Still Here, Milady

“Well some people have different religion or don’t have one. I can’t blame them for not believing in” Satana said and shrug. She smirk at the other with mischief and evil. “Alright” she said and turn her face and then face him again with the her true and devilish face. “Surprise”.

Adrian gave her a lopsided smile when she smirked at him, slightly nervous but when she turned around he couldn’t help but grin a bit.  “Brilliant.  That’s terrifying!   Really, definitely awesome. Pleasure to meet you!  You can just...turn your face sort of on and off like that?”

“Why? You don’t believe in demons, darling?” Satana asked giving him an sly and wicked smile. “Wanna meet one?”.

“Not sure if...don’t believe is the right term?  I’ve just not dwelt too much on their existence.  But there’s always a possibility.”  Adrien shrugged before cocking his head, genuinely curious.  “Truly?  I mean, sure?  I’d love to learn more about what is and isn’t real in the world.”

.｡.:*☆ “I was just wondering if this here is yours,” Faramir wondered while holding up the item, eyebrows slightly furrowed. “It is what people in these realms do call a mobile phone, right?”

Adrian let out a sigh of relief, nodding.  “Yeah, that’s mine.  Thank you, really.  I don’t really want to have to pay for a new one right now.”  He paused, looking at the other for a minute.  “Realms?  I take it you’re from a different world too?”

Why oh why did Adrien have to be so sweet all the time? She was never going to stop making a fool of herself at this rate. “Thank you. I really appreciate any help you can give.” There! A normal sentence, one that gave them an excuse to spend time together. If only Alya could see her now. “I…. should probably get back to work though. Want to swap numbers?”

He grinned at her brightly. “And I’d be happy to offer it.  Maybe we can grab coffee sometime?  Talk about it?”  Adrien was sad to know she had to work, but at least they knew the other was there.  “Oh, of course!  I don’t want to be a bother..Here.”  He pulled his phone out and looked up at her. “What’s the number?  I’ll send you a text.  And feel free to message me anytime, really.”  He gave her a small lopsided smile, happy to have anyone again.

Seven or eight years. So, well after school, just like Adrien. Why was she the only one without the memories? “I’m missing… a lot. Years. I remember Li- uhh, the last akuma we fought was Lila, as Chameleon. See, I’m missing a lot.” Ladybug rubbed her arms, trying to warm up the chill she felt at the thought. “At least we’re together again. Whatever’s going on, I know you and I can deal with it together.”

“Oh wow.  That is a lot.”  Adrien was studying her closely now, the gap in memory between her and Marionette surprisingly close.  Weirdly close.  For some reason he was anxious thinking about it, knowing that if he followed this line of questioning...their miraculous might not be happy about it.  “So you just...woke up older? And..you said only one of your friends was here?”

“Really strange.” Marinette agreed softly, still lost in thoughts. What kind of akuma could do this? His offer brought her out of it, blushing a little. He was always so sweet. “Thanks. You’re gorgeous.” Oops. “I mean, you’re perfect - for the clothes.” Why couldn’t she last one conversation without embarrassing herself? “I’ll have to try set something up, I don’t know the first thing about running a fashion show, just making the clothes.”

The way he smiled at her reminded her that just like she wasn’t over her feelings for Adrien, her partner might not be over his feelings for her. “I thought I was the only one too. I haven’t seen anyone else I know. Except for someone I know… in my civilian life.” She didn’t want to hurt his feelings by saying it was the guy she loved. “My good luck must finally be working, seeing two people I know again.” Afraid he might be suffering memory loss like she was, she hesitated. “Kitty, what is the last thing you remember? I… apparently I don’t remember everything.”

@that-catadrien

Ladybug swung through the city, hoping to see a familiar shape on the rooftops. Every night, she checked, but he was never there. Until tonight. Seeing a black shape on a roof, she swung over to it hopefully. “Chat? Is that you?” With him, she knew she’d feel a lot safer. No akumas didn’t mean it wasn’t scary, so far away from Paris and with no idea how she got there. Although knowing he was in Paris to protect people helped, she still wanted him there selfishly. And she’d gotten her wish. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it’s good to see you, kitty." 

Adrien had still been patrolling as Cat Noir here in Limbo, wanting to stay in shape and be ready in case Akuma’s did become an issue here.  What he wasn’t expecting was to see that familiar figure swinging towards him on the rooftops. “Milady!”  He grinned, delighted to see her and mentally kicking himself for how smitten he still was, even now just looking at her.  “You wound me Ladybug.  I am over the moon excited to see you.  I thought for sure I was the only Miraculous here!”

It was confusing, hearing how different their experiences were. Marinette didn’t remember graduation, college, none of it. She needed to talk to Tikki, find out if her kwami knew what could cause that memory loss. “Oh… I don’t remember any of that.” The anxious look on her face gave away how worried she was about it, twisting a blue curl around her finger. “I wonder what else I missed.” Was her family okay? Everything was just too much to understand. “It’s really nice of you to offer to be my model, Adrien, but you don’t have to do that. I know the modelling was what your dad wanted, even if you were really good at it.”

“I…don’t have friends…just Sebastian and Joseph and Julie the detectives but.…All alone.”  He said sadly as he played with his hands.  “Just Leslie here…” 

“Well, you’ve got me now, even if I’m not from your home.”  Adrien smiled at the man, easily offering friendship. “If you want at least. To be friends.”

He shook his head no.  “Wanted home with family…couldn’t go home just wanted home.”  He sniffled, hand on his temple. 

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that Leslie. Are you...do you have family or friends here?”

“It’s a…scary place.”  Leslie said softly.  “Was good but got scary.  Dark and threatening”  

“Sounds like it was dangerous.  Were you happy?”

“You got a random roommate too?” Marinette wasn’t sure if it was a good thing they’d both experienced the same confusion or not. As Ladybug, she was supposed to protect the citizens of Paris, and she had failed to protect Adrien. “My roommate is pretty nice, so I don’t mind, but Alya and I always said we’d room together when we graduated, so I feel a little bad.” She had gotten used to Limbo, so she nodded. “It seems pretty safe, I haven’t seen - or heard of a single akuma attack since I got here. That’s got to be good, right?” Still nervous about sharing her designs, Marinette shrugged. “I maybe… thinking of hiring a gallery to show off some of my pieces. I don’t have a model though, so I don’t know. It’s probably a silly idea.” When he mentioned he’d missed her, her heart skipped a beat, and she almost missed the last thing he said. “Wait, what? We graduated? No, the last thing I remember, Lil-” She cut herself off at that, not wanting to talk about the horrid girl at school. “It’s been really weird for me, because when I went to sleep, I was still in school. Now I’m not.” 

Leslie shook his head.  “Krimson City…lived in Beacon.  Beacon Beacon.”  He repeated the last part.  He’s happy he’s free of course !  But he wants his family and Sebastian 

“Sounds like an interesting place!  I can’t say I’ve heard of it before..”

.｡.:*☆ “Cassian. Cassian Andor,” He watched the other, a small chuckle leaving his lips. “I could get one of those mattresses used to rescue people sometimes, if that helps?”

“You definitely win for coolest name ever.  Cassian Andor.”  He chuckled a bit, finally reaching the highest reaches of the tree and the rather freaked out cat.  He was quiet for a bit, as he coaxed it into his arms and it dug it’s claws into his chest before he started to descend.  “We could do that.  Sounds like too much effort at this point though. At least if I somehow die now I’ve saved a cat, right?”