Chapter Text
Adrien awoke the next morning and, quite frankly, yesterday had felt like a fever dream. He had told Plagg that he would speak to Luka, yet felt extremely drained. He knew he would have to make his trip quick. Natalie would probably notice his absence if he was gone for too long.
What am I even going to say?
Hey Luka, I ruined everything. Got any tips?
He grudgingly got out of bed, heading to the bathroom and getting ready for the day. The cold tiles under his bare feet sent a shiver up his spine. He splashed cold water on his face, the shock of it helping ground him a tiny bit more.
“Plagg… I’ve decided,” Adrien started, his voice low, making Plagg perk up.
“I’ll go see Luka in Brazil and hopefully… he’ll give me some advice.”
Plagg’s eyes lightened up, and he hopped onto the counter, perching on a shelf. “I think that’s a good idea, Adrien.”
“Yeah,” Adrien muttered, avoiding Plagg’s gaze. “It’s not like I have anything better to do.”
He rubbed at his eyes, running a hand through his hair, feeling the events of yesterday catching up to him. Plagg tilted his head, watching him carefully, but stayed silent.
Adrien sighed, leaning against the sink. He would have to go as Chat Noir to make the trip as quickly as possible.
“Plagg,” Adrien started, “Claws out.”
He followed up with a quick power-up, tossing Plagg a piece of Camembert. Plagg caught it midair with a satisfied “Mmm, thanks.”
Adrien moved to the window, watching as Paris lay silent beneath the rising sun. For a moment, he just stared—streets emptying, rooftops glowing gold—and then he leapt. Launching himself into the sky, the wind rushing past, he felt a fleeting freedom, though it did little to ease the tension gnawing at him.
The trip took around twenty minutes. Adrien wasn’t entirely sure where Luka lived, but he had a general idea. Brazil unfolded beneath him in breathtaking color: lush greenery cascading into sun-kissed beaches, the Atlantic sparkling in the distance, and vibrant buildings painted in shades of coral, turquoise, and yellow. The city pulsed with life even from above.
He glided down into a dimly lit alleyway and transformed swiftly back into Adrien. His heart raced. What am I even going to say to him? Should he even mention his father? And what exactly should he say about Marinette? Adrien fumbled for his phone, hovering over Luka’s contact.
Hey, so im kinda in Brazil. Wanna meet up? he typed, hesitating for a second before sending.
Minutes later, his phone chimed.
Adrien! What a surprise. Meet you at the beach? Copacabana?
Yeah! See you there, he replied.
Plagg rustled in his shirt pocket, reminding Adrien that he was still there. Adrien felt slightly lost amidst the unfamiliar streets until he spotted a sign. Okay, great, he thought, I’m going the right way.
The beach was chaotic —families, tourists, and surfers everywhere. Definitely not the best place for a private conversation. Still, Adrien scanned the crowd until a flash of blue caught his eye. Luka. And next to him, a girl he didn’t recognize. Adrien frowned slightly but reminded himself that he couldn't have not expected Luka to make new friends. Assuming they were in fact friends.
He called out, “Luka!”
Luka turned around, his face brightening. “Oh hey, Adrien!”
Adrien weaved through the crowd, nodding politely at the girl beside Luka.
“Hi! I’m Irupé. And you must be the famous Adrien Agreste?” she said slyly, holding out her hand.
“Yeah… that’s me,” Adrien replied sheepishly.
Luka laughed nervously as the girl nudged him. “You never told me you were friends with Adrien Agreste!”
“Yeah… well,” Luka rubbed the back of his neck, grinning, “we’ve known each other a while.”
“So… Adrien! What brings you here?” Luka asked.
“Oh right…” Adrien glanced between the two of them, hoping he came off polite. “Well, I was hoping to speak to you… y’know, separately. If you have time?”
“Oh!” Luka brightened. “Of course!”
“We’ll be back Irupé,” Luka said, signaling Adrien to follow him. “We can go to the place I’m staying at… super nice! And Dad’s not home right now.”
“Oh cool! Where are you staying?”
“Well… the house is pretty small, we’re surrounded by a lot of people. It’s definitely different from Paris. But I like it.”
They made their way across the city, winding through narrow streets and sunlit alleys, until they stopped at a small yellow house nestled among others. Luka opened the door, and Adrien followed, shutting it gently behind him.
“I…” Adrien started, hesitating, “I’m not even sure where to start.”
“Adrien, I’m going to be completely honest with you—your melody is all over the place. What happened?” Luka asked, concern etched across his face.
Adrien swallowed hard. “I know this might be a shock, but you can’t tell anyone. I trust you, Luka. Please.”
“Adrien, I promise that whatever you tell me will stay in this room,” Luka said firmly.
“Thank you,” Adrien breathed, smiling earnestly. “My father… my father was Monarch.”
Adrien watched Luka’s eyes widen in shock, his face paling.
“What?” Luka said, his tone foreign, unfamiliar to Adrien.
“Adrien… what do you mean? Ladybug said he was the hero?” Luka’s voice sharpened.
Adrien jolted back, startled by the intensity of Luka’s reaction. “I know… it was a shock to me, too. Marinette… she lied.”
“No.” Luka’s voice was tight with horror. “You guys know each other's identities?” he asked, although he already knew the answer deep down.
“I just don’t know what to do!” Adrien exclaimed, running his hands through his hair. “She said she did it for me, but I can’t help but feel betrayed. How could she think I’d be too weak to handle the truth? And now she’s saying my father is the one who put her up to this lie in the first place! And apparently, my mother has been encapsulated in a basement I didn’t know we had!”
“Adrien,” Luka said, eerily calm.
“I know this is going to sound extremely weird,” Luka continued, “but I need your Miraculous.”
“What?” Adrien shrieked. “Why?”
“Adrien! Please, there is no time,” Luka said, his voice tinged with fear. “You and Marinette… you’re in serious danger.”
“Luka… what do you know?” Adrien demanded. “I can’t just give you my Miraculous! What are you going to do?”
“Adrien… some things are better left secret. Please—you need to trust me.”
“Ugh!” Adrien screeched, spinning around. “What is it with secrets? Secrets, secrets, and more secrets!” He slammed his hands against his knees, spiraling. “Can anyone just be straightforward with me?! You know, I came here thinking you could help!”
“I am! I’m trying to help, Adrien. I wish I could tell you,” Luka said wildly, “but—”
“But what, Luka?!” Adrien cut him off screaming, “claws out!”, his eyes narrowing. “I don’t know what’s going on with you, but until you decide to be straightforward with me, I can’t just give you my Miraculous!”
“Adrien, wait!” Luka said, reaching out—but Chat Noir was already dashing toward the door.
Unbeknownst to Luka, someone else was watching. Irupé crouched behind a lamppost outside the house, her brown hair tangled in a net braid, eyes wide as she followed Chat Noir as he flew across the city.
“Luka knows Chat Noir?” she muttered to herself in disbelief. And somehow… that’s most likely Adrien Agreste.
***
Marinette hadn’t heard from Adrien all morning, and honestly, she deserved it. She knew she did. She worried for him, a knot of nausea twisting in her stomach as guilt gnawed at her. This was a nightmare she couldn’t wake up from. She needed to figure out who the butterfly holder was—they had implied knowing everyone’s identity. But how could she do that without her partner?
Her mind raced. The holders were most likely confused with everything going on between her and Chat Noir, so she knew she had to devise something fast.
“Spots on,” she whispered, sending a quick text to the holders to meet her.
C’mon, Marinette, she hyped herself up silently. You can do this. You have to.
She made her way to the balcony and leapt into the sky, a harsh reminder of yesterday’s chaos threatening to unnerve her. Shaking herself free of the memory, she landed on the tower with a thump, waiting for the others to arrive.
Rena Rouge came first, followed by Carapace. The other heroes trickled in, until everyone was there within five minutes.
She hadn’t texted Chat Noir. She knew Adrien probably despised her right now. The most she could do was try to make it up to him. How? She wasn’t sure yet. But one thing she knew for certain: she loved Adrien Agreste.
Trying to muster confidence, she looked around at the heroes gathered before her.
“Thank you, guys, for showing up,” she began.
“Ladybug,” Pigella started, “what happened between you and Chat Noir? With the new butterfly holder loose and you guys in an argument—” She squeaked as Ladybug held out her hand, signaling her to stop.
“I’m sorry,” Ladybug said, her voice steady, though her stomach twisted. “I know you guys are worried—and that’s to be expected. You’re right. Me and Chat Noir did have an argument… one I can’t tell you about. I’m sorry. But just know that you can trust me completely.” She forced a smile, hoping it came off as genuine.
“I want to know what Chat Noir was mad about,” Minotaurox said.
“Yeah, me too!” CapriKid chimed in.
“Yeah… I know. It’s just—”
“Guys,” Vespieria interjected, “if Ladybug can’t tell us, I’m sure there’s a good reason! We need to put our faith in her.”
Ladybug gave her a kindly smile.
“I agree with Vespieria,” Rena Rouge added. “If Ladybug can’t tell us, it must be important. I’m sure she’s just trying to protect us.”
Ladybug took a deep breath. Here goes nothing, she thought. She didn’t want to turn her whole team against Chat Noir, but if it was what it took to keep the secret safe, she would. If the truth got out, she knew she would be painted as the enemy—and Adrien’s only guardian would be taken from him.
“If Chat Noir tells you something,” she said carefully, “don’t believe him. Not for a second. He’s confused right now… but he’ll come around. Trust me.”
Inside, she felt awful, hollow. She was going to puke. Who did she think she was, lying on Adrien’s behalf? But she had dug herself in a hole, and there was no getting out.
“Huh?” Carapace said. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Chat Noir’s a good person, and I’m sure he will still help us out. I’m sorry I can’t say much more.”
Ladybug looked around, meeting the skeptical eyes of the holders. She had power—they had to believe her.
“Right!” Ladybug said, clasping her hands together. “I think that’s enough for today,” she added, a newfound nervous energy bouncing off her. “You’re all dismissed!”
With that, the holders dispersed, chattering as they left. Ladybug was about to follow when something caught her eye—someone hadn’t left yet. Rena Rouge.
“I know you want to ask questions,” Ladybug began carefully.
“You’re right,” Rena Rouge replied, her tone skeptical.
Ladybug turned fully to face her, her voice firm. “There’s nothing for you to worry about.”
“But I am! I am worried. You’re taking on too much to handle. You can confide in me! I’m your right-hand woman! I’m here for you!” Rena Rouge’s eyes shone with genuine concern.
“I know,” Ladybug said softly, a sad smile tugging at her lips.
“I’ll see you later.”
With that, she took off, leaving Rena Rouge alone on the tower. The wind tugged at her hair as she stared after Ladybug, her unanswered questions echoing in her mind.
***
What the hell was Luka’s problem? Adrien thought, questions flying through his head. He couldn’t just waltz to conclusions and hand over his Miraculous without knowing what was going on. Did he really need it? And why now? The thought gnawed at him.
He was in the sky, the wind whipping past his face and tugging at his hair. Paris stretched out beneath him in a patchwork of gold rooftops and sparkling streets. From above, everything looked calm. Hopefully, he hadn’t been gone too long.
A few minutes later, he landed back in his room with a soft thump, muttering, “Claws off.” The faint echo of his landing bounced off the walls, reminding him how empty his room felt without anyone else there.
“This is why I don’t go through with any of your stupid ideas, Plagg! Look what happened—Luka is seriously losing it!” Adrien threw his hands in the air, pacing the room. His frustration radiated off him.
“Oh, come on,” Plagg replied, shoving a chunk of Camembert into his mouth. “How was I supposed to know he would act like that? Usually he’s all chill.”
Adrien ran a hand through his hair again, tugging slightly in exasperation. “I’m seriously questioning everything I once knew about the dude. I know he was training with the Guardians for a while, but what could be so serious he needs to take my Miraculous?”
He made his way downstairs, feet dragging slightly. Nathalie’s sharp, watchful gaze followed him from across the room.
“Adrien,” she began, her voice calm but probing, carrying that subtle authority that always made him hesitate, “are you seeing Marinette today?”
Adrien’s eyes widened, panic flickering for a second. Hopefully not, he thought, heart thumping. He couldn’t risk Nathalie finding out that he and Marinette were basically on no-speaking terms. If she knew… it’d be a disaster.
“Uh… she’s busy today,” he said lamely, trying to sound casual while his stomach churned.
“Alright,” Nathalie said, turning toward the door with a small, satisfied nod. “I’ll be back in a bit… I have errands to run. I’ll trust you’ll be fine?”
“Yeah, it’s fine,” he replied, a slight edge creeping into his voice despite his attempt at calm. His fists clenched briefly at his sides, betraying his annoyance.
Stop acting like you care, he wanted to say to her. He let out a slow breath, trying to center himself. His mind was already racing ahead; he needed to make a plan. One to shed the truth and Gabriel Agreste. The problem was, he had zero clue how too. Everyone had fallen for the facade his father presented.
***
August 2016 ~ The first day of school
It had been three weeks. Three weeks since Marinette had spoken to Adrien. Three weeks since he broke up with her on the Eiffel Tower. And three weeks since he’d discovered the truth about Gabriel Agreste.
There was another thing too: the new butterfly holder hadn’t akumatized anyone. It was as if, the moment she realized Ladybug and Chat Noir were at odds, they just… stopped. Marinette knew she should be relieved that there were no new akumatizations yet, but instead, it made her even more fearful. What were they planning? If the butterfly holder knew their identities, why not just steal their Miraculouses? That had to be their goal, right?
Either way, it was becoming increasingly difficult to lie to Alya. During the few times they had met over the past three weeks, Alya had asked about Adrien. How was Marinette supposed to tell her they had broken up? There was nothing she could say, and honestly, she didn’t even want to talk about it.
But today, being the first day of school, she knew people would notice that she and Adrien weren’t around each other. She glanced at the clock. School started at seven, meaning she had thirty minutes to get ready.
She shoved on a new outfit she had set aside for the school year and gave herself a quick look in the mirror. She could do this. Act normally around Adrien. Hopefully, he’ll act normal back.
Downstairs, her parents greeted her. A warm smell of fresh croissants filled the kitchen.
“Have a good day at school!” her father said, planting a small kiss on her cheek.
“Thanks, Dad,” she replied, reaching for a croissant.
“I’m sure it’ll be a great year—nothing to worry about,” her mom said, noticing Marinette’s nervous energy.
“Uh… yeah, hopefully. I mean, at least Chloe is gone,” Marinette muttered, trying to sound casual.
“Well, you better get going if you don’t want to be late—you’ve got five minutes!” her mom added.
“Shoot!” Marinette said, jumping out of her seat and leaving the croissant on the table. “See ya later! Love you!” She rushed out the door.
The streets were bustling, cars honking as she waited at the crosswalk in front of her school. A sharp pain echoed through her skull as a flashback hit her—last year, she’d saved Master Fu in this exact spot. Nostalgia washed over her. Life really had taken some unexpected turns.
The crosswalk turned green, and she hurried across, watching students stream into the school. Anxiety crept up her spine. This year… it’s going to be different.
Her first period was art, so luckily she wouldn’t have to see Adrien right away. Once she arrived in the classroom, the sight of her friends greeted her: Rose, Juelka, Zoé, and Alya. She also recognized Marc and Nathaniel on the other side of the room, but besides that, the rest of the students were strangers.
“Hi, guys!” she said, plastering a smile on her face.
“You made it with thirty seconds to spare,” Zoé teased, a sly grin tugging at her lips. “Nice job.”
“Hey!” Marinette said, nudging her playfully, feeling a small spark of relief at the familiar teasing.
Just then, Alya’s phone chimed. She pulled it out, glancing at it as her brows furrowed.
“Marinette, do you know where Adrien is? Nino’s asking,” Alya said.
“Adrien? Oh, Adrien! Oh… um, yeah! Nope, haven’t seen him!” Marinette replied nervously, waving her hands in exaggerated motion.
“Uh… you haven’t heard from him?” Alya asked, confused. “That’s weird… he might not be at school either. Don’t you have his location?”
“Well… you see… haha… the funny thing is me and Adrien are playing this game… where, like, I can’t check his location. We’re competing to see who will check it first, y’know! Since we love each other so much and just can’t get enough of each other… and I’m trying to win—” Marinette trailed off, muttering an incoherent jumble of words as Alya held up her hand.
“Okay, geez! You could’ve just said no,” Alya said exasperated. “Well, hopefully he shows up, or Nino will keep pestering about it.”
Marinette forced a laugh, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Her heart thumped nervously. Three weeks… I need to just tell them we broke up. But how do I even start? She sank into her seat, trying to focus on the sketchbook in front of her. Just then her phone buzzed. An akuma alert!
“Oh, Adrien just texted me! I’ll be back… just gonna go clear my head… and reply!” Marinette said quickly, already backing away from her friends before they could question her.
She hurried down the hallway, her footsteps echoing against the tile, slipping into the bathroom and locking herself inside a stall.
“It’s been three weeks,” Marinette told Tikki, her voice low and shaky. “And the new holder decides to akumatize someone on the first day of school. I mean, what are the odds of that? They’re just trying to make my life difficult.”
Her hands trembled slightly as she clenched them.
“Tikki… spots on.”
In a flash of red, she burst out of the stall, pushing open the window and leaping out into the open air.
The wind rushed past her as she swung through the city. She hadn’t heard from Chat Noir—Adrien—and she doubted he would come. A part of her wondered if it would be better if he didn’t.
What would I even say?
She had already apologized a thousand times. It hadn’t mattered. He hadn’t listened.
And she couldn’t even blame him.
Ladybug vaulted across rooftops until she finally landed near the akumatized villain. The moment her eyes landed on it, her entire body froze.
Her face went pale.
She felt sick.
The root of all her problems stood in front of her.
A towering, gray statue—lifeless, yet unmistakable. The man she had watched die right in front of her.
Gabriel Agreste.
“Impossible…” she whispered, her voice barely there.
“Ladybug!” the statue roared—her sworn enemy’s voice echoing unnaturally. It raised a massive stone fist and brought it crashing down toward her.
She barely dodged, throwing herself to the side, rolling hard against the ground as debris scattered around her.
“Give me your Miraculous!”
Ladybug scrambled to her feet and ran, her breaths coming out sharp and uneven. She tried to steady herself, but her hands were shaking. Don’t let him see. Don’t let him see you scared.
She leapt onto a nearby building, landing roughly, her chest heaving as she turned back for even a second.
“Please… Chat Noir,” she whispered, her voice breaking slightly. “I know you hate me, but I seriously need you right now.”
Heavy footsteps echoed behind her—slow, deliberate, closing in.
She tensed, preparing to move again—
“Cataclysm!”
Her eyes went wide.
She turned sharply toward the sound, her heart slamming against her chest.
He really came.
Chat Noir’s hand landed on the statue of Gabriel Agreste. The middle of it crumbled instantly under his Cataclysm—cracks spreading like lightning through stone—only for it to rebuild itself seconds later, the pieces snapping back into place unnaturally.
Chat Noir stiffened.
He quickly moved again, aiming lower this time, striking the statue’s foot. The same thing happened—the stone disintegrated… then reformed like nothing had happened.
“What the—” Chat Noir muttered unsteadily, his voice laced with disbelief.
Ladybug swallowed hard. What am I supposed to say to him?
She forced herself to move, stepping toward him cautiously, careful not to make any contact.
“Thank you for coming,” she said hesitantly, her eyes fixed on the towering statue as it shifted, lifting its massive left foot to crush them.
She reacted instantly.
Grabbing Chat Noir, she shoved them both out of the way just as the foot slammed down where they had been standing, the impact sending cracks through the ground.
They tumbled together—rolling across the rooftop—and landed in an awkward position.
Chat Noir’s back hit the ground, and Ladybug ended up right over him, her hands braced near his shoulders, their faces far too close.
For a split second, everything froze.
“Sorry—sorry!” she screeched, scrambling off him, her face flushed as she backed away quickly.
Another massive fist came crashing toward her.
Chat Noir pushed himself up swiftly, jaw tightening, but he didn’t say a word. His eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of annoyance—or something deeper—passing through them.
“Lucky Charm!” Ladybug shouted, swinging her yo-yo.
A burst of red light exploded—and a megaphone dropped into her hands.
Ladybug stared at it, eyes widening.
“…What?” she muttered under her breath. “What am I supposed to do with this?”
Behind her, the statue shifted again, looming over them.
Chat Noir let out a short, humorless laugh, eyes still locked on the towering statue. “You’ve gotta be kidding me. A megaphone?” he said, shaking his head slightly. “What, are you gonna give it a speech? Maybe it’ll just… feel bad and stop.” He tightened his grip on his staff, jaw clenching. “Or is this another one of those plans where I’m just supposed to trust you and not ask questions?” His gaze flickered to her for a split second. “Because that’s been working out great lately.”
Ladybug looked at him, eyes narrowing. “Please! Can you be mature for one second?”
She immediately stopped herself, realizing how it sounded. She hadn’t meant to be rude. Great, she thought. Way to make him hate me even more.
“Look… I have an idea,” she said, leaping behind a building so the statue couldn’t see them. Thankfully, he followed.
“When I’m looking at the statue, it’s noticeable that there’s no place the akuma could’ve gone into… That leaves one option—breaking the person’s will.”
She locked eyes with him, deadly serious. “This is your job… not mine.”
With that, she handed him the megaphone.
Chat Noir hesitated, his hand tightening around it, uncertainty flickering across his face.
He stepped away from the building, trying to gain confidence. “Posing as Gabriel Agreste, huh? Is he your hero?”
“Chat Noir,” the figure hissed, “I’m looking for Adrien Agreste! Not you!”
“Hah,” Chat Noir replied, a bitter edge in his voice. “Well, tough luck, because you got me.”
“You want the truth?” Chat Noir spat, stepping closer, eyes blazing. “Gabriel Agreste sucked at being a father! He never let Adrien go out, never let him have friends, never let him be… himself. Everything he wanted, everything he needed, he shut it down like it didn’t matter!”
The statue of Gabriel creaked, small cracks spiderwebbing along its stone arms as Chat Noir’s voice grew louder.
“Yeah, how do you know this is true? You aren’t Adrien,” the akuma hissed, voice sharp, breaking through his rant.
Chat Noir’s gaze hardened. “I guess you could say… we know each other,” he replied coolly, fists tightening around the megaphone. “And trust me, I know what he did.”
His voice cracked as he continued, anger and frustration spilling over. “He was cold, controlling, always so focused on his stupid image, never on his own kid. He treated Adrien like he was some… project, not a person!”
The cracks on the statue widened, stones rattling, tumbling loose with every word. Dust and pebbles rained down as Chat Noir’s speech hit its peak. “That man… he doesn’t care about anyone but himself!”
The statue groaned loudly, a massive crack running down its torso. Finally, with a shattering crash, the entire figure collapsed, sending chunks of stone flying. The akuma tumbled free from the rubble, leaving a person slumped on the ground, disoriented but unharmed.
Chat Noir stood over the debris, chest heaving, eyes still sharp and blazing, the megaphone dangling loosely from his grip as the dust settled around them.
Ladybug watched, mouth slightly agape, at Chat Noir’s speech. Remorse washed over her. I’m sorry, Adrien, she thought, making her way toward the figure slumped on the ground.
She stepped next to Chat Noir, whose chest was still heaving, eyes sharp and tense, clearly shaken. That’s when she recognized the person’s face: Théo Barbot.
“Hello,” she began, crouching down. “You were akumatized, but everything’s fine now.”
Théo seemed dazed at first, but relief and recognition softened his expression when he saw Ladybug. “Oh, Ladybug! Thank goodness. I… I wanted to build another statue to honor the great Gabriel Agreste, but—well, his son didn’t want it. I apologize for getting angry.”
“That’s all right,” Ladybug replied, reaching down for her yo-yo and pulling out a Lucky Charm. “Here—will you be all right from here on out?”
“I’ll be fine, thanks, Ladybug,” Théo said, taking the charm. He stood up, brushing himself off, and made his way away from both Ladybug and Chat Noir.
Ladybug glanced at Chat Noir, who still seemed lost in turmoil. “Um…” she began hesitantly. “Nino was wondering where you were today.”
Chat Noir’s eyes flicked to her, clearly annoyed. He didn’t reply at first, then muttered, “Slept in.”
Ladybug blinked, incredulous. Slept in? Adrien was known for always being punctual. At least—the old Adrien was.
“Oh,” she said softly, unsure what else to say. “Well… uh… I’ll just see you,” she added awkwardly, flinging her yo-yo in the direction of the school.
***
Was Adrien a coward for lying? Probably. The truth was, he wasn’t sleeping in. He had been out on a run—with Sublime. Sublime was chill and easygoing, and he actually enjoyed spending time with her. They had decided to skip first period and go for a run. The old Adrien would never have done something so reckless—but the new him… didn’t really care.
Now, Adrien was making his way back to the school in time for his second period, which, fortunately, was an open block. He arrived just as the bell rang, sensing someone right behind him.
“Dude!” Nino shouted, slapping him on the back with delight. “Where the heck were you?” He grimaced. “Man, what have you been doing? Smells like you ran a marathon.”
That’s because I practically did, Adrien thought, rolling his eyes. He pulled a small bottle of perfume from his bag and sprayed it on himself.
“Hah! My bad, I was on a run,” he said casually.
“For real?” Nino asked, raising an eyebrow. “Woah… you’re taking this whole thing seriously.”
“Yeah, well—” Adrien started, just as Alya made her way toward Nino, followed by a very hesitant Marinette, who looked like she was trying to come up with excuses. Adrien overheard her whisper, “We’re going to be late,” while attempting to tug Alya along. Alya, however, just gave Marinette a narrowed look, clearly unimpressed.
“Hey guys!” Alya said smiling. “Adrien,” she nodded at him, “haven’t seen you in a bit. How’s it going?”
“Everything’s fine, Alya,” he replied politely.
Nino and Alya exchanged a glance, confusion written clearly across their faces. The silence between Adrien and Marinette was… noticeable.
“Uhh… Adrien,” Nino started cautiously, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you and Marinette meet without, you know… giving her a kiss.”
“Nino!” Alya shrieked, eyes wide with concern.
Adrien’s face morphed into confusion. They didn’t know? Of course they didn’t. Marinette was a liar after all.
He glanced at Marinette, who was looking back at him, eyes wide and fearful.
“Right,” Adrien said softly, forcing a shy smile. He made his way over to Marinette and planted a kiss on her cheek.
Wait… why did I do that? he thought, internally cursing himself. He had always been covering for Marinette’s lies, hadn’t he?
Marinette seemed equally taken aback, her mouth hanging open and her eyes wide with a mixture of confusion and disbelief.
***