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There she is. He’s finally found her! Searching for hundreds of years, never having run his hands through the sapphire blue hair, never having kissed perfect soft lips, never having the pleasure of hearing her voice or listening to the melody of her laughter. It’s all been torture, a throbbing ache in a never ending nightmare.
Since the day he lost her, he never thought he would see her again. They had beat Monarch years before the rise of a new villain appeared. However, this new villain seemed to be a hundred Monarchs combined. Virus had the peacock miraculous and with it created a sentimonster able to grant eternal life. Of course it was only intended to be used for her, so she could reign supreme over the new world she wanted to create, but in the final battle, where the United heroes, the Asian heroes, and every single miraculous holder was present, Chat Noir had been hit with the power.
Nobody had noticed and he successfully managed to capture the amok, but their existence ceased as the peacock holder deemed it useless now. Virus was far stronger than Monarch ever was, and in between the bloodshed, the hero's powers were dwindling down. Every one of them fought with all they could, but this villain was relentless. Viperion’s screams still echoed in his head, he can’t imagine what the snake holder had to go through that entire battle.
They had all been in critical condition by the end of it, but Ladybug manages to tackle the evil woman. However, they both took a deep dive into La Seine, a resounding crash of water being heard before silence. Chat Noirs yells her name and stares into the blue water, about to jump in, when a black spotted hand pops out from below the river. He’s already moving and grabbing the woman, using his baton to propel them to the other side.
Ladybug quickly casts her miraculous ladybug and instantly he feels better. The blue haired woman turns to him and grins, holding out the peacock miraculous in her right hand, and they both feel the years of stress on their shoulders evaporate.
“We did it, Chaton.”
“My god, my lady, finally-“
But to his horror she begins coughing, red, red, blood staining her lips and the pavement below their feet. Her left hand goes to grip the middle of her chest and he watches as garnet red appears black on her suit.
“W-what? What’s- what’s happening?-“
“Adrien, you need to-“ Ladybug coughs again, more of the liquid splattering everywhere, “I love you, I love you so much-“ She sharply inhales and cringes in pain.
The cat hero doesn’t understand what’s happening. Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? What is happening? Why is this happening? They finally did it, they finally defeated Virus, why-
“Marinette, what’s happening? What- the miraculous ladybug is supposed to heal you too-“
“Virus g-got me- underwater- Pigella and Pegasus d-died- had to give up me- for them-“ She manages but then collapses onto her knees. Chat Noir is right there with her, gripping her tightly. He puts her on her back and applies pressure to her wound, causing her to scream in pain.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, please no, no, stay right here, I-I’m gonna go get Luka to-“
“He… detransformed… member? For… passing out…” Her words are slurring and barely comprehensible, but his ears pick them up.
“No, my lady, please no, you can’t-“
“It’s.. happening… ‘m sorry… I love you… I love you… Adrien…”
“I love you too, oh god, I love you too, Marinette. Please, don’t leave me.”
—
He hates remembering that day. After he uttered those words he ran the fastest he could with her to their doctor, but there was nothing that could have been done. Virus had stabbed Ladybug straight in the heart, clearly aiming to kill. And she did.
Her transformation dropped, but the earrings suddenly disappeared and Tikki never made an appearance. Chat Noir can still feel Marinette’s body losing warmth, her breathing growing shallow, and the sound of her heart stop. He can’t remember what happened for the first few years after that. They won the war but the love of his life died, the only person he had left. Every hero has been too broken and Paris never had another villain since. Her funeral had been the most attended in Parisian history. Adrien decided to leave the place, never being able to go anywhere without seeing their past memories together.
He can’t remember exactly what happened after that, it's been so long, six hundred and thirteen years to be exact, but after twenty years he did notice something. He wasn’t aging. At the time of the battle he was twenty two, twenty years later at forty two; he still held the same exact features. Adrien had been beyond perplexed before he remembered. He can’t believe he forgot what happened, he always assumed the magic died with the user.
Plagg has been his only friend for the past six centuries. After losing his mother, father, and then soulmate, he never wants to make any connection again. Even the thought of another woman is revolting to him. Everyday he never fails to look up to the stars and talk to her, believing she can hear him. He’d have already taken his own life, but Plagg convinced him otherwise. This led to him being introduced to a different world, where only the gods lived. The god of destruction told him that he should at least stay the guardian of the miraculous, “Who knows what will happen one day?”
Here, Adrien learned things no other human, not even Master Fu, had been able to. It’s also where he learned about the possibility of reincarnation. Apparently, it’s happened with multiple miraculous users in the past, especially those who wielded the one of creation. Since gaining that information, Adrien has been on the search for Marinette.
The first day Adrien ventured into the world, he noticed Tikki hadn’t been present. However he decided not to comment on that, knowing Plagg is sensitive about her. They have no idea where she is. That is until yesterday.
“Adrien! Adrien! Kid, wake up, I feel her!”
The blond groggily blinks his eyes open, “You know I’m over six hundred years old now, I’m not a kid.” Is his raspy reply.
The black kwami scoffs, “I’m as old as time itself, you’ll always be a kid in my eyes. But no time, Adrien, I feel Tikki’s presence!”
The man shoots up from underneath his blanket, “What?!”
And now here he is, green eyes drinking in the sight of his other half. The only difference now is that she has her hair out, the style he always told her she looked most beautiful in, even though in his eyes she was always breathtaking.
“So, are you just going to sit here like a creep or go say hi?” Plagg sits on his shoulder, watching the woman from the roof as well.
“I think I should do it as Chat Noir.”
“W-what? No! I-“
“Plagg claws out!”
‘I don’t like you.’ Plagg speaks to him telepathically
“You love me.” The wielder snickers.
A scoff is heard.
And there sat a little kitty on the roof, all alone without his lady.
‘Not for long. Ugh, if only these people could leave her alone.’
He contemplates jumping down and using his powers to teleport them to her home. Yes, he can do it without Kaalki, as the horse is the one who taught him. That is what he learned, all the kwamis powers. They had discovered it by accident when one day Adrien, out of the suit, managed to turn a tree into dark matter, just like his cataclysm. Sass had been the one to deduce it to be the work of the kwagatama Plagg gave him all those years ago. No miraculous holder had lived past three hundred, when the jewel got sucked into his body, essentially giving him a piece of Plagg’s power. The other kwamis, having created strong friendships with the blond, also decided to give them their own, and as of his six hundredth birthday, he has mastered almost all of their powers.
Chat Noir could simply erase their minds if he suddenly took the woman but he doesn't want to cause her so much distress. He ends up following her to her home, where she seems to live alone. He sees a familiar red blob whizz out of her bag and land on her head.
‘Why is Tikki’s presence only visible now? Marinette’s already twenty.’ He questions in his mind, but it’s quickly gone as he takes in the scene. His green eyes water at the way her lips turn into a smile as she begins grabbing random things from her fridge. His heart jumps as he notices it’s the recipe for her chocolate chip cookies.
Before he can stop himself, he creates a portal and steps into the kitchen where she is. Her back is to him but he can hear her humming, hands working without a thought. Oh god, he’s finally home. Chat Noir wants to cry so badly, hold her in his arms and truly never let go this time. She’s finally here, finally back, and so he does.
“WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?! TIKKI-“
The short woman struggles in his arms but he can’t find it in himself to care. Fate is too cruel to him, can’t he at least get a hug?
“Oh sugar cookies, please don’t hurt me, please, I don’t have much b-but I’ll g-give you everything you want!”
At that he quickly backs up and twirls her around, taking in the tears in her diamond eyes and trembling lips.
“Oh god, Marinette, I’m so sorry, I never meant for this to happen like this-“
“W-who are you? How do you know my name? Please don’t hurt me!”
The black cat feels a pang in his chest at the fear she displays, never having seen her this scared before. “Sh, it’s okay, I promise I won’t hurt you, trust me that’s the last thing I want. I’m so sorry for this, I’ll explain everything in just a second. Tikki, please help me out.”
Shaking blue eyes glance up to him before looking at the red kwami appearing beside her. The goddess of creation gasps at the sight of him, “Ad- Chat Noir?!”
The blond nods his head and sends her a toothy grin, “Yes, it’s me Tikki, the model who Ladybug fought Monarch and Virus with, Plagg wants to say hi but I can’t allow that just yet, please understand and help me.”
“Marinette, it’s okay, he won’t hurt you. He’s… an old friend. You can trust him.” Tikki floats down and nuzzles her cheek. Chat Noir trembles with the need to do the same but manages to control it.
“Okay… now explain how and why you’re in my house.” The woman crosses her arms.
“Do you know about The Battle of Miraculous that happened back in two thousand twenty two?”
She nods her head carefully, “Yeah, the one where Ladybug, Chat Noir, and their team fought and defeated Virus.”
He swallows as he hears her say his name, “Tikki, have you talked to her about that time?” He glances at the goddess, who shakes her head.
“Okay, Marinette please don’t freak out when I say this, but you’re the reincarnation of Ladybug and well… I’m Chat Noir. I was struck by a sentimonster that gave me eternal life and… well I’ve been looking for you.”
Blue eyes blink slowly, then rapidly, then slowly again.
“N-no, I think you have the wrong person-“
“No, he’s right, Marinette. I’m.. well I’m the miraculous of the ladybug, the goddess of creation. You were Ladybug but during the battle you died. You were the best Ladybug I ever had so I knew I had to give you another chance at life, you left the world too young.” The soft voice comes from Tikki, who rests on her shoulder.
The blue haired woman blinks before she sways for a second, Chat Noir moving quickly to stop her from falling.
“I- I need to- to lay down, for a moment.”
“Of course, my lady.” She squeaks as he swoops her into his arms, carrying her like it’s their wedding day all over again to the bed. However, this time the situation is completely different.
He manages to find her bedroom quickly, the apartment truly is insanely small, before laying her down in the twin sized mattress. She looks up at him as he stands on the side, “If you don’t mind, can you.. go?”
He stares down at her, before frowning, “No.”
‘Kid, come on, don’t be a creep.’
“I just found her, I'm not letting her go again.” Chat Noir scoffs.
“Are you talking to me?” Her melodic voice asks.
“No, sorry, princess, Plagg is talking to me in my head.”
She stares up at him with confusion before slowly nodding her head, “… Okay..”
He sighs before opening a portal and pulling a chair into the room. The woman watches with fascinated eyes and he feels a bit smug at her expression.
“I can do much more than that.”
“Can you make more chairs?!” She asks excitedly. God she’s so cute.
“Oh, um, actually that’s the one power I never have been able to learn.” He scratches the back of his neck, flushing slightly.
“Oh, why not?” Her body turns over completely to focus on him and he is so fucked because there’s a blush on his cheeks, he can feel it. Just from having her attention, god he needs to get a grip.
“Tikki, she’s the goddess of creation, and I can’t just learn how to make things out of nothing without her.”
“How do you have these powers anyway?”
And the black cat is delighted to tell her everything, he could talk about the French dictionary if that’s what she wanted to do. He’s just so, so happy, he doesn’t think an emotion has ever been so prevalent through his body. Hell, he didn’t even think it possible to feel any positive emotion since he lost her. And now, here he is, talking to her, listening to her breathing, watching her eyes twinkle in the sunlight, her cheeks grow a soft pink, and most importantly, hear her small bits of laughter.
Chat Noir continues talking until he watches her eyes close and her breathing even out. He detransforms and watches Plagg race to Tikki’s side.
He knows the kwami’s about to scream his head off and quickly opens a portal as they collide, sending them both to the kitchen again.
Adrien sits and watches the love of his life breathe. Finally, he can be happy again.
—
He is not happy.
Marinette attends a university everyday. She instructed Chat Noir to use the house as he wishes but he doesn’t like that. He needs to be beside her, no matter what. So, using a bit of kwami magic, he is now a transfer student at Universite de Paris, and has all the same classes as the woman.
He sits beside her in her first class now, not particularly interested in what the professor has to say. He’s sitting on a gold mine, really. He hasn’t worked since his modeling days and never will have to. Chat Noir wants to tell Marinette the same thing, that he could take care of her. Not that he would take away her option of pursuing a career. He smiles stupidly as he remembers her major, fashion design. Some things never change.
‘That’s nice and all but why do you still have to be transformed?’
Emerald eyes roll at the repeated question. What doesn’t Plagg understand? Being Chat Noir gives him stronger powers and a mask to hide behind. He doesn’t think he can face the reincarnated love of his life as Adrien Agreste just yet.
Chat Noir gets up as Marinette does before the professor calls the short woman up to her desk. Naturally, the cat hero accompanies her.
“Hi, Marinetta darling! I was wondering if you could take these to the studio for Judith. I would but I forgot I have a meeting right now, I’m so sorry.” She gestures to a box full of fabric and other tools.
Marinette shakes her head, “Don’t worry about it, Michelle. I’ll take it, no problem.”
“Ah thank you, darling, what I would do without you I don’t know!” She blows a kiss before leaving the room.
“I can take it for you-“
“No, Chat Noir. I appreciate it but you’ve been doing things for me all week, I don’t mind doing some heavy lifting. Don’t you think people will start to think we’re… you know.”
His heart stutters as the reply is just the same as others he heard centuries ago.
“No, just date me.”
Her face flushes to look like a strawberry.
“N-No. Also, don’t follow me this time.”
Cue a record scratching, his ears flatten, “I-Is something wrong?”
“N-no, I just want a moment alone, please?”
Every cell in the hero’s body is screaming No! But he can’t go against her wishes. He’s going to follow her anyway… not that she’ll know.
And follow her he does. He teleports from classroom to classroom, watching through the glass of the window as she walks down the halls. She does as she’s instructed and he deems it safe enough to recharge Plagg for a second. However, he comes back to a guy rubbing his face against his princess, laughing and carrying some of the load she had. Something inside of him breaks and he jumps through the glass, hoping it hurts the guy who dared be so affectionate with his soulmate. He made sure nothing would hit Marinette, casting a shield using sublimation on her.
“C-Chat Noir? What the hell are you doing?!”
He can’t hear anything but the deep voice inside of him screaming mine mine mine mine mine! He grabs her wrist and teleports them back to her house.
“Who was that?”
“W-what? Chat, why did you-“
The black cat groans before gripping his hair, “Marinette, don’t look at other men like that. Don’t let them touch you like that.” He steps towards her and she steps back, a little dance they follow the steps to until her back meets the bedroom wall.
“I don’t understand-“
“I love you. So much. And I can’t stand the thought of you being close to another man, please, for my sanity, only be close to me.” He whispers, purring at the explosion of red on her cheeks.
“Chat… we’ve only just met, in my eyes. Please take that into consideration. I can’t lie…” she bites her lip, “I’m definitely attracted to you, but I don’t know you well enough for a relationship yet, okay?”
Chat Noir stares at her for a second before nodding, “Okay. I’ll wait then.”
“Wait for what?”
“For you to fall in love with me.”
He can feel the heat radiate off of her, “W-why do you say that like it’s guaranteed?!” She huffs.
Chat Noir chuckles before getting close to her face, “Because we’re meant to be, Marinette.”