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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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Like last time, Adrien was already gone when Marinette awoke the following morning. She blinked sleepily at his vacant spot by the wall, as memories of the previous evening filtered slowly in.
We're good, right? She thought. It felt like we're good.
Figuring there was only one way to be certain, she heaved herself up and got dressed.
Adrien was at the kitchen bench, eating breakfast, with his schoolbag by his feet.
Unsure of her reception, Marinette crept toward the kitchen to find her own meal.
He looked up as she walked by and jumped, his yelp of surprise muffled by a half eaten croissant.
Marinette stepped back as she held her hands up. 'Sorry, sorry. I didn't mean to scare you.'
He swallowed his bite, and placed a hand over his heart, breathing heavily. 'S'ok. I didn't hear you come down.'
She shrugged, noncommittally, and shuffled into the kitchen. They ate in silence, Marinette feeling tense and awkward. Adrien didn't look to be faring any better, judging by the way he missed his mouth, and fumbled his teacup.
Although, that could be the result of a scare, Marinette thought with a pout.
After they finished, Marinette washed up, while Adrien dried and put away the dishes, still in complete silence. Feeling they were bordering on the ridiculous, she opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again when Adrien turned to her.
'I just wanted to tell you that I'm extremely grateful for everything you've done for me. I never would've gotten this far on my own. I also appreciate how hard it must've been for you to tell me you were Ladybug. I can't have made that easy for you, especially since I told you I resented her.'
Marinette nodded along, hope blossoming in her chest.
'I should have told you, long ago, that I'd already forgiven Ladybug. Doctor Hugo helped me battle that particular demon, and helped me realise that what happened was neither of our faults. You were just doing your job the best you could all on your own, and I was manipulated by my dad. It's a sorry story, but neither of us ought to carry the blame.'
Marinette's eyes turned misty. 'I agree completely.'
Adrien reached out one hand, hooking his pinkie finger with hers. 'I also did a lot of thinking over the weekend. Like I said, your confession couldn't have been easy, so I'd like to apologise for causing you any undue distress after Friday night.'
She shook her head, furiously, as she gripped his hand with both of hers. 'You don't have to apologise.'
'Yes, I do. I know I upset you when I just walked out, like the butt that I am.'
'You're not a butt,' Marinette argued, with a wet chuckle.
'I should've handled it better. At the very least, I should've said I wasn't mad, or didn't hate you.'
Marinette gazed at their hands. He had brought his free hand up to cover both of hers.
'Let's just say we were both stupid. But I'll forgive you, if you'll forgive me.'
He smiled. 'Done.'
Sabine called from the bottom of the stairwell. They exchanged a last, tender smile, then collected their things and went to school.
Alya was waiting by the front steps, pacing agitatedly as Nino watched on in concerned silence. As she turned, she saw Marinette and Adrien approach, and charged over, almost snorting in outrage and desperation.
'What the heck, Girl? You send me that text, then go radio silent for the whole weekend? What did you do?' she accused, turning on Adrien.
He took a terrified step back, hands raised in surrender.
'It's ok,' Marinette intervened, stepping in front of Alya. 'There was a slight miscommunication, but it's all sorted now.'
While Alya heaved for breath, Nino circled around behind her to lay a protective arm around Adrien.
'So, my guy. What did you do over the weekend?'
Marinette winced at the innocuous question, while Alya's face grew steadily redder.
'Oh, you know,' Adrien replied, casually. 'Set up my computer, bought a bed online, did my homework.'
'Really? How interesting. Do tell me more,' Nino encouraged as he led Adrien away.
Traitorous cowards, Marinette thought, uncharitably, after them.
Alya was glaring at her. 'Seriously, what even? That text, followed by days of nothing. The only reason I didn't go charging over there, and demanding answers, was because I was afraid of interrupting something important. I thought, let them be. They'll work it out. But every time I rang, all I got was voicemail. I was scared, worried out of my mind. You owe me a heck of an explanation, Little Lady.'
Marinette cringed as a whine escaped her.
The bell rang, calling them to class, but rather than forcing Alya to wait until lunch, Marinette wrote everything down, slipping Alya the note while Caline's back was turned.
Alya's demeanour changed immediately. When she finished reading, she grasped Marinette's shoulder, and gave it a comforting squeeze.
Over lunch, they filled Nino in on all the secrets.
He sat on the couch in Marinette's living room, looking around at them with a slight frown.
'Dudes,' he said, reproachfully.
Adrien hung his head. 'Sorry, Buddy.'
Nino leaned back with a sigh. 'I'm not mad at you, Bro. You two, on the other hand,' he turned to look meaningfully at Marinette and Alya.
Alya held her hands up with a shake of her head. 'It wasn't my secret to tell.'
Marinette scowled at her, briefly, before turning back to Nino. 'I couldn't tell anyone else before I told Adrien, it wouldn't have been right. I only told Alya because I needed someone to confide in.'
'Anyone else?' Nino echoed. 'Who else knows?'
'Just my parents,' she squeaked.
'Let me tell you,' Sabine interrupted as she walked in, 'we only know because she let it slip, in a fit of pique.'
Adrien, Alya, and Nino turned to her with questioning expressions.
'Way to be tactful, Maman,' she grumbled. 'How long have you been standing out there, eavesdropping, just waiting for the perfect moment to enter?'
'Not long,' Sabine replied, unrepentant.
Marinette rolled her eyes.
The rest of the break was spent catching up, and explaining, to an incredulous Nino.
Back at school, they were met with the bizarre sight of Chloe humming, while she ran her hand over Kim's hair.
Sabrina and Max stood together, a small distance away, talking as they cast fond looks at the two of them.
'I guess the date went well,' Nino observed.
'Good,' Alya huffed. 'Maybe she'll mellow out a bit.'
Adrien tilted his head. 'I think Chloe's been mellow for quite a while, already.'
'She has,' Marinette agreed. 'It's been a long process, but she's made real progress.'

The rest of the week was quiet and uneventful. As semester break started that weekend, they had no homework, thus freeing up most of their time.
When he wasn't out enjoying a typical teenage life with Nino, Adrien could be found in the bakery, helping Tom in the kitchen. He was only given simple tasks at first, but learned quickly, so he was soon making whole batches of things on his own.
Tom was pleased beyond measure. 'It's like having a son and an apprentice, rolled into one,' he sang, as Adrien blushed beside him.
When things were particularly busy in the shop, Adrien helped Sabine by stocking the display cabinets, or manning the register. His presence raised a few eyebrows, but he soon proved himself to be a competent and friendly salesman. Their regulars warmed up to him quickly, even Nadja.
Adrien had been thriving in his new environment, and often exclaimed how happy he was.
Marinette spent her free time designing and sewing, as she put together the beginnings of a portfolio. She still wanted to be a designer, and was determined to apply for as many internships as she could, the moment she was old enough. She worked late into the night, obsessed with constructing the perfect portfolio. Adrien often dragged her away from her sewing machine to eat or sleep, depending on what she'd been neglecting.
For the first week of semester break, Marinette felt her relationship with Adrien was building. They hadn't gone any further than holding hands and shy glances, but she was satisfied. They'd had a tumultuous start, so she was happy to move slowly. She felt like they were getting to know each other all over again, and it was exciting.

The Saturday before school was to resume was wet and dreary. The wind drove the rain in sheets, smashing it against the city in a noisy torrent.
Marinette and Adrien had been left to babysit Manon, while Nadja covered a report. Tom and Sabine had taken a well-earned day off, to have lunch at the Grand Paris hotel, in support of André and Chloe.
Manon had finally exhausted herself after running about with a length of cotton, pretending to be a superhero, and crashing on the couch to use Marinette's lap as a pillow. Adrien sat on the floor by her feet, leaning into her touch as she stroked his hair.
They were pulled from their sleepy haze when a breaking news report flashed across the TV screen.
'Two bodies found near the border of Turkey and Iran are assumed to be those of Gabriel Agreste and Nathalie Sancoeur.'
Adrien and Marinette sat up straight, their eyes fixed on the screen, as Nadja let herself into the living room. She stood silently beside the couch, as the news anchor spoke.
'The bodies have yet to be formally identified, and the causes of their deaths are unknown, as the police are yet to issue a statement. But experts believe the bodies are, indeed, those of the former terrorist, Papillon, and his accomplice.'
Adrien gaped, outraged. 'How did I not know about this?' he demanded.
Nadja sighed. 'Even now, Papillon is a much sought after topic, and you know how persistent and underhanded some reporters can be.'
'The police should have informed me,' he growled.
'Probably,' she agreed. 'However, it's possible they wanted more to go on than some "expert's" opinion. Furthermore, the police don't like to expose minors to cadavers any more than necessary.'
Adrien crossed his arms and scowled at the TV.
Nadja took Manon home then, thanking them both for their time. After she was gone, Adrien's phone rang. He stepped into the hallway, and talked out there for thirty minutes before he came back.
Marinette knelt on the cushions, looking at him from over the back of the couch. He looked pale and sad as he circled around it, to slump down beside her.
'They want me to come in, and look at the body.'
Marinette gulped. 'Do you want me - '
'No. Sorry, but I don't want you anywhere near that.'
She wriggled under his arm to hug him around the middle. He held her close while he drew in shuddering breaths.
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Redemption