"Marinette!" Adrien called after the back of Marinette's retreating frame. Man, she was fast. He was really sprinting after her. Then, within a blink, she was gone. He ran his hands through his hair and kept walking in the general direction of where she'd gone. That's when he heard a sniffle. He glanced up and saw Marinette sitting up in a tree. "Hey," he whispered gently.
Marinette heard the voice, but assumed they were talking to someone else.
"Psst, Marinette!"
No, he was definitely talking to her and his voice was familiar. Marinette glanced down and found Adrien Agreste staring up at her from about ten feet below. He looked up at her, concerned. He didn't really know Marinette very well, but they were friends and she was horribly distraught.
Marinette would normally be overjoyed to see Adrien, out of breath, because he'd been chasing after her; although, today, that wasn't the case. She wanted to see anyone except Adrien Agreste. Of all the people, he was the one that made this hurt so much worse.
"I can't, Adrien," she sobbed as she buried her face in her arms.
Then, suddenly, she felt a body pressed up against her back, the heat burning through her shirt, "Whoa, it's uh, pretty high up here." It was his soft voice behind her and much closer now. He was IN the tree with her; pressed against her. She stilled and her crying stopped. Marinette couldn't help the light blush that appeared on her cheek regardless of how distressed she was over the news. This was still Adrien.
"Want to talk about it?" he asked. Marinette realized she must have been too quiet.
"No," she shook her head.
"What's wrong?"
Without looking at him, Marinette reached to her back pocket. Adrien tensed as she managed to put her hand in his lap. Her head snapped up, "Sorry." Then she wiggled to where she could get to her pocket and pulled out the telegram.
He took the paper from her and began to read it. His eyes widened in realization-an arranged marriage. Marinette was a promised bride. This wasn't fair. That wasn't fair to anyone; especially not sweet Marinette. She was one of the most unassuming people he'd ever met. How could she be in an arranged marriage?
"How is this...?" Adrien read it twice, "I don't understand." He recognized the name Li Xiao. He was a rich Chinese guy who manufactured dyes and textiles. His father and he had been rather bitter in their negotiations periodically throughout the years. "Li Xaio...Jao? JAO!? Jao is like my dad's age!"
"Jao?" Marinette looked at him and smirked. She'd forgotten he knew how to read Chinese. Her eyes widened, "What does it say?" When she leaned back to look at him she about lost her balance, but Adrien wrapped an arm around to steady her.
"Whoa, now, don't hurt yourself."
"I c-couldn't read it." She sniffed and wiped her cheeks with both of her hands, "Y-you pr-probab-bly think I-I'm a b-b-b-ig b-ba-aby." She took another shaky breath. Then she thought for a moment, leaned forward, and buried her head in his chest bursting into a fresh round of sobs. He tensed at the physical contact. He didn't really know what to do. He had such little experience with comforting people, or being comforted for that matter.
"No," he shook his head and frowned, "I don't." He took his free arm and gently wrapped it around her, into a gently embrace, and rubbed her back soothingly. "Don't cry, Marinette."
"It's not fair." They sat there for a minute until her crying slowed and she sat up, pulling away from him, slightly embarrassed. Adrien went back to the telegram and didn't seem to notice her blush.
"It says Li Xiao," he sighed, "He's...he's...how are you all connected?" The curiosity is thick in Adrien's voice.
"I don't know. D-do you know them?"
He nodded, "I know of them. My father works with them every now and again; mostly for silks."
"I don't know how."
"There has to be a reason," Adrien whispered, "He orders you to marry his son."
"No," she whined, and a tear dripped down her cheek again.
"Orders..." Adrien frowned at that, "That's not right."
Marinette's head snapped up, "Maman looked so guilty. She knew."
Adrien didn't realize it, but he still had one arm around Marinette. She became aware of it at about the same time he did and they both blushed.
"Sorry," he said, removing his arm.
He wobbled and Marinette grabbed his thigh, "Careful." Then she sighed, "Why'd you..." She couldn't complete the thought.
Adrien knew the gist of what she was about to say, "You're my friend, Marinette. How many friends do you think I have?"
Their eyes connected and she could see something sad underneath his gaze. For once she realized she was looking through a facade and his sadness was much more profound, and deep, than hers. The sense of mutual understanding was innate and palpable.
"You..."
"Let's get you home, Marinette," with a sad smile, he sighed. Adrien had a newfound respect for her all of a sudden. She hadn't hidden her pain and sadness. She'd been vulnerable to him. How he wished he could confide in someone. Marinette was going to ask that of him, but he wasn't ready. Not yet. Maybe someday he'd be able to. For now, he had decided, he was determined to be there for Marinette in ways there was no one there for him. She didn't have the thick skin he did. This was all new and she needed his support. Her future was in limbo and what little control she had was fading. He couldn't sit back and watch that happen to her.
