Miraculous Team ✔️

36

Ladybug thrusted her hands in front of her and a powerful beam of light charged forward, heading directly towards Hawkmoth. The others followed her lead. The colorful rays blinded Hawkmoth and he wailed.

When the brightness finally faded away, Hawkmoth felt his legs give up beneath him. Weak and panting heavily, he didn't even have the energy to move.

He looked up to see the end of Rena's flute pointed at his chest, a satisfied smile on her face. The heroes crowded behind her. He flinched, bracing himself for the final blow. But it never came. Confused, he lifted his head up again. His son gently pushed Rena aside and took her place.

"We use the Miraculous for the greater good, not for our own selfish needs." Adrien said, kneeling down.

He reached out and took the butterfly brooch off Hawkmoth's suit. He didn't have the energy, nor the motivation to stop him. Within seconds, Hawkmoth was Gabriel Agreste again. Adrien stared at him intensely, then stood up, clutching the butterfly Miraculous in his hand. His eyes continued to drill into his father.

"I want to hear it from you." Adrien said, tone deadpan, "Why'd you do it?"

Gabriel spoke slowly and softly. "I did it for us."

Queen Bee rolled her eyes and Rena suppressed a snort. Carapace tapped his fingers impatiently on his shield. Ladybug placed a comforting hand on Adrien's stiff shoulder.

"No you didn't." Adrien raised his voice, "If you did it for us, for me, you would have told me, not hide secrets, not lock me up in this stupid mansion you call home, not neglect me, not hurt me. I thought that you were giving me some kind of tough love." He allowed himself to shout. "Well I'm pretty damn sure this isn't tough love, huh? What kind of a horrible father are you? What would mother say?"

Gabriel stayed down, mouth agape. Adrien felt Ladybug gently rubbing his shoulder, silently telling him to calm down, and that she was there for him. Adrien breathed, then continued.

"You even had the 'decency' to hurt my friends, even after you knew who Cat Noir was. You hurt the very people who showed me more love than you ever have in your entire life." He reached up, held onto Ladybug's hand and sent his father a glare, "And you hurt her."

Saying those words opened a wound in his heart and suddenly he broke into angry sobs. Her hold on him tightened.

"You're a monster."

Adrien turned around and walked away. Ladybug wanted to follow him, but a wave of his hand dismissed her.

Rena pulled her back. "Leave him alone for a bit. He needs time." She said, "Let's take care of mister butterfly over here first."

An hour later, Marinette watched as Gabriel Agreste was forced into a police car, hands shackled behind his back. The sirens rang all through Paris as its supervillain was finally captured. The buzz of the city was wild. The talk of throwing an event to celebrate was in the streets. Nino, Alya and Chloe was being interviewed by the press and was surrounded by a crowd of photographers. Despite all the excitement, Marinette only had one thing on her mind.

"Thank you very much, miss." One of the cops said to her, "We have it covered. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day."

Marinette smiled a little and nodded. She ducked under the crime scene tape and strolled back into the Agreste mansion. The place seemed even colder than usual, which genuinely surprised her. She roamed the halls and found him exactly where she expected him to be.

"Hey."

Adrien turned around sharply and exhaled in relief when he saw her. "Sorry, I guess I'm still a little shaken up." He said, taking his hand off his mother's old casket.

"What's up?" Marinette sat down next to him.

"They took her away just a while ago." He replied, "She's being taken to hospital, where she can actually be taken care of."

Marinette took his hand in hers. "I know. I was asking about you."

Adrien shrugged in response.

"You know, that was awfully brave of you, speaking up to your father like that."

"No." Adrien shook his head and looked away.

"Adrien." Marinette touched his face and gently made him turn towards her, "Talk to me."

"Mari, I-" He shuddered, tears started, "I- I let him hurt you."

"Oh my gosh, Adrien, no." Marinette held his face in her hands, heart throbbing with emotion, "You did not. Do you need me to count all the times you've saved me? All the times you sacrificed yourself for me?"

"Hawkmoth was right in front of me all this time. I should've done something about it-"

"You didn't know."

"I should've known."

"It doesn't matter anymore, okay?" Marinette said, "Hawkmoth is gone. Everything's okay now. We're all safe. Everything will go back to normal."

"I don't think anything would go back to normal." Adrien replied, "Our lives are never going to be the same again, Mari. Never. Especially now everyone knows who we are. And let me tell you, being famous is not fun."

"We'll find a way. Alya, Nino, Chloe..." Marinette smiled a little, "You and me."

Adrien smiled. "Against the world, m'lady."

Marinette's jaw dropped slightly and she laughed, wondering how in the world she was lucky enough to call him her boyfriend. And to Adrien, it was the most beautiful sound in the world. Suddenly, his brain completely disconnected from his body and he pressed his lips on hers.

Feeling her smile through the kiss made it even better.

He pulled away slowly and watched her blue eyes flutter open in a daze. He loved that he could do that to her. He was about to close in again when Marinette moved slightly to his ear and whispered.

"I love you."

She giggled at his stunned expression and pressed her forehead against his.

"I- I love you too, Mari."

He laughed, then grabbed her face, "I love you so much, Mari, you have no clue. God, do I love you!"

But before Adrien could steal another kiss from his bugaboo, someone started clapping loudly from the other side of the room.

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Yay! We love our brave bugaboy. Reflekdoll came out today and I haven't stopped internally screaming. Adrien as misterbug and Mari as ladynoir is everything I've ever wanted in live. I can die happy now. Hahaha. Love y'all.

Bug out!