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Redemption	By : Cat_Eyes Category: +M through R > Miraculous LadyBug Views: 2815 -:- 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
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Bouchard's trial dragged on for two weeks, before he was found guilty of all charges and sent to prison. Marinette quickly grew tired of the subject, especially when she saw how dejected Adrien seemed. As they left school on Friday, a fortnight after Bouchard's arrest, Marinette took hold of Adrien's hand, and walked with him to the school steps.
They stood there, waiting, for Adrien's car to arrive, silent and still clutching each other's hands. After ten minutes, Marinette's feet were aching, and she wondered where the car was.
Adrien's phone buzzed. He let go of her hand, and pulled it from his pocket to check the screen.
'My case worker says I'm not to be driven everywhere from now on.'
Marinette blinked up at him. 'What does that mean?'
'I guess it means they trust me enough to get to the places I need to be without a chaperone.'
'So, this is a good thing?'
The corner of Adrien's lip twitched upward. 'I guess so. They're apologising for the inconvenience, at least.'
'It is a little last minute,' Marinette criticised. 'They should have told you this yesterday.'
He shrugged. 'At least home isn't too far away. I can walk, and they can still monitor my movements. You know, just in case.' He wiggled his foot at her.
Marinette nodded. 'So, you're going to walk to school from now on.'
'Sure looks like it.'
'What about your therapy sessions?'
Adrien paused. 'That is not within walking distance.'
'Maybe you could take the bus, or the metro?' she suggested.
He rubbed the back of his head. 'I don't know how. I mean, which bus would I catch, or which train could I take? I don't know which ones go through that area.'
Marinette tapped her chin as she thought. 'You could text me the address, and I could look it up for you.'
Adrien winced, and glanced away.
Trying not to feel offended, she thought of something else. 'I suppose I could go with you. I could wait outside while you're having your session, then show you the routes home.'
He thought about it, with a contemplative hum. 'That could work. I'm sorry, you must think I'm such a coward.'
'It's nothing, really,' she assured him, with a wave of her hand. 'It's easy to feel overwhelmed in a city as large as this.'
He reached down to give her hand a last squeeze. 'Thanks, Marinette. I really appreciate this.'
Then, he leaned forward to place a chaste kiss on her cheek. 'See you later.'
Marinette's face burned. 'Bye. See you later. Bye,' she babbled after him as he walked away.

Marinette spent Saturday catching up on homework, helping around the house and shop, then cleaning her room, and adjusting the settings on her new phone. While her hands were busy, though, her mind kept wandering back to Adrien.
There was no doubt he was physically attractive. He used to model for his father's company, and had featured in many advertising campaigns. But there was more than that. Marinette thought he was sweet, thoughtful, and humble.
He's everything Chat Noir wasn't, she thought with a wry twist on her lips.
She had despised Chat Noir. He was cold, mean, and obnoxious.
It still baffled her how one person could change so dramatically once the mask was removed.
I wonder how different I am now? She gazed into her mirror, poking her features into subtly different lines. She put her hands over her eyes, and peeked out from between her fingers. I don't think I'm so different. As Tikki used to say, I'm Ladybug, with or without the mask.
But what would Adrien say if he knew? an insidious part of her mind asked.
Marinette paused. She had considered telling him who she had been before, but had always pulled back. It had never seemed like the right time. Yet, if she kept putting it off, she would take the coward's way out, and never tell him.
He has a right to know, doesn't he? I am the one who kept him from reuniting with his mother, and the reason for his currant situation. I should tell him before things between us grow too strong.
That thought hurt. Marinette gripped her shirt when she felt her heart palpitate. The idea of her and Adrien being more than friends was exhilarating and frightening. But the notion of losing him was terrifying.
She drew in a deep breath, releasing it slowly, and repeating the process until her chest stopped aching.
Worried and confused, she texted Alya.
Are you free to catch up tomorrow?
She chewed her lip as she waited for a response.
Finally, Alya sent, yes. You up for a girls' day, or what?
Marinette exhaled. Absolutely. Movies and junk food day. Your place or mine?
We can hang at mine. Mum and Dad are taking the twins out for the day.
Awesome. I'll see you tomorrow at 11, then.
See you then, Alya replied, with a winky face.

Marinette packed a tote bag full of her favourite movies and snacks, then headed to Alya's place, with a hollered farewell to Tom and Sabine.
Alya greeted her at the door with a wide smile and a hug. She ushered Marinette into her room, then went to fetch drinks. She returned, handed Marinette a plate and a soda, then slid a DVD into the player. They settled comfortably on the bed, their backs to the wall, as a movie began to play on the television.
They gossiped about inconsequential things during the first thirty minutes of the movie, then fell quiet as they exhausted most topics of conversation.
Marinette shifted in her seat, discomforted by the ongoing silence. Alya seemed unconcerned, as she watched the movie and nibbled on biscuits. Marinette envied her uncomplicated life.
Alya nudged Marinette's ankle with her foot. 'So, are you going to talk to me, or not?'
Marinette flinched, almost spilling her drink. 'What are you talking about?' she stuttered.
Alya raised an eyebrow. 'Come on, your favourite movies and your go-to comfort foods? Something's up. Spill, Girl.'
Marinette hesitated for a second. 'I think I'm in love with Adrien.'
Alya blinked, stunned. 'Oh, wow.'
Marinette felt a blush burn across her cheeks as she squeezed her eyes shut, and nodded.
'It's about time.'
Her eyes flew open. She looked up at Alya and asked, 'what?'
Alya patted her head in a motherly fashion. 'It's been pretty clear to most of us that you two have been getting closer for a while now. We've been wondering how long it would take you to figure it out.'
Marinette looked at her, helplessly. 'You knew?'
Alya nodded. 'Afraid so, M. But now, the real question is, what are you going to tell him?'
Panic flooded her. 'Absolutely nothing,' she shrieked.
Alya leaned back and blinked in surprise. 'What, why?'
Marinette curled in on herself, abashed. Twiddling her thumbs, she explained, 'there are extenuating circumstances.'
Alya snorted in disbelief. 'Like what? Come off it, there's nothing stopping you from telling him you like him, except yourself.'
'Exactly,' Marinette muttered.
'What are you talking about?' Alya sighed.
Still fidgeting with her fingers, Marinette looked at her through her lashes. 'If I tell you, you have to promise to keep it a secret, understand?'
Alya set aside her plate and soda, then turned to face Marinette properly. 'Whatever it is, you can tell me. Anything you say won't go any further than this room, I promise.' She reached out to grip Marinette's hand to emphasise her point.
Marinette returned the gesture, squeezing Alya's fingers as she drew in a deep breath.
'The reason I can't tell Adrien I like him is because I used to be Ladybug.'
A long moment of silence followed her confession. Alya was staring at her with wide eyes, and appeared to have stopped breathing.
'Alya? Please, say something.'
She shook her head as she came out of her daze. 'You're not joking, are you?' It wasn't a question.
Marinette shook her head, her eyes big and doleful, as her bottom lip poked out in a vulnerable pout.
'Oh, Girl,' Alya sighed, as she pulled Marinette into a hug. 'Jesus. Oh shit, this just gets worse the more I think about it.'
'I know,' Marinette whined.
Alya patted her hair as she rocked her, murmuring soothing noises into her ear.
'Does anyone else know?' she finally asked.
'Just my parents,' Marinette admitted.
'Have you told them you like him?'
'Good God, no. Can you imagine how they'd act, then?'
There was a pause as Alya considered the possibilities. 'They'd be a nightmare,' she agreed, staring off into the middle distance.
Marinette clung to Alya, dreading the hypothetical embarrassment. 'Do you know how Adrien feels about me?' she asked, putting the conversation back on track.
Alya shook her head. 'Nothing definite, but from what I've observed, he seems to like you too.'
Marinette whined, the high-pitched note ending on a sob. 'I don't know what to do. I like him a lot, and he deserves to know, but he resents Ladybug for ruining his life. What if he ends up hating me?'
Alya stroked her hair and shushed her. 'You're right, he does have a right to know. You can't start a relationship while omitting such a huge detail. I think you should just tell him, and sooner rather than later. The longer you hold out, the worse it'll be.'
'But what if he hates me?' Marinette asked, with a sniffle.
'He won't hate you,' Alya assured her. 'He may be shocked, and upset for a while, but once you give him some time to let it sink in, he'll still want you in his life.'
'How upset do you think he'll be?'
Alya hummed, thoughtfully. 'It's hard to say. When did he tell you he resents Ladybug?'
Marinette's face screwed up as she tried to remember. 'A few weeks ago. A couple of months, at most.'
Alya smiled at her. 'There, you see? Maybe his feelings have eased since then.'
Marinette stared into her lap. 'I don't know. He was really hurt by the events of that night.'
'The night Papillon was defeated?'
Marinette nodded. 'There was so much I should've done differently. If I could take it all back, do it over again, I'd do the whole thing differently.'
Alya bit her lip. 'What did happen that night? I know there was an akuma, then there was an epic battle, then suddenly, Gabriel Agreste was kneeling atop a pile of rubble, with Adrien in the background. Then, the police stepped in, and took them away.'
Marinette took a deep breath, and rested her head on Alya's shoulder.
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Redemption