Ladybug woke to the low growl of waves and the heavy sway of the boat that road them. There was a weight resting on top of her, and she could feel rough scales rubbing slightly on her skin. With a low groan, she got up slightly, moving the tip of Adrien's tail aside to look at the ocean surrounding them. There were no ships in sight, no Akuma and no Gabriel's ship… Papillon was it?

Ladybug sat up and rubbed her head. It didn't matter. They had escaped. And they were now floating aimlessly in the ocean... again . She glanced to the floor, seeing scattered provisions around, way less than what they had started sighed in resignation.

She turned to Adrien, seeing the mer still out of it. She patted his side, making him twitch.

"Adrien?"

He jerked up, eyes half lidded, uttering, "I'm awake… I'm awake…" He slumped with a groan, rubbing his arm over his eyes, trying to rouse himself. "Are they dead?"

"I don't know," she said, leaning on his gazed outwards, feeling the sun shine on her shoulders, spreading a reassuring heat over her. "We escaped just as Hawkmoth started attacking. If we're lucky, they took care of each other."

Adrien shifted, curling around her until he could look up at her. Ladybug peered down, meeting his tired gaze.

"How off course do you think we are?" he asked.

She shrugged, leaning back and resting her head on his side. "I don't know. We went flying with the boat, and I'm sure the battle created some wild waves that sent us away off-course… we could be anywhere."

It was an exhausting thought. She wanted to be back to her ship, to get finally home, back with her crew. Adrien wiggled, easing himself around and rising up to give her a hug, his tail arching up to help balance him in his endeavor, and shielding Ladybug from the sun. Ladybug returned his hug, holding him tightly.

"It'll be alright, Marinette," Adrien promised, nuzzling her.

"I know," she murmured. "But it's like we take a step forward but then we… we're just pushed back…"

She rested her head on his shoulder, sagging in his arms. Adrien rose slightly, resting his chin on her head, releasing something akin to a purr, trying to reassure and comfort her. Ladybug relaxed, taking in the soothing vibrations, eyeing the ridges of Adrien's scales.

From where he rested his head on her shoulder, Adrien frowned slightly, rubbing circles on her back, silently agreeing with her, feeling frustrated with himself. He had promised to see her back to where she belonged, and he had yet to see her there. How coulda ship be so elusive? He almost wanted to laugh at how hard it was to find just one ship. He understood her exhaustion perfectly, her wariness about finding her ship. He was a little worn out too, and it wasn't even his ship.

Just thinking of how tired she had to be feeling, he pulled her close and nuzzled the top of her head. He wanted to reassure her, that in just a little while they would see Chat Noir again.

But he couldn't be sure of that. Adrien had no idea when they would find the ship; at this point it was starting to look like a big if . He didn't want to make a promise he wasn't sure he could keep, and he knew Marinette wouldn't care to hear an empty promise. Unable to verbally reassure her of their future, he settled for simply holding her and being there. Out of all of this, that was the only promise he could keep. He would be there. He would support her. Even if Chat Noir seemed like a distant dream, Adrien would be there for the pirate.

For a minute, they relaxed there, holding each other, taking in the presence and comfort of their partner, soaking in the reassurance they weren't alone. And when Ladybug felt calm enough, she shifted in Adrien's hold, leaning back to meet his green eyes. She reached up, cupping his cheek and smiling as Adrien leaned into her palm, a content smile sliding over his lips.

"Thank you, Adrien" she murmured. "Thank you for sticking around and helping me, even if you didn't have to. And for staying, even when I wasn't…" she trailed, trying to think of how to sum her distrust from the start.

Adrien caught on what she was trying to say, though. He chuckled. "It's ok. Mers aren't fondly viewed."

She snorted. "Neither are pirates."

"And you still set me free," he noted. "I don't think most pirates would."

She shook her head. "I don't think so either."

He hummed softly, his smile warm, his body relaxed. He stayed there, enjoying her touch, the soothing lull of the waves, and the comfortable warmth of the sun. Blissful in the moment, the mer acted out in a rush of affection, giving Marinette a bit of a start when he turned and pressed a kiss to her palm, his claws wrapping around her wrist gently.

"Adrien," she whispered.

He smiled against her palm, mumbling, "Your hands are soft."

She chuckled, cheeks pink. "Humans are soft."

His smile grew, eyes warm as he gazed down at her. "In our culture," he said, drawing away to look at her hand, looking over lines that shaped her hand, "to kiss another's hand means great admiration. Sort of a… 'I recognize your beauty'."

She stared at him in surprise before smiling.

Adrien teased, "Not going to return the gesture."

She snorted. "You know you're pretty." She decided to humor him, taking his claws and pressing a light kiss on his knuckles. Adrien blinked, ears perking up. With a grin, she told him, "In our culture, a hand kiss is a greeting, a sign of respect, and sometimes devotion."

A huge smile spread over Adrien's lips, his tail curling happily. Leaning closer, he teased, "You're devoted to me?"

She chuckled, shoving him aside. Feeling encouraged, she stood, wobbling a little as the boat rocked. Setting her hands on her hips, she looked down, meeting Adrien's grin with her own.

"Alright, Adrien. I do believe there is a ship for us to find?"

"Yes, my Captain!"

She fisted her hand, giving it a determined wave. "Let's hop to it! We're bound to find that stray sea cat sometime!"

Ladybug jumped over Adrien's tail and went tothe wheel, set to just move and hope it'd be the right direction. With her Adrien at her side, fortune was bound to be with them.

And it was.

It seemed like it was Tikki herself who tapped on Adrien's shoulder, making him glance over just in time to see a dark ship on the horizon, with a red-black flag jerking on top. Adrien rolled onto his stomach, perking up as he leaned forward, trying to see better.

"Adrien?" Ladybug wondered, pausing at the mast, ready to adjust the sail.

Adrien pointed. "There."

She narrowed her eyes, drawing near and looming over Adrien as she eyed the dark spec on the horizon. "Is that…"

"My mer eyes see a bit of red at the black," Adrien said.

"Is it shaped like a cat paw?"

"Uuuuuh I don't know what that is?"

Ladybug was willing to take that chance. She darted away, set the sail, and turned the wheel, heading for it. She gripped the wooden handles, gulping as she drew near. This could be it. That could be her ship…

Adrien echoed her excitement, wiggling towards the front and leaning out to watch them get closer, not bothered by the spray of foam and water. They bounced along the waves, jumping and jerking as they headed for the ship, watching it turn and head their way. When they got closer, Ladybug saw it. It was her flag. It was her ship, her Chat Noir.

She cheered and laughed, jumping up and waving to them, almost toppling into the wheel but saving herself just in time. Adrien laughed below, tail curling in delight as he watched Chat Noir draw near, looming over them, meeting the curious and surprised stares of Ladybug's crew, rushing to the side of the ship to see their captain and a black mer lying on the floor.

Adrien smiled up at them, nervous and excited.

They had found it, they had finally found it…

"Marinette," a redheaded girl called out slowly, eyes locked on Adrien. She turned to her captain, brow raised. "Is that a mer in your boat?"

Ladybug laughed, dropping down next to Adrien, beaming up at them. "It's a long story..."