Keep the Mask, It Goes With Your Costume

~Chapter Twenty-Four: The Return~

Marinette Dupain-Cheng sat up in her bed and looked at the clock, 7:30, for once she wouldn't be late for school. This was going to be the first time in months that anyone would see her, and she had to mentally prepare herself for it. She also for once was at a loss when it came to excuses, and had no idea what she would tell people when they asked where she was for such a long time, so she just figured she would avoid the question for long enough until everyone forgot about it.

When she stepped outside after getting dressed and eating breakfast, the air was cool and crisp. There were clouds in the sky, and the sun barely shone through. Many small gusts of wind blew across her face and made her soft hair flow behind her. For some reason being Marinette again made her want to keep her hair down more often, maybe just because she was scared people would find out and recognize her as ladybug. Since it was still pretty early, she wasn't expecting anyone to be at school yet, which was ideal, she sorta wanted to walk alone in the halls and refresh her memory of what it was like. The last time she had stepped foot in that place she left with an angry akuma villain on her tail and a broken miraculous, so she was excited to quietly refresh herself of the area. But to her surprise, there was a huge crowd around the front of the school, mostly made up of students. At least 50 teenagers clearly surrounding someone in the middle. This actually might be good, she thought to herself, now no one will really notice me, they're clearly distracted by someone else. She creeped a little closer to the crowd and went on her tip toes to try to see what all the commotion was about. In the corner of her eye she saw......it was Adrien in the center! And he was.........CRYING?! Marinette gasped and her own eyes filled up as well....she remembered that this morning it was released to the public on the news that Gabriel Agreste was arrested, everyone probably knew now.

She looked around and couldn't find any of her classmates and friends in the crowd, which meant none of Adrien's friends were around either. Listening to what the kids near the front were saying to him broke her heart, "Can you believe your father would do something that evil?!" or "Are you living alone in the mansion now?" they would scream in his face, making it worse and making him cry harder. He was clearly so uncomfortable and felt embarrassed that he was getting so emotional in front of all these people. Worst of all, they would act coldly to him as if he was the one who committed the crime, "How dare you Agreste?!" they yelled, along with "get out of here and go hang out with other stuck-up, money-crazy celebrities!" And the ones who weren't screaming in her face were all whispering horrible things about him to their friends, but he could clearly see them doing it.

Marinette tensed up and her blood boiled, without even realizing it, it was like her 'hero switch' turned on, and she was thirsting for justice. Her hands became fists, and her smile turned into a growl, she couldn't stand watching all these people treat Adrien like that. And the worst part was that deep down she still blamed herself completely for her friends predicament. The back of her mind was still scolding her, telling her it was her fault his mother wasn't back, and her fault that his father was in prison. These people were all yelling at him became of her, and she wasn't going to take another moment of it.

So she ran. She pushed her way through the crowd making fists with her hands, shaving people away so she could get to him as soon as possible, tears streaming like a waterfall out her face. When she made it to the middle of the surrounding circle, she stopped. She saw Adrien. And Adrien saw her. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped, his mind and mouth were struck dumb, he couldn't even blink or say a word. Without hesitation she ran and crashed into him so fast he nearly fell over, Her arms wrapped around his torso and she squeezed him tight "I'M SORRY I'M SORRY I'M SO SORRY" she said over and over through buckets of flowing tears. Her eyes were pressed against him and she couldn't let go, making his shirt practically soaked from her tears. It only took a moment of shock and realization before he hugged her so tightly back, pressing himself even harder against her, neither of them had a chance of letting go. His eyes continued streaming as well, but now only of happy tears, he couldn't even comprehend his joy at Marinette's return. For a moment they both forgot, they forgot that they were surrounded by people, they forgot that they were supposed to be sad. Adrien didn't even for a moment think about how he was upset that Ladybug never came back, and Marinette never thought for a moment of how all the bad currently in Paris seemed to be her fault. All they could think of was how happy they were to be together again, and how they had missed one another so much. It was as if they were alone in a long hallway and could be in each others embrace for hours without saying a word, yet completely understanding one another. For both of them, it was the happiest moment in a long time. And somehow, the crowd knew it too...all of the angry students just slowly quieted down, and let the two of them have their moment, they both deserved it.

After some long awaited moments together both of their eyes dried up, the crowd had begun to disperse, and still in each others embrace they could only hear the sound of the others heartbeat, which for both of them was beating pretty heard. Adrien took a couple deep breaths, then spoke to her when everyone had left, they knew they were going to be late for class but didn't care. "I missed you so so much Marinette, not a day went by where I wasn't sick to my stomach thinking about what might have happened to you. I sacrificed so much of myself to try to get you back but it never worked and I felt like a failure, I'm just so glad you're back now." He started tearing up again thinking about all he'd done to Ladybug, and Marinette started thinking about it too, of course she hadn't forgotten that he was also Cat Noir, and she started tearing up as well thinking about all the trouble they got in with one another as their alter egos, she was glad they were reunited again as regular teenagers without the world on their shoulders. Marinette wanted to say something back but nothing would come out except an apology while she thought of all she'd done to him, that he didn't even know of. "I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm so so sorry" she again continued over and over, only this time as more of a whisper, and with more silent tears.

Adrien grabbed her shoulders and gently yanked her off his chest, so that he could see her face. "Marinette what do you keep saying that for?" he asked as sort of a quiet yell "you're back and I'm happy, there's nothing left to be sorry for. And whatever you think you did that you need to apologize for, I forgive you. I'm just glad you're here."

Marinette didn't answer, and just looked down. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, letting his words sink in. She replayed it again in her head, and she smiled slightly. It was a small smile, but surely a genuine one. Even though Adrien would never even know all she did that she felt the need to apologize for, she knew that his forgiveness was true, and for that she was finally at peace with her actions. Without thinking about it she stood up on her tip toes and slung her arms around his neck, whispering in his ear "thank you.......I love you."

Given the situation, Adrien was under the impression she said that platonically, but he knew she meant from her heart either way, so he repeated back "I love you too Marinette," but at this point he didn't know whether he meant it platonically or for real, being in her embrace just felt so right.

Of course Marinette blushed a tiny bit, but she was too happy just being with him to scramble her words or get all nervous, the moment was perfect just as it was. The ball rang that would be dismissing them from their first period, and beginning their second. They realized they accidentally skipped the entire class. Marinette slowly backed away from his warmth and quietly spoke, "I guess we should probably go now, Ms. Mendeleiev might not be as considering as Ms. Bustier if we skip her class." She said to him with a sort of sarcastic smile. He only laughed at her "Marinette you've been skipping her class for like....months!"

She sort of smiled but it didn't last long, she didn't really want to think again about all the time she was gone and Adrien could see that on her face. Frankly, he didn't want to think about that time either "but you're back now, and that's what matters" he said as if he just read her mind. "You know," he continued "if you go back in there it's not going to be just us that misses class, everyone will parade around you Marinette, we've all missed you like crazy they'll be psyched just to know you're back." He said to her, still beaming at her return.

Marinette wanted to frown and think about how she left everyone and messed up and made people sad and worried, but she didn't, there was no point. Thinking bad at the past actions wasn't going to do any help. She was going to go in there, and she was going to be overjoyed to see all her friends again, as they will be for her, and she wasn't going to worry about anything hero related anymore. She was just going to be Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

Adrien startled Marinette a little bit by grabbing her hand, saying "come on, we'll go together." And the two of them walked into the school hand in hand.

Adrien was happy, Marinette was happy, and for once it just felt like they were two regular teenagers with regular teenage minds.

And whether they would fall forever in love with one another, and stay this happy for eternity, only time will tell.

(Keep reading for a surprise announcement in the next chapter :)