When Walls Crumble

Chapter 46: Promise

Adrian reverently placed the butterfly pin in the miracle box.  Marinette shut it and breathed a sigh of relief.

"If I wake up right about now, I'm going to be extremely ticked off."

Adrian chuckled.  He swept her into a hug.

"We did it, m'lady.  You and I."

"The two of us.  Together against the world..."

He kissed her cheek.  "Bugaboo, that's my line."

"Silly Kitty..."

Their lips met.  

Plagg and Tikki hovered there for several minutes before interrupting.

"Marinette, Luka gets out of school soon."

Adrian blushed as she pulled away.  "I'm sorry, princess, I didn't mean to..."

"Oh, shut up, kitty," she laughed.  "We need to be there in about five minutes.  Driving, that's barely enough.  But if we went via rooftops..." she flashed him a sly smile and he smirked.  

"I'll give you a headstart, Bugaboo."

"I don't need it.  Spots on!"

"Claws out!"

The two heroes leap onto the balcony.

"Ready, set, GO!"

Marinette won.  With a double flip and gratuitous hero land (see Bubbler) behind the school, she de-transformed.  Before the red light faded, Cat Noir landed beside her and transformed back as well.

"Your yo-yo gives you an unfair advantage," he whined.

"Adrian, you little precious cupcake. You just aren't maximizing your baton angles and acceleration."

"You do it then if you're so clever."

"Gladly.  On the way back, we switch.  I'll even carry Luka."

"Marinette!"  Tikki protested.

"Oh, he already knows."

Tikki sighed.  "Whatever."

"Sugarcube, you need to relax.  They already took down the villain.  All of Paris could know now."

"But..."

"She should switch to the turtle anyway.  Now that she's the guardian, she needs to be able to protect it.  Shell-ter is the best power for that."

Tikki shook her head.  "You're right, but that doesn't mean she should be reckless."

Plagg facepalmed.  "Paris deserves to know that they are safe.  I think these two might like to get some credit for all their hard work over the last decade or so."

Marinette shuddered.  "Not at the cost of a paparazzi.  I had to deal with that the day Adrian's perfume ad came out.  Horrible."

Adrian chuckled.  "I remember hiding in a dry fountain with the cutest girl I knew."

Marinette blushed and shoved him gently.  "We'll finish this conversation another time.  I have to get my son."

They walked around to the front, unaware that they were holding hands still.  Luka caught sight of them and ran over.  "So are you two..."

Adrian cut him off and dropped Marinette's hand.  "We're picking you up today and going for a fun race.  Come on, bud."

Marinette took off her earrings and Adrian took off his ring.  When they swapped, the gems changed ever so slightly to fit the owner.  The black cat miraculous changed nearly imperceptibly, but the ladybug earrings became clip-ons.

When the kwamis re-appeared and analyzed the situation, Plagg groaned and Tikki sighed.

"Oh well, let's get his over with," the creation kwami breathed.

"Tikki, spots on!" Adrian shouted.

"Plagg, claws out!" Marinette echoed.

Marinette swept Luka onto her back.  "Hold on," she turned with a mischevious glint in her eye to her partner.  "Ready, Bugaboy?"

"Whenever, m'Ladynoire."

"Alright: Three...Two...One...Go!"

Marinette won again.  Adrian begrudgingly laughed and switched the earrings for his ring.  

"See kitty?  The weapon has nothing to do with it."

"Yeah, yeah, bugaboo.  You're right.  As always."

"Why did you pick me up as superheroes?" Luka asked.  "I thought you had to be careful."

Marinette laughed.  "My dear little boy, today is a special day!  Adrian won!  He got Hawkmoth's miraculous and we don't have to worry anymore!"  She gazed off towards the Seine.  The Sea Serpent was still docked there.  A tear traced down her cheek.  

Adrian noticed.  "Marinette?  What's wrong?"

"I-I miss him.  We never left the city for our honeymoon because I was Ladybug.  But he promised me that the day we got the butterfly pin, he would book the first available flight and we would go travel around the world.  That should have been today."

Adrian nodded and gently wiped her cheek.  "Well, that makes what I was just about to say slightly awkward.  But I'll tell you this evening.  We actually should probably transform and go to the news station.  Alya and Nino can watch Luka."

"Are you two gonna be on the news?"

"Maybe, we'll see."