Adult-FanFiction.org : Cartoons

Beau and the Beetle	By : Cat_Eyes Category: +M through R > Miraculous LadyBug Views: 3721 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Miraculous Ladybug. Miraculous Ladybug is the intellectual property of Thomas Astruc and released by Zag studios. No profit was made writing this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Prologue: Alya
- 2-Adrien
- 3-Felix
- 4-Bridgette
- 5-Adrien
- 6-Sabine
- 7-Bridgette
- 8-Alya
- 9-Adrien
- 10-Felix
- 11-Sabine
- 12-Bridgette
- 13-Alya
- 14-Felix
- 15-Adrien
- 16-Alya
- 17-Felix
- 18-Bridgette
- 19-Adrien
- 20-Sabine
- 21-Felix
- 22-Alya
- 23-Bridgette
- 24-Adrien
- 25-Sabine
- 26-Adrien
- 27-Felix
- 28-Alya
- 29-Bridgette
- 30-Adrien
- 31-Sabine
- 32-Bridgette
- 33-Felix
- 34-Alya
- 35-Adrien
- 36-Felix
- 37-Sabine
- 38-Bridgette
- 39-Adrien
- 40-Felix
- 41-Adrien
- 42-Felix
- 43-Adrien
- 44-Adrien
- 45-Adrien
- 46-Epilogue
- 21
- 22
- 23
The morning Adrien was due to return to school, Alya had to keep a steadying hand on Nino’s shoulder. He practically vibrated with suppressed energy as he stood at the bottom of the school steps, eagerly awaiting Adrien’s arrival.
‘Will you calm down? Your buzzing isn’t going to bring him here any faster.’
Nino frowned at her over his shoulder. ‘Leave me alone. I’m just happy my boy is ok.’
Sighing, Alya shook her head and released his shoulder. Immediately, he began wriggling, shifting his weight from foot to foot, and shaking his hands out.
Alya was glad for them both, and equally relieved that Adrien had returned to them unharmed. But a small part of her railed against the unfairness of it all. She wanted her friend back too, and for everything to go back to normal. It was unfair that Adrien got to continue living while Marinette did not.
She bit her tongue at the uncharitable thought. Tragedies happened every day, and no one got to pick and choose who returned, and who didn’t. Yet, because of the lack of evidence, the police had concluded Marinette had not met with foul play, thus ruling it as an accident. This left Alya with no one to blame, which was as much a relief as it was infuriating.
Deciding to focus on the positives, Alya was glad not only for Adrien’s safe return, but also for not having to get her friends involved in law breaking activities. Her plan to remotely hack Adrien’s phone hadn’t worked, as Max had been too finicky about which software to put on his own phone, and Sabrina had almost been caught snooping in her father’s office. They had both pulled out after that, so nothing had ever come of Alya’s unorthodox plan.
Nino squealed as Adrien’s car pulled up, pulling Alya from her thoughts. Adrien stepped from the vehicle, looking tired but happy. Nino raced forward to wrap him in a bear hug before Adrien had even closed the door. Then, everyone had surrounded him, laughing, crying, and hugging him as well as each other. He returned the enthusiastic welcome graciously, assuring them all he was fine.
Alya waited on the steps, watching the reunion with a bittersweet smile, her heart too full, and wrenching painfully simultaneously.
The bell rang, but the crowd didn’t disperse until Adrien began to move forward. They parted before him, then fell into step at his sides, and behind him, still trying to touch his shoulders or pat his back. He paused on the step below Alya, looking up at her with a faint smile.
‘Hey, Alya.’
‘Hey, Daffodil.’
He surged forward to hug her tight. Alya returned the embrace, relief eclipsing all other emotions.
‘I’m glad you’re back,’ she said, sincerely.
‘Thanks. I’m glad to be back.’
She gave him a final squeeze before letting go. He stood back, his eyes over-bright, then they walked side by side up to the classroom.
The school took on a festive air – a vast improvement after the last seven months. People laughed openly, hugged between classes, and smiled so wide their cheeks ached. Adrien was the centre of attention wherever he went, and Nino was his constant companion. As a result, Nino basked in the reflected glory, caught up in the affection showered on Adrien. No one minded, even joking that he was now Adrien’s new keeper.
‘I’m not letting him out of my sight ever again,’ he declared. ‘I take my eyes off him for one minute, and he goes and gets lost underground.’
Adrien had the good graces to look embarrassed, but Alya was intensely curious. No information had been released as to why he’d vanished, and Adrien hadn’t explained much either. She found his case extremely strange, and was itching to ask him about it. However, as he was completely surrounded all day, she had no opportunity to pull him aside to ask.

Tuesday followed a similar pattern, but Alya supposed it was for the best. She didn’t want to seem pushy, nosy, or insensitive, so she smiled and laughed while she bided her time. Everyone would calm down in a few days, so she could ask her questions then.
Bridgette kept her company in the meantime, as she was uncomfortable in the large crowd of near-strangers. She was glad Adrien was back safe too, but she confessed to feelings of envy and bitterness.
‘Life’s so unfair,’ Bridgette murmured, as they sat on the stairs to the upper level.
It was lunchtime on Tuesday, and they’d both brought a packed lunch. They watched on as the crowd around Adrien grew, everyone inviting him to eat with them. Alya didn’t have to ask to what she was referring.
‘It’s completely arbitrary,’ she replied, softly. She picked at her sandwich, plucking out the radish slices Marlena had added.
‘Do you think I’m selfish for thinking like this?’ Bridgette pushed her lunch around its container with her chopsticks.
Alya didn’t know what it was, but it smelled good. She assumed it was a typical Chinese dish, and if Bridgette didn’t want to eat it, she would. It was bound to be better than radish contaminated sandwiches.
‘I wouldn’t say selfish,’ Alya disagreed. ‘It’s probably pretty normal, and Adrien wouldn’t blame you. He’s not that type of person.’
‘I thought so, too. I just wish I could be as happy about his return as everyone else.’
Alya shook her head. ‘You were Marinette’s family; you’re still in mourning. We understand that.’
‘Thanks.’
‘How are Tom and Sabine, these days?’
Bridgette paused for a moment. ‘Remember when I said they don’t seem as grieved as mourning parents ought to be?’
‘Yeah, we assumed they mourned in private.’
‘Well, I’m beginning to think I was right the first time.’
Alya turned to stare at her. ‘What makes you say that?’
Bridgette pursed her lips, her brow furrowed. ‘When I first arrived, they seemed down, as you’d expect. But their emotions never wavered from there. It was just a steady down-ness, with no highs or lows. I’ll admit I don’t know a lot about the grieving process, but don’t people in mourning go through long periods of tumultuous emotions?’
Alya stammered. ‘I really wouldn’t know. I suppose everyone grieves differently.’
‘They also seemed to get over it really quickly,’ Bridgette went on.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, they suggested we redecorate Marinette's old room. Then we did it, last weekend.’
Alya felt her eyes bulge. ‘What?’
‘Aunt Sabine knew I’ve been sleeping on the chaise, so they suggested we make the room feel more like my own. Ostensibly, it was so I would sleep better, that they wanted me to feel comfortable sleeping in the bed.’
With a gulp, Alya asked, ‘So, what did you end up doing?’
Bridgette looked away. ‘We repainted, bought new bedding, removed the old posters and photos. It was only a superficial redecorating, but now it’s like no trace of her remains.’
‘What do Tom and Sabine think of that?’ Alya asked, her stomach turning uncomfortably.
Bridgette just shrugged. ‘They said it looks good. You know, I was so happy that day. It was the happiest I’ve been in months. But, the more I think about it, the weirder it is, right?’
Alya returned her shrug helplessly. ‘I don’t know. I’ve never lost a family member before.’
‘I thought I could be mature, like Aunt Sabine and Uncle Tom. That’s what I thought they were being, mature about everything, and not letting themselves be ruled by their emotions. But lately,’ she trailed off.
Alya’s squirming stomach suddenly clenched. ‘But what?’
‘They’ve been acting differently the last few days,’ Bridgette explained, quietly. ‘They’re tense, and short with each other. Every time I walk into a room, they fall silent, like I’d interrupted something, but I feel like I could cut the tension with a knife.’
‘That is weird.’
‘I don’t know what caused it, or what to do about it. Uncle Tom seems angry, though he tries to hide it, and I can’t even describe how Aunt Sabine’s been. She’s acting like everything’s normal, but I feel like she’s on a hair trigger. It’s weird and uncomfortable, and I don’t know how to make it better.’
‘First of all,’ Alya said, holding up her index finger, ‘it’s not your place to make everything better. Whatever is going on with them, it’s up to them to fix it. That’s not on you, understand?’
Bridgette stared at her for a moment, before nodding. ‘Yeah, I guess.’
‘I’m sure they’ll sort themselves out, in time. Who knows, maybe their suppressed emotions are finally catching up with them, and they have to face their grief now.’
‘That doesn’t sound so unreasonable,’ Bridgette haltingly agreed.
‘Still,’ Alya continued, ‘maybe do some research on family grief. If nothing else, it might give you an idea of what to expect.’
‘Good idea, I’ll start this afternoon. Hey, can I ask you something?’
Alya cocked an eyebrow. ‘Yeah?’
‘How did you cope with the loss of Marinette?’
Alya released a long sigh. ‘Not too well. I blew up at her parents when I finally got a hold of them, then I spent ages just searching. When I found nothing wandering the streets, I asked around, but no one saw anything. I turned to maps next, trying to see if there was a hidden hole or narrow gap she could’ve gotten stuck in. But I found nothing. I was forced to give up after Juleka’s magic failed to find her.’
‘Why were you forced to give up?’
‘I had no other ideas, or leads. Without direction, I had nowhere to go.’
‘Wasn’t that hard?’
She nodded. ‘Very. I told myself I just needed a break, that after some rest, I could come back to it with fresh eyes. But no inspiration struck, no new theories presented themselves. I guess I’ve resigned myself to never knowing Marinette’s fate.’
Bridgette hummed, noncommittally, then resumed eating her cold lunch.
Alya sighed as she bit into her sandwich. Now that she had admitted to giving up out loud, it felt more real, like an admission of her failure, and of Marinette’s untimely demise. She could always change her mind, but she doubted she would ever find a reason to.
- 21
- 22
- 23
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Beau and the Beetle