He Can't Forget | ✓

2 | goodbye for now

Friday came a lot quicker than Adrien had anticipated. He'd secretly hoped that his time in Paris could have lasted a bit longer.

He was in the middle of packing his last carry on bag when he heard a knock on his bedroom door. Directing his eyes over to the door (and making sure that Plagg was nowhere in sight), he muttered a hastily come in before he directed his attention back to his bag.

The door cracked open shortly afterwards and Nino stepped inside. In his hands, he held... well, Adrien wasn't sure what it was. It was something that looked as if it'd been wrapped with brown newspaper in a hurry.

Nino smiled sadly, "Hey buddy."

Adrien replicated his smile. "Hey Nino. Glad you could come make it. Are you coming to the airport too?"

Nino sighed, "Sorry dude, but I won't be able to go with you to the airport. I have prior engagements that I can't cancel but..." He held his hands out the the blonde, "...I have a gift for you."

He had to admit, Adrien was slightly disappointed that his friend wouldn't be at the airport with him, but nonetheless, he kept his smile firm. "You didn't have to get me anything, Nino."

"But I did, and you have to accept it," Nino smirked, forcing Adrien to take his gift. Adrien shook his head with a smile as he began to unwrap it.

While Adrien busied himself unwrapping his gift, Nino shifted from foot to foot awkwardly. He then cleared his throat, breaking the unwanted silence. "Y'know it's not any of my business, but as your best friend I just have to ask... have you considered that maybe you could make your relationship with Marinette still work?"

Adrien squeezed his eyes the moment his ex-girlfriend's name was mentioned. He hadn't spoken to Marinette since that night, and the thought of not being able to see her again before he left was an awful memory.

And yes, Nino knew Adrien was Chat Noir. After years of helping Alya on her pursue to find out the heroes' identities, they both succeeded in finding out who he was. Sadly, Ladybug was able to keep hers up, despite Alya's failed attempts and determination.

The two heroes still kept their identities a secret to this day, even though Chat Noir had begged countless of times for Ladybug to reveal herself to him, and visa-versa. However, Ladybug was still determined to keep hers a secret.

And so far, she'd been successful.

"It will never work, Nino." Adrien sighed as he stuffed the last of his belongings into his carry-on bag. "Long distance relationships always fail."

"Not always," Nino tried to encourage. "Sometimes they work."

Adrien zipped up his bag forcefully, spinning on his heal to face Nino. "Okay, so let me rephrase that then. It won't work for me. I won't be able to handle my girlfriend being thousands of miles away from me."

"But, you still love her," Nino still insisted, a frown slowly itching it's way to his lips. "I mean, how do you think Marinette feels?"

Adrien knew Marinette wasn't taking it well, and who could blame her? She was his pride, his joy, and his rock. For as long as they were together, Chat Noir had constantly showered her with love and appreciation. He hoped that because their relationship was prospering, that he would've had the courage to tell her that he was Adrien someday. But now, all hopes of that ever happening had been burned to the ground.