever been gone. 

Adrien hated the fact that he was sulking. He'd missed his mother, he'd always wished for a present father, and he'd never had a good relationship with his extended family until now. But it all felt undeserved. Fake. 

Dinner conversation was upbeat and peppy, the exact opposite of how Adrien was feeling. 

"Pass me the peas, dear," Emilie said, smiling warmly at Felix. He obliged. 

At that moment, the phone rang, and a jubilant Gabriel stood to answer it. He came back a short minute later, his face grey and morose. 

"What's wrong?" Emilie asked, concern deepening her eyebrows. 

"Adrien, tell me you have spoken to Y/N recently," Gabriel said, frowning heavily at his son. 

Adrien scowled, thinking of the unread letter and Marinette's lecture the other night. "No." 

Gabriel's eyes seemed far away, almost moist. "Y/N is in the hospital." 

"What?" Emilie gasped. "Is she okay?" 

"No," Gabriel said, his mouth hardening. "She tried to take her own life."