'A- I'm on my way, be there in fifteen'
'M- Okay! Did you eat breakfast?'
'A- oh no I forgot to haha'
'M- I'll have something waiting for you, so just come on in and up to the kitchen when you get here'
'A- you don't have to! I'll be fine'
'M- you know I'm gonna'
'A- okay fine, be there soon'
Adrien was very awake, already having showered and gotten dressed. He ran to where his coat sat waiting for him, slipping it on quickly as he started to get Plagg ready as well.
"You're all set up dude," Adrien said aloud to the grumpy black cat floating nearby. "Look! Loads of cheese for you in the bag, it will last you for a while if you pace yourself."
"It better be good stuff, nice stuff, I'm going to be stuck in your sweaty gym bag for hours and hours while you goof off."
"Come on Plagg please, it won't be that bad I'll find some excuse to let you out at some point okay, don't fight me on this." Adrien wasn't quite begging, but he wanted to get going and be there already, Plagg scowling uncooperatively.
"The bag is lousy with cheese Plagg and its warm and your mitten is in there and it smells like cheese now nothing else."
"The nose knows Adrien," he groaned, but much to his charge's relief he floated sourly towards the bag, settling in to his cozy side pocket to hide until Adrien took out the console later on and gave him free reign of the space.
"Thank you Plagg I'll make it up to you," he called into the duffel bag, zipping it up and lifting it gently before practically sprinting out the door. It was about 9:20 when he made it out of the house, looking up in surprise at how heavily it was snowing, before laughing it off and barreling down the street. It was terribly cold outside but he was plenty warm, his coat, earmuffs and scarf helping him out as he rushed across Paris. He knew he would get there faster if he just took the car but he liked the journey there, getting more and more excited as he left deep impressions in the snow. The chill burned his lungs but he liked it, relishing in the exercise since he hadn't had much of it once the weather turned cold. He couldn't wait, he knew Mari would be a good sport about it even if games weren't her thing but he was sure she would like it. He was going to walk her through everything, be her companion character.
He laughed out loud at the weird comparison, aligning himself with guide/support characters like Navi and the King of Red Lions. In his head he imagined Marinette dressed as Link, holding a map and looking confused while he stood nearby helping her out, themed like a black cat assist guide or something.
His attention was forced to refocus as his feet slid sharply on ice, his body naturally twisting to regain balance as he let out a panicked yelp. He managed to right himself, stumbling back into a run and letting out a heavy sigh tinged at the end with laughter as he kept his pace. If he didn't pay attention he was going to wipe out. Luckily though he was almost there, just a few more streets to go.
Marinette was giggling uncontrollably in the kitchen, totally overwhelmed in her over active daydreams as she darted around. Her mother was standing beside her at the stove, helping her daughter prepare breakfast for her friend but watching her all the while, smiling at how giddy she was.
Marinette was lost in the idea of cooking for Adrien, indulging in a happy fantasy of making his meals as he darted home to her through the snow, sliding in with a "Honey, I'm home!" and grabbing her for a kiss. Mind you the image was a little silly, considering well… everything, but she couldn't help it. A whole day with Adrien, just relaxing while he taught her about something he loved. Maybe they could have hot chocolate! And cookies and go out for lunch when they wanted to take a break and walk through the snow and hold hands and- oh god she was over the moon. Friends, she scolded herself, trying to calm her frantic heart. Friends first, don't be weird, don't make it weird you are doing so well don't make it weird. Friends.
She could do friends, because so far it was one of the greatest things in the world.
She felt her phone go off in her pocket, breaking away from her preparations to check it and seeing it was from Alya.
'Alya- Is he there yet?!'
Marinette giggled again, knowing her friend was almost as excited as she was. Ever since she had found the time to fill her in after Adrien left for his shoot she had been bombarding her with texts, demanding updates.
'M- Not yet, he's on his way. Alya I'm making him BREAKFAST'
The response was instantaneous.
'Alya- Oh. My. GOD. GIRL THAT IS SO DOMESTIC THAT'S THE CUTEST THING EVER'
Then an immediate follow up.
'Alya- Nino got a selfie and I am damn outraged I didn't get one, if I don't get some cute ass photo of you two sitting by a tree or something I'm going to lose my mind'
Marinette snickered, catching her mom's attention again as she typed out a reply.
'M- I'll see what I can do, I've got to go wish me luck!'
'A- Good luck girl!'
Marinette quickly tucked her phone, throwing herself back in and announcing, "I'm going to get some croissants from dad!"
Sabine smiled, almost finished with the omelets. "That's a good idea, get some fresh ones for the both of you."
"Right!"
She sprinted away, leaving her mother to smile at the empty air. It was so wonderful, she couldn't imagine a nicer boy. So polite and handsome, he had obviously caught her daughter's eye. Not to mention what potential there was, she could see it all. Her Marinette was sweet and genuine, and she could see from just saying hello to him that those were things he needed, things his life lacked. She had her suspicions that something was wrong with his home, and she had discovered it was the truth from Marinette when she told her that she had bought an ornament for him. You could see it for a moment, flashing through his eyes at the strangest of times. Something sad and longing, or distant and unsure when he would see something simple. Like Tom hugging their daughter, or when she made him something to eat, like he wasn't used to seeing… family.
She focused again on the food, finding a simple dish of eggs suddenly that much more important. Her daughter would be a good friend for such a lonely boy, maybe he wouldn't feel so alone when he stepped through her door again. She very much hoped so.
Just when Marinette had made it back upstairs she heard the door downstairs chime and her father greet someone excitedly. She rushed to grab the plates, holding them out for her mother to slide the omelets from the pan so she could place them on the table. She was setting the baked goods on the plate, her heart pounding and her giggles barely withheld in her throat when up the stairs came the gorgeous smiling boy, snow in his hair.
"H-hey Adrien!" Mari greeted him, bouncing a little in place when he beamed at her.
"Hey Mari!"
His breathing sounded a little heavier than normal but she chalked it up to the cold, her mother speaking up.
"Hello sweetheart, Marinette just finished making you some food! Feel free to set up in the living room, I promise Tom and I won't bother you too much."
"You could never be a bother mam'," Adrien answered quickly, grinning while the mother laughed.
"Such a charming young man. If you have want for anything let me know okay?" She stunned him by hugging him as she passed, stretching up to pat his hair and dust off some of the snow as she passed him.
He stood still for a moment, the friendliness paralyzing him before finally moving again with a happy laugh.
"Wow this looks really nice," he said, looking at the food for the first time, then looking at her sheepishly. "You really didn't have to go through the trouble."
"I wanted to! I-it's no bother, really." She was smiling at him like a fool, just so glad that he was there again, before remembering herself and saying, "Uh want something to drink?"
"Water would be fine, thanks for this it's really cool. And it looks great!"
Once they had their drinks they settled down to eat, Adrien remarking on the quality and making her blush shyly with the praise, claiming the credit belonged to her mother but he found a way to thank her anyways.
Marinette's eyes drifted over towards their sitting area with the TV, blankets and pillows and such in extra supply around so they could be comfortable. She was eager to start, mostly to see how excited Adrien would get, and she knew just how to get him going.
"Okay, so Windwaker. What do I need to know going in?"
His eyes widened a little, his fork halfway to his mouth before he gave her an adorable grin. He shoved the last of his food quickly between his teeth, swallowing and throwing his hands out in wide excited gestures.
"Okay! So there's a hero, cloaked in green and savior of the ages, his name is Link. Well-" he paused, suddenly deep in thought, before shaking his slightly damp blonde hair. "Okay well lore will sorta be explained in the intro, uh, how many games have you played before?"
Marinette was slow to reply, pulling into herself a little with a shy smile. "Not a lot really. Never any, like, fighting games."
His mouth dropped open, before snapping shut back into an excited grin. "Okay so starting from the ground up. We should just start, it will be easier to break down controls and stuff if you're playing it. You're going to really like it I know you are, are we going to be in the living room?"
She laughed a little at his enthusiasm, nodding and pointing at the TV. "Yeah, you can start putting it together if you want while I clean up."
The only thing powerful enough to stop the intensity of his nerdness was his need to be polite, stammering out, "Oh wait did you want help? I can help clean if you'd like you already made food I can-"
"Its fine Adrien," she cut him off, "you set up. I want to see it!"
He smiled at her again, saying excitedly, "You're gonna like it! I'll get it going!"
He darted off, taking his bag and setting it down by the TV. She watched him for a little, soaking in his eager joy before giggling to herself, turning around to get the plates away as quickly as possible. He was talking to her all the while, connecting wires and pulling out a controller, giving her vague hints about stuff that could happen to get her more excited. She hesitated, then cleaned the pan, not wanting to cause her mother trouble since she had been so helpful, and started putting everything away. Since it took her the extra few minutes, she looked up when she heard a triumphant "Yeah!' and the start of exciting adventurous music coming from her TV. You could see the logo for the game displayed prominently on the screen, a red boat with an elaborate figure head swaying in an invisible current while gorgeous stylized islands flashed behind it. Adrien caught her eye, holding his arms wide and presenting the game like it was made of gold.
"Ready to be a hero of wind? Cause I am."
"Let's do it!"
Marinette rushed over, plopping down right in front of the TV and making grabby hands for the controller, which he happily relinquished. He too ignored the couch completely, sitting incredibly close by Marinette's side and quickly going over the buttons. 'I'm sitting this close so I can help her easily,' he rationalized weakly in his mind, choosing to ignore it and lean forward excitedly.
Marinette grinned at him before dramatically pressing the start button, the two of them cheering lamely when the screen faded into the menu and laughing at each other.
Adrien hovered, teaching her how to navigate the menu and pleased with how quickly she understood things, it was mostly all intuitive anyways. When she got to the part where she was meant to name the character she titled her head.
"I thought his name was Link?"
"Well it is, like in canon that's his name but when you play you can name him whatever you want."
"What do you name him?"
"Link," he laughed, shrugging his shoulders and smiling at her. "Nothing else ever seemed right."
"Link it is!"
She entered the name, and something warm and great settled in his heart. She wasn't shying away from him. He could tell she noticed his proximity, he had as well they were both aware of it, but they still didn't move. He could count the number of times she had stuttered since he arrived on one hand, and she was just as pumped to play the game as he was.
He had only just sat down, and he honestly never wanted to move again.
Marinette was an incredibly quick learner, and just the hilarious moments where she tried to master using the camera and moving at the same time was enough to floor him with laughter. He had removed his coat and earmuffs, keeping the light blue scarf that Marinette seemed to like and was leaning over her as she tried again.
"Look, like this! See? You're a seamstress! Doing a bunch of stuff at the same time will be like second nature to you."
His hands were on hers, he realized, the two of them holding the controller as he informed the way she used it. Her fingers were a little cold, and he realized his own were incredibly warm, heating hers a little the longer he stalled. He looked at their hands for a moment before blushing fiercely, about to pull away when she said, "L-like this?"
The camera jerked sharply, and he hesitated to take his hands away, instead continuing to show her. "More like this."
He could see how warm her face was, but he could also see the slight smile. Her fingers were warmer now, and with a small surge of humor he realized she was doing it on purpose.
He chuckled without really meaning too, prolonging the contact without really intending it, smirking in a way he hadn't expected. He didn't mind that she had tricked him, which surprised him. Shouldn't he mind?
No. He was teaching her how to play, there's nothing wrong with that.
After a little he did pull back, though they shared weight between their shoulders now in a comfortable way. Her camera control improved remarkably after that (suspicious suspicious) and she took to exploring the intro island with ease.
Once his nerves from the accidental hand holding had finally faded he found himself laughing constantly, always entertained by the way she decided to play.
"What about HERE!" she exclaimed, driving the character to dive through a row of pots and searching for a hole to crawl through. She was so paranoid of missing something good after Adrien had shown her the secret hundred rupee under the house.
She spent almost twenty minutes chasing pigs and making him wheeze with laughter, another ten staring at seagulls, another five splashing through the water. She was so intense about saving people, getting her weapon and charging fearlessly at the enemies with adorable battle cries. He was so wrapped up in it, not the game really, but her. The way she grinned devilishly as she did a jump strike, the way she giggled when at one point she decided she wanted to travel exclusively via backflips for a while, the way she gasped in horror when her virtual little sister was kidnapped. She stared at him with utter betrayal in his eyes because he SAID nothing bad happened to the sister he SAID. He had lied, obviously, and it took him getting up for a snack run to make her forgive him.
"I can't believe you would do that to my little sister Adrien," Marinette pouted while he was grabbing some chips and soda.
"I didn't kidnap her! It was Ganon! It's not my fault, but I'll help you get her back."
"You better, she was so cute and nice up until she was literally snatched from a cliff by a giant bird."
He laughed, returning to the living room and placing their stash in front of them, backtracking before sitting to grab a large fluffy comforter from the couch as well as a mountain of pillows.
"Nice! Yeah set them up here," Marinette gestured behind her without looking away from the screen, engrossed in the dialogue with her in-game grandmother just before leaving the island.
"Isn't the grandma super guilt trippy?" he said, setting up the pillows so Marinette could lean backwards and then lounging beside her again.
"I know! Like, seriously grandma my little sister might be bird food, I have to go."
Adrien laughed again along with Marinette, throwing the comforter over the two of them and pulling the snacks into the little cave beneath the blanket, setting in on their legs.
Occasionally to make her laugh Adrien would disappear beneath the blanket, sinking down to steal some of her food while she was caught up fighting some moblins or something. She would squeal and giggle, trying to push him away with her leg to save her pretzels but there was no stopping him, and he would pop up again with the bag grinning at her triumphantly.
When she arrived at a place called the forbidden fortress the two of them got very quiet, glued to the screen as Marinette guided their hero through the enemy infested rooms, totally weaponless and trying to find the prison cell the little sister was being kept in. They would both jump whenever they were almost spotted, Adrien back seat gaming whenever she would try and sneak past a gurad.
"You're too close he's gonna see you!"
"No he's not I've got this sh!"
"You're gonna get caught," he would tease, just waiting for the guard to whirl around and catch her, but with a quick roll and a dash for the door she would clear the room and he would cheer along with her.
"I told you I had it!"
"You did I'm sorry, I shouldn't have thought what happened the past three rooms in a row would happen again."
"Oh sh! I did it didn't I?"
He chuckled, sinking into their little fort of blankets and enjoying himself. He would pipe up to give her hints, tell her interesting facts about the game and how it was made, tell her things about the lore, or even just to distract her during a particularly stressful combat portion. She was so cute while she played, the controller clutched close to her chest, leaning whatever direction it was she wanted the character to dodge, and letting out a little "Hiyah!" whenever she would attack. He couldn't help it after a while, he was eventually just as goofy about it as she was. They gave voices to the characters and had long running jokes that made them double over wheezing anytime they brought it up. At one point Marinette earned the nickname Pearhead because of her obsessive use of the pear item in the game that let you fly around as a seagull.
They had been laughing till they had tears in their eyes at some terrible joke they had made when they heard someone come upstairs, greeting them as they walked in.
Tom was grinning at what he found, delighted to see that the kids were having fun. Adrien and Marinette were side by side, wrapped up in a big blanket with snacks scattered around, looking absolutely adorable. With the huge Christmas tree in the corner, lights twinkling in the window, and the snow falling outside it looked like a typical holiday commercial about Christmas morning.
Adrien looked a little caught out, not sure how to react now that someone else was there, so Tom was quick to jump in.
"This looks fun! Are you two enjoying yourselves?"
"Yes papa, look at this!" Marinette called her father over, doing a quick run around of the island they were currently on. "Isn't this game beautiful? It's from a series called the Legend of Zelda that Adrien really likes, it's amazing!"
"Y-yeah!" Adrien laughed, trying to regain his cool. "I like it a lot."
"I know this series," Tom spoke up, earning shocked looks from the both of them. "The original ones, like the Adventure of Link. Those came out when I was about your age, I remember playing them and loving them. I sort of got out of touch as I got older but I'd recognize that green clad hero anywhere!"
He looked down at Adrien whose mouth was open in shock, and he suddenly felt like he was the coolest dad ever. Poor lad, he probably hadn't ever had an adult relate to something he enjoys before. In fact from the way Adrien clammed up when he had first walked in the boy was probably expecting to be scolded for one reason or another.
"Running low on snacks? Business is a little slow today, I can go out and get you something if you like."
"Oh no we're okay Dad, thanks though! If we need something we can get it." Marinette smiled up at her father, letting out a little yelp as her character accidently fell into the ocean due to her lack of focus.
"Smooth," Adrien chuckled, earning a soft punch in the arm.
Tom stood up, stepping a little away before pulling out his phone. He had another mission besides checking on them.
"Hey kids!" he called, getting their attention. "I'm getting a picture. Smile!"
It took Adrien a second to react, but then he was smiling happily. At first it was a professional smile, one he was used to giving when a camera was pointed at him, but then Marinette had twisted her body and was leaning into him with a slight blush, grinning up at him. For a second he just blinked, before his face felt a little hot and a giggle slipped out, reaching out to hold Marinette before smiling genuinely up at her father.
Tom took the photo, giving the two of them a thumbs up while he checked how it looked. Marinette was in front, her body turned the face the camera, leaning into Adrien behind her. His arms were around her, his chin resting on her head as they both grinned with slightly warm faces. The blanket was twisted around them, tying them together, and the decorated Christmas tree shined behind brightly behind them. Snow fell in every window all around them, and it was one of the sweetest photos Tom had ever seen.
He showed the kids who both nodded in approval, Adrien chuckling a little at how admittedly intimate it looked, but once again not really minding. Marinette was blushing, and she suddenly asked with a smirk, "Hey dad. Did Alya tell you to take that?"
"Yes, apparently she was waiting on you and got impatient." Tom laughed happily, sending the picture to her daughter's friend and leaving to go show Sabine. Adrien settled back into the pillows, looking up at Mari.
"Alya feeling left out?"
"Yeah," she giggled, "but I'm sure that will keep her happy."
They fell back into it, lost in the fantastic adventure, and a little lost in each other. Adrien's eyes were drawn to the movement in the window after a while, watching the flurry of snow as it piled on the windows, coating the world in a gentle white. Then he looked over to Marinette, curled up in the blankets and staring with wide eyes at the TV. He wasn't sure how he had gotten there, so warm and happy, allowed to be himself. Surrounded by so much good. Good smells from the bakery and the fresh pine of the tree, good feelings of warmth and joy, good company of a sweet enthusiastic girl. He wanted to stay there, watching the snow and listening to Marinette's cheerful babbling. Maybe if he tried hard enough, wanted it enough, then time would halt and he could stay forever. He had never wanted something more.
They were both utterly surprised when Tom called up the stairs and said "Marinette! The shipment is here!"
Adrien choked a little on the soda he was drinking grabbing his phone to check the time. "Is it really one already?"
"Oh god I totally lost track of time. I've gotta go help I'll be back."
"Wait I'll help! It will go faster that way," Adrien scrambled to his feet just as she did, the two of them using the other as a support while they unraveled the blanket from themselves.
"You don't have-"
"I want to! Honestly, your parents have been so nice I want to help out, I'll follow your lead."
Marinette hesitated for a moment, but saw he was genuinely eager to lend a hand with something as simple as unloading a truck. After a little she sighed, propping her hands on her hips and smiling at him.
"Okay, thank you. Let's go."
She took off, grabbing her coat as she darted down the stairs, Adrien mimicking the action and following her down, still stepping back into his shoes as he stumbled down the last few steps. He followed her through the back of the bakery, finding her parents already waiting by a large open back door, snow drifting in and melting almost instantly on the warm tile floor.
"Watch your step, it is a little slippery," Tom warned, turning to see Adrien as well and grinning at him. "Here to help Adrien? You don't have to!"
"No I want to sir, it's no problem really. Point me in the right direction!"
Tom laughed heartily, ignoring any need of a jacket and leading the kids out into the snow. Sabine had stepped out ahead of them, huddling in a sweater and scarf as she chatted with the driver of the truck. The huge loader was pulled up straight to the door, filled with endless bags of this or that, anything you'd need to run a bakery. Adrien hesitated, waiting for Marinette to move first and watching her clamber into the truck. He started in surprise when she deadlifted a massive bag of flour, the thing must have been eighty pounds! Not only did the weight of it seem to go totally unnoticed by her, but she carried it so easily that she jumped down from the truck and walked into the bakery without missing a step. Tom caught Adrien staring at her with a shocked expression and said, "Doesn't look the part huh? She could lift me if she wanted, strongest girl I know."
Not to be outdone Adrien jumped up into the truck, stacking two bags and lifting them with a smile, making Tom bark out a laugh. "You're strong too then! Well don't overdo it, don't want you getting hurt."
"Yes sir!" he said with a gin, jumping down from the truck and taking his load inside. He had just dumped them off inside and was walking back towards the truck when he heard the driver call back to Tom.
"Hey you've got an extra pair of hands around this time, what did you adopt another kid?"
Tom paused with his own two bags of flour, smiling and shouting back, "Why yes I did, I have a new son! His name is Adrien, isn't he nice?" Tom laughed heavily, Sabine joining in as the large man walked inside to deposit his burden.
Adrien kept moving forward mechanically, climbing into the truck and totally lost in the innocent quip. He was smiling, even through his dazed state he was smiling with joy at the remark. It was just a joke, it was simple, meant for a laugh, but it made him so incredibly happy to be included in the warm little dynamic found in the bakery.
The only other person in the truck was Marinette and she seemed to understand, smiling softly over her shoulder as she crouched to pick up another bag. "They really like you," she said softly, walking past him with the bag slung over her shoulder.
She said nothing more, hopping down to continue unloading and leaving Adrien some time to slowly recover. When he finally did find the power to work again, it was at double the pace, eager to help in any way he could. If there was anything he could do to make life easier for the bakers he would do it, no doubt about it.
It took a while, but eventually the truck was unloaded and the two kids worked side by side to organize the new stock in the storage.
"Thanks for helping Adrien," Marinette eventually spoke up, sorting through a list of materials. She looked up at him with a grin as he climbed through the racks, shifting things around to fit the next bag. "It really is going much faster with both of us working."
"Well we make a good team," he said with a smirk, catching her blush and snicker when he looked back at her. "I have to say," he continued, distracted by the way she had rolled the sleeves of her shirt up, "you are way stronger than I took you for. Did that come from just lifting all these bags in the bakery?"
Her arms were tone and strong in a way he had never noticed before, but it totally showed whenever she would lift and move something. His point was proven when she tossed a sack onto the middle rack against the wall like it was nothing, her eyes glowing with playful confidence.
"Yeah…" she answered slowly, smiling about something he could only guess at. "That and I work out a lot. I tend to be active."
"Me as well," he announced, not so subtly hanging from the rack by one arm. When she quirked an eyebrow at him he only smirked, doing one armed pull ups without breaking eye contact until she snorted with laughter.
"Show off," she laughed, rolling her eyes and returning to her work, Adrien dropping down next to her to read over her shoulder.
"Looks like we've stacked everything," Adrien said cheerfully, looking around to confirm they had gotten what they needed to. "Do you mind if I go take a call in your room? I missed one from Natalie while we were working."
Marinette turned to look up at him with wide eyes, saying quickly, "Are you in trouble?"
He pursed his lips and shrugged, taking out his phone to look at the two missed calls from a few minutes ago.
"No clue, I should probably call back though."
She nodded, her brow furrowed slightly. "Yeah you can use my room, no problem."
He thanked her, patting her on the shoulder as he passed and jogging up towards her incredibly pink bedroom. He unlocked his phone as he headed up, pushing call just as he opened the hatch and waiting with slight unease for someone to answer.
"Adrien," Natalie's voice sounded by way of greeting, her tone making his heart sink a little. Didn't sound good.
"Hey Nat, I'm sorry I missed your call I was helping a friend. What did you need?"
The boy stood in the middle of the room, looking out a circle window behind the lounge at the slowly falling snow, Christmas lights cheerfully twinkling somewhere nearby.
His day was so nice, so happy and fun. If he could drop the phone and ignore whatever she said next he would, but he knew he couldn't.
"It's about your father," she stated robotically, trying to mask something almost like regret in her voice with cold professionalism. "He wanted me to let you know that… due to some circumstances with the company he- he's sorry to say but he won't be here for the holidays."
The line was quiet.
To the world, very little had changed. Snow still fell, the lights still shined, but for Adrien it was all instantly… less. His grip on the phone softened, his eyelids drooping as his gaze dropped to the floor. What he hated most was the sudden hollowness in his chest, and how clearly he recalled the familiarity of hope fizzling out.
He should have guessed, honestly. He shouldn't have taken it seriously. He had been stupid, genuinely believing his father would take the time. When had he ever? Why would this time be any different?
Natalie was still talking, trying to explain the situation so he would understand but her words lacked any kind of substance. She didn't believe the words she was saying, weaving an excuse she probably hadn't even been given to explain why a father wouldn't see his son. Gabriel probably hadn't even told her why, just told her to call and notify his son.
"Thank you for letting me know," he said suddenly, cutting her off with an emotionless voice. She started to say something else, but he hung up, letting his hand drop to the side and standing still in the center of the room.
He wasn't sure what he felt. It was cold, and numb. And… angry. A chilling kind of anger that was bitter and sharp like frostbite. He felt so childish, like a stupid little kid running after his father with a pathetic drawing, begging for approval. For attention. For anything at all, even for him to just fucking look at him.
How utterly… pathetic.
He felt his knees shake, suddenly almost collapsing with his weight but he stiffened and held his ground. How much more was he willing to make a fool of himself? Curling up and crying in a room like a damn infant. Hadn't he already proven his idiocy, daring to believe the only constant of his life might change just this once? That his father might care? What had he been expecting? His father to give him a gift and a clap on the shoulder, a warm smile as he said "Merry Christmas Son," had he really been that stupid?
What the hell did he need any of that for, he had done fine on his own. And he would do it again. And again and again and a hundred times over and suddenly his knees shook again.
He hated it. He hated how much if affected him. It made him feel even weaker, because even after all this time he was still hoping for something.
He sat down on the lounge, his head in his hands and phone clattering to the ground, hating how he still hoped. Hating how he hoped that maybe just once, he wouldn't be alone when Christmas came around.
Ha…
How quickly he forgot.
He felt her hand on his knee before he even noticed the time that passed, gentle and comforting and so very her. Some small part of his brain realized with the ache of his hands that he must have been there for some time, angry tears he never noticed staining his fingers. She must have come up… looking for him, wondering why he never came back. And even when she saw him there, his phone discarded on the ground and the weight of his head numbing his hands she didn't press, didn't demand answers. She just offered the gentle pressure of her hand on his knee, and the deep genuine concern in her eyes when he finally managed to look up at her.
They stared at each other for another stretch of time he couldn't measure, until in a thick and husky voice he found himself telling her what happened.
There wasn't a filter, or any kind of doubt that she should know. He just told her, the water in her eyes chipping away at the numbness he felt in his chest, the warmth of her hand soothing the ragged edges of his disappointment.
When he had finished he watched her carefully, the cold anger he felt burning in his throat. It wasn't the kind of anger that ranted, just the kind that burned icily until you couldn't speak at all.
But even when his words failed him she spoke, and that cold inside him halted, listening.
"Stay."
There was silence, and he watched her, stunned at how… powerful Marinette's eyes suddenly became.
The small girl was crouched on the ground, her hair messy from the labor of unloading the truck, her face set in unshakeable sincerity.
"Stay here Adrien, for Christmas. Please say you will."
The boy felt shock, piercing through the cold and numbness to leave him stunned, drawing back a little in his seat on the lounge. He was so alert, soaking in every detail in an effort to understand.
Snow lay piled in every window, falling flakes visible in the weak clouded sunlight and gentle shine of persistently cheery store fronts nearby. The pink of her walls was dulled with the lack of artificial light, the two teens in a relative dim with only what light managed to make it from outside to show each other their faces.
And Marinette stared at him, offering him what she could, wanting him to smile.
"We want you too," she spoke again, leaning towards him as she did. "My parents, me. I want you here, I won't let you be alone. No more lonely Christmas nights…"
He felt the building of tears this time, fighting them back as he bowed his head. His voice was heavy and so entirely unsure that it broke Marinette's heart.
"I- I can't… It's not my place."
"Yes it is."
She caught one of his hands and he looked at her with a jolt, pain and… something else written on his face.
Her smile was so soft, and so steady. It made him want to say yes, to hope for a proper Christmas all over again.
God… had he really not learned his lesson… Was he really so ready to trust again?
'She's different' he thought, looking at her hands holding his. 'She really is offering. She's genuine. That's just how she is.'
"We want you to stay," she said again, emphasizing the fact that she spoke on behalf of her family as well. She knew it was true, she knew they wouldn't want him spending Christmas alone just as much as her.
She held his hand without any hesitation, absolutely confident in everything she was offering. When Adrien was right there in front of her… so unsure…
There was no room for uncertainty, and she waited with patience.
It felt like it took forever, each second ticking into the next as Adrien felt the true weight of her hands, the warmth of her fingers. It sounded… so impossibly perfect. He could see it, watching cheesy movies, playing Windwaker until Christmas Eve bled into Christmas while Marinette insisted on back flipping everywhere all over again. The way her parents talked to him… it would be easy. He wouldn't feel like an outsider at all, he would fit right in, like nothing was out of place.
…
He wouldn't be alone…
He looked at her, really looked at her… the sweet, genuine girl who offered him a place to be. And even with all the heaviness in his heart…
he smiled.
"O-okay…" he finally said, a breathy bodiless laugh shaking free from his chest. "I'll stay."
She laughed too, quietly. Relieved. She watched his face and knew that sadness was still there, but maybe… maybe there was something like peace there too.
"It's gonna be fun," she spoke softly, keeping holding of his hand and ignoring the skip of her heart when he returned the gentle pressure. "You can hear all my dad's stupid reindeer jokes and taste my mom's cooking for Christmas dinner. Her proper cooking, not quick stuff like eggs, it's like nothing you've ever had. And we can watch movies and play games and stuff and have fun. It's gonna be great, I can even make you a stocking."
He laughed a little louder at the last one, his eyes fixing on the flash of gold hanging from her neck, tracking the bell as it moved. "I've never had a stocking before."
"Well that will be the first thing we fix," she said with cheer in her voice, almost begging him to smile again. "I'm warning you now, as soon as I tell my parents they are going to go buy you presents, you won't be able to stop them."
His thoughts turned to Sabine and her powerful mothering gene and knew what Marinette said was true. There would be no stopping her.
"I can get them stuff too then," he added, his voice a little stronger now. "You'll have to help me shop."
"We can go look now if you want," she offered, squeezing his hand a little in a comforting way. "Or did you want to keep playing Windwaker?"
"C-can we just stay here for a little? Just a little more. I'll be fine in a minute…"
He was surprised at how easily he said it, practically admitting weakness like it was nothing at all. But she did exactly as he expected, smiling gently and nodding her head, settling her weight on her legs to wait as long as he needed.
That's just the sort of girl she was.
She moved to release his hand but he didn't let her, holding the contact and earning another gentle smile. He didn't have it in him to question it, to wonder or worry. He just liked the way it felt, and she seemed to understand it.
"Just let me know when you're ready," she breathed the words, heating his hand in hers and hoping to melt the ice she had seen in his eyes. It seemed to be working, a whimsical smirk gracing his face.
"Thanks… Pearhead."
They laughed together and then lapsed into silence, Adrien working to steady his emotions, and Marinette prepared to wait as long as it would take for him to smile easily again. With her hands holding his though… he had a feeling she wouldn't have long to wait.
((Ooooh! Adrien is staying for Christmas Eve and Christmas itself! Wonder how that's gonna be, considering Cat Noir and Ladybug will be meeting just before then. Thank you all for the amazing support! Has everyone seen the fanart of the selfie because YOU SHOULD HOLY HELL. Sorry for some cursing in this chapter btw, but it seemed to fit. Thank you to everyone who has drawn stuff for this, I absolutely love it!))