Chapter Text
When Adrien returned home, he was nearly dancing. Wayhem was right! All he needed to do was clear up the misunderstanding! Now his soulmate wanted to be with him, and he had friends! This day just couldn’t get any better!
At dinner, Adrien just couldn’t shut up. He sat in the dining room, with Wayhem and the Gorilla joining him. He recounted every detail, buzzing in his seat, and beaming with each word.
“I’m so proud of you, Adrien. You were so scared, but you persevered and got your lady! And it sounds like you made some good friends.”
“Shall I be allowed to accompany them after school some time?”
“Adrien, as long as you text me your whereabouts, you can go wherever, whenever you want. I trust you. Just use common sense.”
Adrien shot out of his seat and hugged his guardian. “Bless thy soul, Wayhem!” Then he stood. “I must return to my room and complete my assignments. I have assignments! For I have gone to school!”
Up in his room, Adrien dumped his school bag out, scattering his notebooks on his table. Along with his books, an octagonal box fell and bounced across the surface.
“Oh! I had forgotten,” Adrien said, picking up the box the old man had given him. He popped the lid without much thought.
A flash of light came from inside the box, and a glowing orb encircled him, before coming to float in front of him.
It was a little black cat, with glowing green eyes. It yawned at him.
“Oh heavens! What be you, small feline? A djinn from the tales?”
“Oh geez, and I worked so hard to fix my modern slang to communicate with my new wielder. Fine, whatever, close the box and open it again, and I’ll adapt to you. What is that, old Frankish?”
“Aye.”
“‘kay, close ‘er up.”
Adrien shut the box, and that cat disappeared. Then he opened it again and the cat reappeared.
“Hail and well met, my fellow.”
Adrien beamed at him. “Hail and well met! Thy name is Adrien. Tis a pleasure, small feline.”
“Plagg, God of Destruction.” Plagg held out a paw for Adrien to shake.
“For what purpose have I been awarded thee?”
“Pray tell, a war is coming. A war of good and evil. Thou hast been chosen to fight for good.” Though he was delivering grave news, Plagg moved throughout the room, exploring his new habitat.
“A war?” Such a dreaded phrase should not have given Adrien such a thrill. He had lived through so many wars, and not witnessed a single one. Now he had a chance to make a difference. “What kind of war?”
“This, I do not yet know.” Plagg took a black ring out of the box and handed it to him. “This ring is imbued with my essence, and shall transform thee into a great warrior, wielding the power of destruction.”
“Amazing!” Adrien slipped the ring on.
“A similar jewel, a Miraculous, has fallen into the hands of someone evil. When he shall emerge, we do not know; only that it will happen soon.”
“Wait, I must fight alone? I have never waged a war before!”
“Thou won’t be alone. Thou hast a partner, wielder of the Ladybug.”
Adrien flexed his fingers, getting used to the fit of the ring. “What dost thou mean when thou say ‘power of destruction’?”
“My Cataclysm, activated by thy tongue, givest thou the power to destroy anything thou touches. Beyond that, super strength, super hearing, dark vision, and the ability to leap a building in a single bound.”
“Sounds quite dangerous.”
“And thou hast a strong constitution and a nay impenetrable suit. Thou art not bullet proof, but much tougher than thou was born.”
Adrien scoffed, “Thou hast no idea.”
Plagg wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but proceeded to take up residence in Adrien’s trash can. “Yes, this will do nicely.”
“Thou must make such a mess? You could sleep anywhere.”
“I am drawn to filth and decay. It is something you must get used to. Do you, perchance, have any Camembert?”
“The stinky cheese? I can obtain some.”
“Then do so, pray thee, I waste away!”
Adrien couldn’t help but chuckle. “Alright, I shall see what we have in the kitchen. Wait until Wayhem hears about this!”
“No!” Plagg zipped out of his hovel and got right in Adrien’s face. “No one must know about me. Not thy family, not thy friends, not even thy partner.”
“Not my soulmate?”
Plagg had an uncertain wince on his face. “We prefer not, but inevitably, it will be uncovered. It is too hard to hide. But do try!”
“I only met my soulmate today, I suppose I could keep this a secret a bit longer.”
“For her safety, you should! Thy enemy could use her to get to thee!”
“Oh, what a horrid thought! I shall take this secret to the grave!”
“Good boy! Now…the cheese?”
—
It turned out that they did have a wheel of Camembert in the kitchen, and Adrien asked it to be regularly stocked, as it was ‘his new favorite snack’.
Wayhem, not able to say no to any of Adrien’s requests, conceded and made sure the little fridge in Adrien’s room was always stuffed with cheese.
When night came, and the house fell silent, Adrien called upon his transformation, and leapt onto the window sill.
This was a new sort of thrill. While Wayhem allowed him plenty of freedom, he was often escorted around town by his bodyguard, to stay safe in a world he still didn’t fully understand.
But now he would be completely on his own. At least, until he found his partner.
He extended his staff, and launched into the night.
Cool wind rushed through his hair as his stomach traveled up into his throat. Each leap filled him with adrenaline and excitement.
A history of a lifetime spent isolated unfolded below him. Buildings as old as him intertwined with brand new ones. The city scorched with wars and development. Streets that were covered in prints of those who lived and died while he was inside.
No more.
Now he was going to experience it all. This was his home, and he was going to learn every inch of it, if only to help protect his neighbors.
Adrien stretched out his staff between two buildings, and began to walk across it. The cat themed suit had provided him with intense strength and amazing balance.
“I do believe I’m starting to get the hang of this,” he chuckled to himself, as he was halfway across.
Just then, a scream echoed from the distance, coming closer and closer, and…from above?
He had just mere seconds to brace for impact before another body collided with his and they were falling.
Luckily, the other person had a rope instead of a staff, and their plummet to the street was stopped before they fell headfirst into the sidewalk.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” The other person said, just inches from his face. “I’m still not used to traveling by yo-yo.” She giggled.
His heart shuttered in his chest. Her giggle was entirely too cute! What was he doing? He had a soulmate!
He cleared his throat. “I beg thine pardon. Thou must be my new partner I was told of?”
She gasped.
“And I apologize. My speech is antiquated. If thou art confused, I will try to rephrase.”
“Adrien?” She asked.
It was his turn to gasp. “Thou knowest me?”
His partner twisted around, trying to dislodge them from her rope. “Just a sec.”
He held his breath as she reached her arm around him and tugged. In a little bit of maneuvering, they were free and fell the last foot to the ground, luckily landing on their butts instead of their heads.
“Looks like I butchered the chance for a better first impression.” She laughed. “I’m sorry.”
“Thou mustn’t worry. I certainly haven’t had all graceful landings with my staff.” He placed a comforting hand on her arm. “Now…you said my name?”
She smiled. “I only know one person that talks the way you do. It wasn’t that hard to figure out.”
“And Plagg had told me to keep my identity a secret, and I hath ruined it already.”
“I wouldn’t worry too much.” She grinned.
“Why is that?”
She glanced around, and noticed a lot of people looking at them. After all, it wasn’t every day you saw a superhero. “Perhaps we should have this conversation on the roof tops?”
“Excellent idea!”
The poor girl looked at her yo-yo and cringed.
“Allow me?” He wrapped an arm around her waist, and quickly propelled them up to the rooftop.
“Thank you…uh, I don’t think I caught your superhero name.”
“I do believe I shall go by Chat Noir. Easy enough to remember?”
“And I’m Ladybug,” she held out her hand to shake. “But when we’re alone, you can call me Marinette.”
His jaw dropped. “Marinette?”
“How funny, that we would both be picked to be heroes, while being soulmates!”
He hadn’t moved very far when they landed, and the reveal made him scoop her up into his arms and spin her around. “My soulmate! You’re my soulmate!”
She clung to his neck and laughed. “Yes, I am!”
He squeezed her tightly, maybe a bit too reckless with his new strength.
“Kitty Cat? I can’t breathe.”
“A thousand pardons!” He quickly loosened his grip and lowered her to the ground, though he kept a hand resting on the small of her back. “I was just so excited.”
“I’m excited too,” she smiled warmly. “I wanted to spend more time with you. Besides Soulmates, we’re practically strangers.”
“I think more than that! At least acquaintances!”
“That’s fair. But, we really ought to know more.”
“I am an open book, My Lady. I hold nary a secret from thee.”
“And I thank thee for it,” she replied smugly.
“…art thou mocking me?”
She gasped, grabbing his forearm. “No! No no—I just—I thought—I only meant to try to talk like you do. I like it. I really really like it. It’s classy and romantic and—“
“Thou dost not need to explain further, for I understand. You do not need to try to replicate my speech pattern. I’ve been stuck in it for a thousand years. And truly—I wish it would stop.”
She ran her hand up his arm to rest on his shoulder. “Okay. I can help you. But it really doesn’t bother me at all.”
“Thou hast not been around me more than a day. Thou will get sick of it.” He sighed, and continued under his breath, “they always do.”
“Then I’ll be the exception,” Ladybug declared boldly. “It may be childish, but I promise.” She held up a pinky.
“What is this now?”
“You’ve never seen a pinky promise?”
“Never.”
“Stick out your pinky, like me.”
He did so, and she wrapped hers around it and gave it a squeeze. “There, a solemn swear that I won’t get annoyed with your speech pattern.”
“This cannot be legally binding.”
She giggled, “no, but between soulmates, it’s the most serious thing you can do.”
He held up his pinky again, just looking at it. Such a little finger, but so much power.
“I suppose I shall have to believe you then.”
“Yep! You do! Now…” she became more serious. “How much did your Kwami tell you about the upcoming war?”
“Kwami? Oh, the little cat? He said they don’t know anything.”
“That’s what mine said too. I think we should try to practice a little bit tonight.”
“Practice what, exactly?”
“Travel, for one thing. I can’t get the hang of this yo-yo yet.” She unfurled it, making it move up and down a few times, and then threw it out into the city. “I think I hooked somethiiiii—-“ and without warning, she launched herself out into Paris.
With an excited laugh, he vaulted after, having to leap over several buildings before he reached where she landed in a heap.
“I’m going to get the hang of this…at some point,” she stated, her arms and legs akimbo.
“I believe in thee, My Lady.” He reached down and helped her to her feet.
“I know! Let’s have a race! First one to the Arc de Triomphe wins!”
“The…what?”
She blinked at him. “The Arc de Triomphe? The giant arch at the center of Place Charles de Gaulle?”
He rubbed the back of his head. “So…I have spent very little time outside in Paris, and anything that would excite me or persuade me to want to see the world was omitted from my learning. I know because a tutor was yelled at by my guardian for telling me about the brand new Tower Eiffel, since my windows were shuttered close. My guardian feared I would want to see it, and rebel or try to escape.”
“I’m so sorry,” Marinette whispered.
“It is quite alright. Thou couldn’t have known.”
“Then a tour!” She declared. “I know Paris inside and out! I’ll take you all over the city, and you’ll be all caught up!”
“I wouldst most appreciate it, My Lady.” He easily caught up her hand, raised it to his lips, and kissed her knuckles.
Ladybug giggled. “Then come with me!”
The night was perfect. Not too hot, not too cold. Citizens down below walked arm in arm, laughing in their own little worlds. Music floated up from the restaurants and cafes, making the already magical atmosphere all the more romantic.
As they traveled, Ladybug’s landings became more and more graceful, and she even threw in a few flips in her swings.
“I think I’ve finally gotten the hang of this!” She sang, landing on her own balcony.
“Thou are not getting cocky, are thee?” He teased.
“Quite the opposite! You’ll come to learn that I am the most clumsy, uncoordinated person on earth. This whole ‘having balance’ thing is new to me.”
“Clumsy, hmm? Perhaps I can make you fall for me pretty easily, then?” He waggled his eyebrows.
She blushed, but smiled, looking away. “I don’t think you’ll have any problems with that.”
“What? Verily?”
“Soulmates, duh!” She rolled her eyes, but didn’t stop blushing. “Did you want to come in for a bit?”
“This is your abode?”
“Yep! There’s a bakery on the first floor.”
He bit his lip. “I would very much like to come in, but tis late, and we have school on the morrow.”
“Oh, right.” She groaned. “And I’m not a morning person.”
“You are only now telling me thou has a flaw? Tricky girl!”
“Spots off,” Marinette remained and just winked at him. “I already told you I was clumsy.”
“That is not a flaw, that is adorable.”
She shook her head. “Goodnight, Chat Noir.”
“Goodnight, My Dearest.” He saluted.
—
The next day, Adrien had his driver drop him off at the building Marinette had disappeared into the day before.
The bakery was open, but not busy.
A Chinese woman was at the counter, checking out a customer. Once it was his turn, he walked up.
“Good morning! How can I help you?”
“Hail and well met! Is Marinette still here?”
The woman laughed. “With her luck, she might not even be awake yet. And you are…?”
“Many apologies, my name is Adrien.”
“Adri—“ She gasped, and then whirled around to yell back into the kitchen. “Tom! Marinette’s soulmate is here! And he’s cute as a button!”
A huge, burly man practically ran out of the kitchen right at Adrien.
Adrien only had a moment to yelp, “God preserve me!” before he was caught in a tight embrace and lifted off the floor.
“Welcome to the family, son!” Tom whipped Adrien around, his spine cracking with the intense affection.
“Tom! Down boy!”
“I’m sorry,” Tom laughed, and set a frazzled Adrien on his feet. “When my little girl told me she finally found her soulmate, we just about lost our minds. We both found it our soulmates, each other, so young! When it had been a few years, we started worrying about her!”
“Tom, don’t embarrass her.”
“Marinette and I have that commonality. We’ve both waited a long time for each other. And I am so happy she has such loving parents.”
“No need to be so formal, son!”
“My apologies, it…it’s a habit.” So Marinette hadn’t told them how old he really was? Had she not gotten to it?
Or was she ashamed?
“Come and pick a treat from the cabinet, Adrien. What do you like? Chocolate or fruity?”
Leaving the debacle of Marinette behind for now, Adrien drooled over the selection in front of him. “I was never allowed to have sweets, so I don’t really know what I like…”
Both Tom and Sabine gasped in horror.
And that’s how Marinette found him, 15 minutes later. He stood at the counter with her parents, a dozen little samples between them…and a dozen empty sample cups.
“Adrien!” She yelped, startled by his appearance.
“Good morning, My Lady!” He chirped, stuffed with sweets. “I came to walk you to class, is that alright?”
Before Marinette could respond, her parents were gushing over them. “Oh honey, he’s just the nicest young man!”
“I can tell you’re soulmates! He likes the same flavors as you!”
“Can he come over on Friday for dinner? Please?!”
Marinette blinked, confused. “Aren’t I the one supposed to be asking that?”
“Do you want him to? Because he can!” Tom swiveled to look at Adrien. “As long as your parents are alright with it!”
Adrien smiled. “I am quite sure Wayhem would be ecstatic that I was invited over. He may want to meet you as well.”
“Perfect! We’ll wait in bated breath for his answer!” Sabine wiggled in place. “Oh but now we’re keeping you from school! Better go!” Sabine shoved a box of the rest of the desert samples in Adrien’s hands and steered them out the door.
“Have a great day, love!” She called out behind them.
“Bye mom!” Marinette took Adrien’s hand and hurried away from the bakery. “I’m so sorry. I had no way to prepare you for how overwhelming my parents are.”
“Think nothing of it, my lady. Long has it been since I had parents of my own. The way they smothered me in affection was a sensation I have starved for most of my life.”
Marinette stopped walking, eyes glued to his face, and hand still in his. “That’s…that’s horrible.”
“Perhaps, but I found thee. I find the wait worth it.” He considered moving on, but then asked, “Dost thou feel differently?”
Marinette let go of his hand in order to wrap her arms around him, and squeeze tightly into his chest. “Ten years, I was lonely, and thought I was broken. I can’t imagine feeling that way for a thousand years. Yes, I am so glad to have met you, but if I could stop that from happening—“
“Marinette—“
“If I could go back in time and convince everyone to let you go free right away, so you could find the first soulmate ready for you, I would. I would do anything to ease your pain, Adrien.”
“Truly? Anything?”
“Anything!”
He leaned forward, bending to her level. His eyes lidded and lips parted.
She should have expected the kiss, from his slow, clear intentions, but it still came as a surprise. A wonderful, tingling surprise.
It only lasted a moment, but the smile he gave her after completely eased her mind.
“Marinette, thou art a balm on my soul. Thy embrace is healing. That is all I need. I do not wish to rewrite history. All I wish is to be here, with you.”
Marinette sniffed. “If you say so…”
“Besides, I shan’t be a superhero if you undo my history.”
“That’s true!” She looked up at him. “So maybe…there was a reason you went through that.”
“Only time will tell. Shall I hold thy hand the rest of the walk?”
“I t’would be flattered if thou did so.” She giggled, happy again.
He giggled too, happy she was speaking his language.
—
At school, they arrived hand in hand, much to the amusement or shock of classmates.
“Hey, you finally found your soulmate? Good for you, Marinette!”
“The new guy? I heard he talks weird. Whatever floats your boat, I guess.”
“Aww! Look at how cute!”
“Hey, congrats!”
Their classmates were even more supportive, mostly towards Marinette, whom they had known for years and years. Rose was the first to notice.
“OMG! ARE YOU HOLDING HANDS?!” She ran down the stairs to grab Marinette’s free wrist so she could see the ticking clock for herself. “Yes! Best day ever! I could tell from the way you two looked at each other yesterday!”
Marinette chuckled, because she was certain she avoided eye contact with Adrien yesterday.
“You two are perfect for each other,” a new voice sassed.
Chloe stood near the door, obviously hearing this new development as she walked in the door. “He talks like a grandpa, you’re as old as a grandma. Perfect for each other.”
“Chloe—“ Marinette began, but Adrien squeezed her hand.
“Let me try, My Lady.” He took a step towards Chloe and gave her an even look. “Miss Chloe, dost thou father love thee?”
She scoffed. “How could you say that? Of course my daddy loves me!”
“And you art his only child?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm…tis a shame. And he has thee in public school as well.”
“What are you talking about?”
Adrien crossed his arms and dramatically looked out the window. “I was just like you once. Disgusted by the peasants and urchins. I told the class before, that my father was a Duke. That was no jest.” He looked back at her, with hard eyes. “I shall be a thousand years old in December. And ‘tis a fate you may well endure as well.”
Chloe paled. “What? How? Why?! My daddy would never!”
“No one ever thinks their father would do something so vile. But you and I come from a circle of elites. The wealthy and the powerful. Those who wish to hold their power indefinitely. Those who wish to be immortal.”
“My father doesn’t want that!”
“Can you be sure? Is he not the mayor of the biggest city in France?”
She gnawed on her bottom lip. “Well—I—“
“My father learned he could not obtain immortality, but chose to give it to me. He locked me away so I would not find my soulmate, and educated me to take his role when the time came. After all, what is more dangerous than a man with all the knowledge in the world, and plenty of time left in his life to use it?”
Chloe shook her head. “This is ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous! You’re just salty about yesterday!”
He rolled up his sleeve to show his ancient clock. “I assure thee, I jest not.”
Chloe swallowed as she, and their other classmates, looked at his timepiece.
“Well, joking or not, I doubt my father would do something like that to me!”
“Perhaps not.” He rolled his sleeve back down. “But I am not the only one that was treated this way. The Tsurugis, an ancient and affluent family from Japan—“
“Yeah, I know them.”
“The mother is well over 300 years old. Though, it is a secret.”
“No!”
“I know others as well. Chloe, you are surrounded by ancient blood. Pray you find your soulmate quick, or you may be next.”
Chloe’s bottom lip quivered. “You can’t scare me! I—I’ll find my soulmate soon!”
“I hope you do,” Adrien said, with an easy smile. “It’s very rewarding to find the person you connect with on a spiritual level.” He leaned forward, towards Marinette, and gently bumped his forehead on hers. “The emptiness in my soul is gone, and I find joy that no material good could ever give me.”
At that, Chloe started crying, her bottom lip wobbling. “Daddy!” She cried as she ran out of the room.
“Dude…is that true?” Kim asked.
“I am a thousand years old…but the things I said about affluent families? That is not true. At least, as far as I know. But I shall not allow Chloe to torment my soulmate anymore.”
Marinette hugged him around the waist. “As long as you’re with me, Chloe’s comments won’t bother me anymore.”
He turned in her arms and hugged her tightly. “You and me against the world, my beloved.”