Driven by Love

Chapter 15: Hope

I wanna believe in it all again. Music and art, faith and love. I wanna believe that I've made the right choices and I'm on the right path. And there's still time to fix the mistakes I've made. I guess I want hope.
— Peyton Sawyer

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Chat Noir landed on the roof just as the sun was settling over the Paris skyline. He really was blessed to live in such a beautiful city, though he couldn't help but feel the monochromatic edge it would take on without the palette of colour Marinette brought to his life.

As he dropped his transformation he could hear the merry chatter of the outdoor bars and restaurants around the area; the pathetic fallacy of the background noise drove Adrien deeper into a depressive state. He sat with his back to the wall and cried.

"Hey Kid," Plagg made his way onto Adrien's shoulder trying to calm his wielder as much as he could. "I know this won't help a lot at the moment, but just so you know I'm here for you and I'm not going anywhere." He snuggled into Adrien's neck and cupped his little stubby arms around Adrien's cheek.

"Thanks Plagg." Adrien sniffed and lay his head back against the cold brick, slightly banging it a few times before letting it settle. "What can I do? There must be something. In a spell book or combining the Miraculous'?"

"Wow, wow, wow! Don't turn all Hawk Moth on me kid! No combining yours and Ladybugs miraculous', it doesn't come without a price."

"I'd give my own life so she could have hers. Honestly, I can't live without her. I have no desire to."

"And you think she ... wouldn't ... say ... the," Plagg's words got more spaced out as he was talking. "I've got an idea. I need to go to Tikki."

Before Adrien could question his kwami any further Plagg had disappeared through the door, and Adrien guessed to Marinette's room. He stood up and tried to sort himself out. Making his way to the stairwell door he opened it and stepped in, letting it fall behind him closing out the cheery noises of the crowds below.

As the thunder of the concrete stairs echo'd through his head, each step added a little more to the pain already seated there. He stepped out onto the correct floor and straight into Luka.

"What are you doing here?" Adrien asked not having the patience for any small talk.

"Managed to break away from your other girlfriend for a little while to come and see your ex. How sweet!"

"I haven't got time for this Luka." Adrien went to walk around him to find Tom and Sabine when Luka's hand collided with Adrien's shoulder pushing him a couple of steps back. Adrien was having issues keeping calm, was everyone out to test the powers of the God of destruction this evening?

"I'm not getting into this here. Just please let me past."

"Why? Do you need to raise your profile? Is your modelling career bombing now you're no longer all over the tabloids with Marinette. Can you believe those unknown heroes have knocked you two off the top spot. You must be devastated? Pretty boy Agreste, no longer Paris' sweetheart, beaten by a Cat." Luka started to laugh spreading the distinct smell of alcohol to Adrien's nose.

"Luka, I think you need to go and grab a coffee and then we can talk about this. Neither of us are in the right frame of mind at the moment and I need to go and see Mari." Adrien tried again to walk past the inebriated Luka to no such luck. This time Luka grabbed him. He'd obviously overestimated his own strength and underestimated Adrien's. Quickly and effortlessly Adrien grabbed Luka's wrist and locked it behind his back.