Red And Black [AU] - ON HIATUS

Farewell

"Good luck, you're gonna need it," Camylla comfortingly placed a hand on her brother's shoulder as she released him from her sisterly embrace. The both of them stood in the center of one of the airport's terminals, neither of them wanting to go through with what was about to happen.

Adrien sighed, his stare shifting from his sister to the plane he was about to board - to return back to London, where a nightmare of a life awaited him - that could be seen through the transparent glass panels that replaced the usual solid concrete walls that you'd normally see in any regular building. But this was definitely not an ordinary building; it was a place where families and friends rejoiced and cherished the return of their loved ones, where they had parted ways in the first place, and also the place where many goodbyes were said; some - unfortunately - being their last.

But this wasn't going to be Adrien's last goodbye. Not to Camylla, not to Paris, and not to Marinette. He wouldn't let it be. He just couldn't let it be.

"I'll be back, Cam," He flashed her a small, sad smile; the only one that he had the will to muster "I promise,"

Her expression was unreadable, she turned away; as if not convinced that this wasn't her beloved brother's last visit to the city they had grown up in. "You can't go around making promises like that," She uttered when she looked back and faced him "You can't keep people's hopes up over something you can't control,"

Adrien went silent, his heart cracking slightly at the fault lines of his soul. He knew that he'd done it before; made a promise he couldn't keep, and it had ended in sheer tragedy. And yet, for some reason - unbeknownst to him - he kept on making new ones. Maybe he did it to comfort others, make them feel safe and secured when - in reality - it was all a hoax. Maybe he did it to give them a new light of hope in this world of darkness. Maybe he did it to prove that they were important enough for him to go out of his way in order to wield strings of fate that were out of his reach. But in the end, he just didn't know. "I...I know..." he heaved a heavy sigh, a sigh that portrayed his inevitable exhaustion of carrying that unseen heavy weight on his shoulders that burdened him with sleepless nights, pounding headaches and heavy heartaches.

Camylla shut her eyes tight, as if understanding his pain; the pain that wouldn't leave his life no matter how hard he tried "Then, why do you do it?"

"I have no damn idea," he retorted, earning a soft chuckle from his sister.

"Well then...maybe you should change it up a bit," She said, choosing her words carefully.

He cast his sister a questioning look "What do you mean?"

"Stop making promises you can't keep, it's no good for anyone," A sympathetic look crossed her face, a look that signified what she was about to do; speak the honest truth, no little sweet nothings and no pretty white lies. "It'll just keep people's hopes up and it'll burden you with the thought of not being able to face them once you know that the promise you'd made had been broken,"

The blonde hung his head in shame, a small chuckle escaping his lips "I take it back, you are the best at what you do,"

Camylla smirked, cupping a hand above her ear in a playful manner "What was that now? A compliment?"

Her brother looked up at her with the same playful grin and answered "No, but you sure can dream,"

Lightly shoving his shoulder, she smiled "Come on! We were having a moment!"

"Moment's over. You suck," he jeered.

"Moron," She insulted jokingly, sticking her tongue out at him like they did as kids. Of course they were far from being children now, but it couldn't hurt to be a kid every once in a while.

"Dummy,"

"Dimwit,"

"Meanie,"

"Jerk faced buffoon!"

He pouted "Why am I the jerk faced buffoon?"

A proud smile on her face, she remarked "Because I said so, and big sisters are always right,"

They burst out laughing and when their pouring happiness ceased, they knew that it was time to put their inner children away to the back of their mind and be serious. "Can't argue with that," Adrien shrugged, earning a genuine smile from his older sister.

"This conversation's gone sideways," she pointed out "Let's start over,"

"Fine by me,"

"Okay, so....where were we?" She squinted and rubbed her chin in thought "Okay. Good luck, you're gonna need it,"

"I-" The blonde stopped himself from answering. He couldn't promise her something that he wasn't sure of, he now realized that. So, he decided to promise her something that he knew he would and could do with a hundred percent certainty. "I"ll try my best and do everything I can to be back here again soon," One look at his sister's expression of approval and he knew that he'd done the right thing and could now do what he always did; make a promise, but this time, it was one he could keep "I promise,"

Camylla nodded, a grin etched onto her face; a grin that transitioned into a dejected smile when she realized that it was time for him to go, go back and leave everything else behind; not knowing if he would ever return. "There you go," her voice was merely a cracked whisper, a voice so fragile that you'd hate to see break. "And if you do come back, just know that I'll be waiting; and so will she,"

Camylla knew that she didn't even have to elaborate, Adrien knew who she was talking about; Marinette. He sighed "You sure that she'd want to see me?"

"No promises," She answered honestly. Their conversation was cut short - unfortunately - when it was announced that Adrien's plane was now boarding; it was time for him to leave. "Bye, dork," She bid him farewell as he solemnly walked away, regret lacing his heavy heart.

"See ya, sis," He whispered, mostly to himself; acknowledging the fact that he was leaving one of the only people who actually understood and cared for him behind, in a facade of dull, traveling suitcases and a crowd of unexpected goodbyes.

But I will be back, just wait for me. I'm sorry, Cam...

He thought to himself as he boarded his plane, sealing his fate once and for all. As the plane ascended into the atmosphere, he looked out the window and saw the city he grew up in, the city his family was built - and the city that it was destroyed in -, the city that housed uncountable bittersweet memories that he would forever cherish, the city that he was leaving behind. The higher the plane travelled the smaller the City of Paris appeared, but before it faded off into the dark nothingness of the night sky, he managed to make out the shapes and locate the Cesaire Asylum For The Criminally Insane. Wishing with all his might that Marinette could somehow hear him, she whispered underneath his breath.

"I'm sorry, Mari..."