Post-wish AU where the world is re-created so that Emilie never died, Gabriel never became Hawk Moth, there was no Ladybug and Chat Noir, etc... Adrien never ends up going to school, so he and Marinette don't end up meeting until later in life.
They never become close friends, but somehow they keep showing up in each other's lives. They attend the same university, but are in different programs, only briefly crossing paths in the library from time to time. They have apartments next-door to each other for a year but only say brief hellos as they pass in the halls. Their kids end up in the same class. They're seatmates on a plane.
There are a hundred different ways the universe keeps trying to bring them together, but it's either not the right time or they somehow mess things up. They go through their entire lives feeling like something is missing.
In the last scene, Adrien visits the cemetary to lay flowers on his late spouse's grave. Marinette's tombstone is the one right beside it.
---
[Inspired by my morning walk and listening to the song Parallel Lines by DVBBS (ft. CMC$ and Happy Sometimes)]
Marinette stepped through the school doors and tested the rain with her hand. Drawing it back, she sighed, wondering whether it'd be worth it to wait for the rain to stop before heading home.
A limousine eased by with a light-haired boy in the back seat. Marinette opened her mouth, and-
And let it drop closed.
Was she about to say something?
To who?
Weird.
She ran home, doing her best to avoid the rain.
--
Adrien groaned, glaring at his textbook as though it had personally wronged him. Why had he even agreed to this course in the first place?
A giggle came from the other side of the table, and Adrien looked up to find a blue-eyed girl staring back at him with a barely-hidden smile. He stuck out his tongue, and she snorted.
Someone shushed them -probably the librarian- sending Adrien back to work.
Maybe university wasn't so bad.
Thunder rolled outside, and Adrien was glad he'd brought his umbrella.
--
"Um- Sorry to intrude, but is this seat taken?"
"Huh?" Marinette turned from the window to find a tall, blonde man standing in the aisle, carry-on in his hands and wavering smile claiming his face.
"The, uh, seat. Mind if I use it?"
"Oh! Not at all. Need any help with your bag? I'm stronger than I look; I promise."
He chuckled. "Sure, thank you."
They settled in, and the plane took off.
Marinette smiled as they passed through a cloud, tiny droplets clinging to the window.
--
Adrien stared down at the grave, tracing its letters in a silent goodbye. Had it been his to seal away, the ring in his hand would be buried there, too, but it was an heirloom, one that had never really been his. The longest he'd held it before was during their wedding, and it had been worn ever since by someone now long gone.
Still, he couldn't quite shake the feeling that he, at least, belonged to it.
He adjusted the bouquet he'd left, pulled away from the headstone, and rose to his feet. As he turned to leave, he caught a glimpse of the next marker over.
Marinette.
The name seemed familiar, like someone important, but Adrien didn't know any Marinettes. Maybe someone famous?
He plucked a rose from a nearby bush and left it for her. Whoever she was, she deserved something nice, even if the flower's usual meaning wasn't intended.
It just seemed like her color.
Adrien walked back to his car and shook out his umbrella.
Maybe it would be sunny next year.