Epilogue

Ladybug swung through Paris as quickly as she feasibly could without drawing too much attention. She could hear the revelers down in the streets, cheering for the fall of Hawkmoth, many pointing to her and screaming their praise, but she couldn't bring herself to do more than smile and wave in their general directions.

Not when her Kitty was hurting so badly.

The impromptu news conference at the Agreste mansion was the worst part. Adrien had attended as himself, speaking only when spoken to, his eyes red and downcast, while 'Chat Noir' kept a reassuring hand on his arm. Most of Team Miraculous was also in attendance, excluding Rena Rouge, who was 'patrolling the premises'. About four minutes into the conference, Chat led Adrien inside and out of the spotlight, then he leaped out of his bedroom window to go find Rena Rouge and 'relieve her of duty', allowing the Fox hero to step in front of the cameras. Nearly an hour later, Ladybug finally put her foot down, saying that they would answer questions another day, but for now, they were battle-weary and badly in need of rest.

The team broke up after that, each scattering to their respective homes. Alya, or rather Rena Rouge, was eager to compile all of the video evidence she'd taken in the past few days to pass on to the police for Gabriel and Nathalie's trial, and Nino would be heading over to join her after he ran interference with his parents. Chloe would be helping to organize the massive party that Mayor Bourgeois had spontaneously announced would be held in honor of Team Miraculous that weekend.

And Marinette hurried to where she knew he would be waiting.

She released her transformation moments after she landed on her balcony. Tikki immediately zipped to Plagg's side, taking the kwami's paw and pulling him into the room below. But Marinette's gaze was focused on the weary blond boy that glanced up at her from his seat on her lounge, a sad smile lifting the corners of his mouth.

She didn't speak. She just sat beside him and slipped her arm around his waist, leaning into his side. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close enough that she was practically in his lap. She didn't mind though. He needed this. He needed her.

That warmed her heart more than she wanted to admit.

"What…" She glanced up, surprised at the sound of his voice. Adrien swallowed hard, blinking back his tears. "What do I do now, Mari?" he whispered.

Marinette paused, considering the question. "You keep searching," she replied. "You keep searching for a way to save her. An honest way."

"And until I find it? What do I do? Father's gone. Nathalie's gone. The closest thing to a guardian that I have left is the Gorilla, and we're not exactly… close."

"You could -" Marinette hesitated, her cheeks flushing slightly as he glanced towards her, his emerald eyes even brighter for the redness around them. She took a deep breath, then forged ahead. "You could stay with me? I know we don't have a ton of room, or at least not as much as you're used to, and I know that it's maybe a little awkward since, you know, we don't actually know each other all that well, and I haven't asked my parents yet, but you know, if you want to, you could… maybe… live here?"

She was staring a hole into the ground at that point, blushing furiously, berating herself as a coward for not being able to look him in the eye as she suggested it. She wanted him to stay; he was her partner, her best friend. Why was it so hard to just say that?

She stiffened when she felt Adrien's hand brush against her cheek, taking her chin and lifting it so that her eyes would met his. Her breath hitched at the sight of his gentle smile.

The smile that had won her heart that day in the rain.

"I think that sounds perfect, Princess," he murmured, his head dipping almost instinctively towards hers. Marinette's heart raced, lifting her chin to meet him, her eyes beginning to flutter closed. Then he hesitated, a brilliant blush coloring his cheeks as he met her eyes. "With… With your permission?" he whispered, like the gentleman he was.

Marinette felt her cheeks flush darkly. Unable to speak, she nodded once.

The kiss was everything she had ever hoped it could be. Soft and sweet, and charged with everything that neither of them knew how to say. One hand cupped her face while the other gripped her shoulder and pulled her close. Her arm tightened around his waist, her fingers curled into his shirt, her other hand pressed against his chest before she reached up to anchor herself against his neck.

Adrien pulled away smiling, his fiery blush second only to her own. Without a word, Marinette tucked herself under his chin, curling her legs underneath her, pressing both of her hands into his chest. He responded in kind, wrapping his arms around her so that one hand cradled the back of her head and the other rested naturally in the curve of her waist, his head turned so that his cheek pressed against the crown of her head.

This was okay.

They were okay.

So long as they had each other, they could make it through whatever happened next.