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Of Ladybugs and Chat Noirs

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"Just tell me what happened truthfully, Chloe." Alya rolled her eyes at the girl claiming to be the victim. Another super hero has appeared in Paris alongside Chat Noir the other night and her mother working at the time in the hotel had told her it was a female hero that saved them. Needless to say, Alya was so ecstatic that she furiously worked the night away editing her blog around the new duo.

"Me and Ladybug, we're like this, you see." Chloe's fingers were crossed to indicate their supposed relationship and her smirk couldn't be any haughtier. Alya was standing in front of her desk with a voice recorder trying to interview her yet all she was getting was exaggerations. Her patience was wearing thin and Marinette was still not here. The girl would even be late to her own wedding she swears.

"I doubt it considering you're the reason Nathanael was akumatized anyways." The blogger retorted dryly. She didn't want to hear the story from Chloe, honestly, but a good reporter always gets it from the source.

The comment ticked Chloe off more than it should have, but she made sure it didn't show on her face as she inspected her manicure. "Well if you don't want to hear my side of the story for your little blog then you'll never get the full article out." She baited, patiently waiting for her to bite.

Simply to say, Alya was not amused. She didn't take the bait, instead turning the tables on her, "Look, I already have all the information I need from Marinette and Nathanael. And if you don't tell me your side of the story, everyone will see you as the real side petty villain you are for turning Nathanael dark and leaving Marinette behind."

Both girls were fierce in nature, standing their ground by glaring at each other until finally, one gave in with a huff of annoyance.

"Fine. He came to me while I was shopping. Of course, it should come to no surprise that I was the target, everyone's jealous of me in some form after all." To which Alya snorted and Chloe pretended not to hear it, "The first thing he did was silence me with a hideous X over my mouth. Then he gave me horns and dressed me in all black, the nerve of him to make me look like I was going to a funeral!" She would never admit it out loud, but Chloe secretly liked the look he gave her. She was never one to wear simple garments or accessories yet when she stared at herself in the mirror that night, she was reminded of what her mother looked like in her golden years. Her mother who was so elegant and mature, Chloe almost thought she was staring at her after Ladybug dropped her inside a random room.

"So he painted you as the literal devil?" Alya bluntly inquired.

"No! Look, in his comic book I'm some dark fairy or dragon or whatever – just go read it yourself or ask him. You already know the rest of the story: I get controlled like some puppet, I kidnap Marinette, I'm locked in some cage, Chat Noir comes sweeping down, him and Marinette stare at each other, I escape and blah-blah-blah – just leave me alone already." She said in annoyance. Chloe knows she's mean and petty, but she didn't think of herself as the literal devil.

"One last question, what was Ladybug like?"

A few beats of silence passed by as she carefully thought about her answer. "If Chat Noir's the moon, then Ladybug was like the sun. She was this warm light that reached everywhere and you couldn't help but bathe in it. Everything was fixed, almost like we were given a second chance." Alya was surprised to say when she heard the awe in Chloe's voice. For once in the self-centered girl's life there was someone she admired and respected even more than herself.

Chloe heard the mutter of 'thanks' before she was left alone again in her daze, replaying the night's events over in her head.

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Nathanael showed up at her hotel room again and despite ignoring him for 30 minutes after his persistent knocking and pleading, he wouldn't take the hint and leave. For three nights he kept this routine up. She continues to ignore him and goes to shower, ordering room service to be delivered afterwards. The sound of silence pleased her when she stepped out of the bathroom, hair down and fluffy after just blow drying it. When the door dinged she didn't hesitate to open it for the cart to roll in with her dinner, stomach growling loudly, except she didn't get the sushi she ordered. No, instead, she got Nathanael dressed in a stolen uniform rolling in a cart with her sushi and a neatly wrapped present.

Chloe was so close to nearly screaming because she had thought for sure he left and now here she was standing in her short Ladybug schemed night dress baring all her insecurities. Her hair wasn't up in its usual high ponytail, the expensive makeup clean from her face, and her broad shoulders perfectly on display because of the thin spaghetti straps she wore and they were just staring at each other in frozen shock.

Nathanael's face was undeniably red, having never seen Chloe as natural in her beauty before, would dare call her soft and sultry… "Ah-uhm-I-food-you-also-but—" he hopelessly stuttered before coughing into his hand. It was harder to talk to her when she didn't look like she'd tear down the next person down for once.

"I just wanted to apologize for everything. Those things I said in class and again to you on the rooftop… especially for forcing you against your will," their eyes met again and this time she was actually listening to him. "Marinette told me everything. I'm sorry. You didn't deserve any of that, regardless if I was being akumatized or not." The guilt was eating him for days and he just had to at least apologize for his actions. Marinette forgave him all in the next few seconds, as he expected of her compassionate nature, but he knew Chloe would be a different story. Thus his quest of seeking forgiveness began 2 nights ago with a hole in his wallet from buying fabric.

Chloe's frame was slightly shaking and she was at her limit. Grabbing the nearest object – which was her hairbrush—she chucked it at him. "Get out." Her voice came out higher than she intended and she kept grabbing the next item – her favorite lipstick this time— to throw at him. She was hungry, insecure, and he was making her feel things that she was notready for tonight. Chloe was not ready for Nathanael in a vest and tie, not ready for the heartfelt words rolling out of his mouth, and especially not ready for the guilty feelings she was having for turning him into an akuma to begin with.

He quickly scrambled his way out of her room to comply with her wishes, essentially ending their 3-day affair. To top everything off, when she opened the black present laid next to her forgotten dinner, the silky black dress she was wearing before was folded neatly inside with his original comic on top of it. She picked the comic up, the first page reading 'For Chloe'.

Fine. She'll humor his apology.

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Her head snapped to the side when the teacher made an announcement and she cursed the artist for making her distracted on this important day.

"Today we have a new student that I'd like to introduce. His name is Adrien Agreste and I'd like for you all to make him feel welcome." He shyly waved to the class while giving a friendly smile. Nino gave him a thumbs up and Ms. Bustier pointed the empty seat next to him to be placed. The two promptly fist bumped and Nino was glad he secretly saved that seat for Adrien just in case he ever returned to school.

"We still have 5 minutes left until class begins for any late stragglers to make an appearance." She announced before leaving the classroom to get today's lecture material.

Nino was finally able to introduce his girlfriend to Adrien and the model was happy to know that she was not at all fazed by his background, treating him as if they were already great friends. They were more surprised at the fact that Adrien was able to convince his father to reinstate him in school at all.

"You know Chloe had me thinking, don't you think Chat Noir has changed?" Alya started on her favorite topic, garnering interest from the two. She continued, "Before Ladybug showed up, we knew next to about nothing about him. Could barely even get pictures of him, almost like he didn't want to be in the spotlight without her."

Nino excitedly encouraged her, "Is this another theory of yours? Tell me more!" Adrien also listened in attentively.

"You could say that, but I don't have much to go on, just speculation really. In the last few days we've seen sightings of Char Noir and Ladybug around Paris more than we ever have when it was just him all alone. I'm sure I even have a picture of him posing for me just nights ago. So my theory is – Chat Noir didn't want to announce himself to the world without Ladybug by his side because they're a team. They were made for each other." She concluded with a smile.

"Imagine how long he's been waiting for her then. Lurking in the shadows all this time for her, never knowing when she'll arrive, just hoping that one day she will." Adrien added in truthfully. Unbeknownst to them he knew just how close she was to hitting close to home.

They both paused in silence to fully let his words sink in before looking at each other. "That's deep man," Nino replied back.

"Argghhh where's Marinette? She's going to be late!" Alya complained to the two boys as her phone flashed the time.

She quickly texted her to hurry up stating an emergency that required her. The emergency being Adrien and Marinette haven't even met yet and she ships them already. His personality was exactly as Marinette described her true love would be one day. Being the wing woman that Marinette never asked for (not yet anyways), she started calculating ways to get them together and eyed Nino with her looks of 'do-this-for-me-please'. And when she bats her pretty eyes at him, how could any love-struck boyfriend say no to that? The fiery red ombré she recently gotten over the weekend only enhanced her spitfire image and Nino couldn't update his wallpapers any faster. He winked back promises to her, because love was the greatest and his friends deserved to be happy.

"ADRI-KINS!" Speak of the devil and she shall appear, Alya thought bitterly.

Chloe moved her way over confidently to the three classmates eager to see her childhood friend again. When her butler said Adrien had finally enrolled in her high school she couldn't contain the excitement from reaching her body movements. She had planned it in her head: they'd be the golden couple, the power couple that everyone would be envious of, and she'd be the one showing Adrien the view from the top of the world where they rightfully belong.

"Oh – hey Chloe! It's been awhile, how are you?" Being the kind and polite person he is, Adrien was the only one who greeted her sincerely. Alya and Nino physically cringed at her presence, but kept quiet at the exchange between them.

She moves to sit at the edge of their table and leans in towards him, "It's been forever since we've seen each other. We should go on play dates again."

"Maybe another time, I'm still trying to get used to school and everything – it's all new to me," Adrien said as he rubbed the back of his neck nervously trying to dissuade her advances.

She pushed harder this time, "Well we're childhood friends so I'll show you everything. For starters – the right people to hang out with." Her eyes rolled over to Nino and Alya that wasn't so discrete and was every bit obvious as she intended for it to be. In that single glance he saw the look of superiority she had over everyone she deemed inferior and unworthy of.

His face showed sudden discomfort and the surprise was in his eyes. When did she become like this? He understands not having a mother and just like her – he misses her – but never once did he turn into this kind of person. Adrien didn't want to believe it either when Marinette told him she was the reason for the akuma attack yet the proof was right before his very eyes. That night he thought she too was also just a victim caught up in the fray.

"You've changed Chloe." The words came out before he even thought about it and the taste of disappointment was still at the tip of his tongue. "Thank you for the offer, but I'm better off using my own judgement."

She saw the look in his eyes, the same – exact – look that she hated so much and felt disgusted with herself for even thinking a moment that this would have ever worked. So she got off his desk with her smile gone and a neutral mask in place because despite all this they were once childhood friends.

Chloe faced his starry eyes with supernovas of her own that mirrored his intensity – the bright explosion of a fallen star rivaling the luminosity of an iridescent star. "Not everyone can turn out like you." There was no bite in her words as she said it in a simple statement and if it were anyone else she wouldn't have left them unscathed.

Her ponytail swished behind her as she turned back to her seat and halfway there she stopped herself from almost bumping into someone. The look of irritation easily returned to her face and she snapped her eyes back up to the offender in her way. Another pair of green eyes looked down at her – dreamer eyes this time.

"P-Pardon me." Nathanael spoke hesitantly. He tried to control his breathing after just running to class, but the look she gave him just made him wince instead. Being at the height of his chin Chloe could easily see the bruise he sported on his face, most likely from last night, and the insult she had readily died at her lips. Surprising anyone that was watching, she looks the other way and swiftly maneuvers her way around him back to her seat. That was the second time she left someone unscathed.

Nathanael didn't know if it was the lighting or her makeup playing tricks on him, but he swore her cheeks darkened when she wordlessly passed by him. He introduced himself to the new kid before heading back to his seat and figured it wasn't something he should dwell on having already sacrificed countless thoughts on her.

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Marinette woke up later than usual rolling out of bed and into the shower at an alarming rate. She was going to be late for school again and lately she's been doing really well on being punctual. While washing her hair she finds that she used more shampoo and conditioner than needed. Throwing her hair in its usual style and grabbing her backpack, she only took a glance at herself in the mirror before starting her race to school. The mirror reflected a charming young girl with eyes the color of the sky and freckles that kissed her skin, hair the color of midnight, and light that rivaled the sun. If you had told her the difference between back then and now, Marinette would tell you it was just her haircut, but secretly she knows that it was because of a certain black cat.

She made it in time with literally just one minute to spare cheering herself for such an accomplishment. Stepping inside the classroom while checking her phone she saw the emergency text from Alya. What was she talking about?

"Morning Marinette! I really like your haircut, short hair looks good on you." Nino complimented as she walked in. He knew her and Alya got their hair done together, so he was also excited to see the change in Marinette.

She stopped at the opposite end of Nino's desk before looking up to thank him, but not a sound left her lips as she stared at the person before her. They've stared at each other thousands of times beforehand yet there was still something refreshingly new about this.

The words tumbled out of his mouth in a loving manner before he could even process his actions, "You're beautiful," Rosy cheeks and breath caught in their throats, they could only continue to stare, stars twinkling in their eyes brighter than ever.

"T-Thank you." Marinette replied shyly. He was right there in front of her… Adrien was really here in her classroom. The smile started slowly on their faces, blooming into full grins that lit up the entire room where the world blurred out to just the two of them sharing secret looks.

Adrien got to his feet with a playful look on his face as he brought his hand out for her to shake. "I'm Adrien."

"Marinette. I hope we can become good friends," she tried not to giggle because it was the most ludicrous thing to think that this would have been the first time they've met, and to the whole classroom it would be, but to them – this was a continuous chapter of their lives together. They've met before in each other's dreams, fell in love with each other in every life, and throughout time found their way back to each other.

So when their hands connect in such a simple gesture they slightly shiver at the electrifying touch they share. And instead of shaking hands like intended, he does his proclamation of love in the only way he knows how by bowing slightly so to kiss the back of her hand, golden hair tickling her skin. "Certainly so, my Lady, it feels like we've already met." The endearment slipped out without notice and lost in their own world, the couple failed to hear the coughing coming from behind.

"To be young and in love – an excellent example of today's lesson on fairytales and true love's kiss." Ms. Bustier said, effectively embarrassing the two lovebirds in front of her. They immediately broke apart, faces dark red and Marinette hastily went to her seat.

The teacher began her lesson, but of course, that didn't stop their best friends from asking questions. Alya nudged Marinette in the side, frantically whispering, "Marinette, what was that?! That was literally love at first sight!" And if she denied any of it, Alya had the pictures to prove it and footage from her phone and Nino as backup for taking them as well. That was exactly how oblivious they were lost in each other's world. Nino also questioned Adrien, having never seen him so charismatic before, so alive before. With all these sudden changes, has he not been paying close attention to his best friend?

"Do you believe in fate?" They asked, showing secret smiles only they share.

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You're here… you found me… Being the purest color of night that has ever existed, Destruction took his kwami form of a small black cat, whispering sweet longings for her to hear.

Don't be silly kitty, I will always find you. Creation promised him, the purest drop of light enveloping him in a warm hug as she also took on her kwami form of a red ladybug.

In every cycle of fate, Creation has always found her way back to Destruction, gently nudging Ladybug in the right direction towards Chat Noir. She knows that they will always meet, but knowing about each other is a different matter, one where only they can figure it out. He knows that Chat Noir is always the first to know, but that doesn't make missing her any easier. They know that the cycles of fate do not last long for them, a hundred years together at best, but time is just a concept for them and the years together are never enough for Creation and Destruction. They can only hope to meet again faster in the next cycle, because the relationship between Ladybug and Chat Noir is also beautiful, and also truly short in its own sense of time as well.

I'm already afraid for our time together to come to an end. Like every Chat Noir, Destruction has his own fears and anxiety when it comes to her.

Weren't you paying attention? The only thing that matters is here and now. And like every Ladybug, Creation becomes his light and hope.

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A/N:

Wow, this is really the last chapter... I've never finished a story before. Ever. I'm afraid there isn't a lot of love square here, but I felt that the scenes they did share was a perfect ending for them, although adrinette is my favorite pairing. I felt a redemption was necessary for Nathanael because it's in his personality to do so and I wanted Chloe to be more complex, whether you think she has potential to change, it's up to you. Lastly, I wanted to tie in the universe I've created for them better since Hawkmoth is not the center focus, but the relationship between Ladybug/Marinette and Chat Noir/Adrien. The idea is that all parallel universes have a common theme - a constant which is Ladybug and Chat Noir. The roles of Tikki and Plagg in this universe are also finally revealed, and I know it's not obvious but the voice in Marinette's head is Tikki nudging her.

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I would also like to give credit to Sunny Lighter for inspiring me the Ladrien scene in ch4, I've forgotten to mention last ch4. Thank you again!

The REAL inspiration for this story was a beautifully written essay I read awhile ago, the link will be in my profile.

It is not the end! I'm not making a sequel, but I will be making a oneshot backstory for Adrien.

The real highlight of this story though: THANK YOU for all for the support! I cannot tell you how much they brighten my day!

Since this is the end, which scene or ch is your favorite? I really would like to know :) Mine would be the ending of ch 3 and this very last scene.