The Lucky Ones, Chapter 3 - Day 1


1 week later.

Adrien awoke not 2 hours after he fell asleep, for the first day of testing. He was still yet to see his father, and while the remnants of yesterday's tears were stained on his face, he was ready to see Marinette.

After showering, changing, and eating in the cafeteria, he arrived in the observation chamber of Medical Lab 2 promptly at 9am.

"Good morning Adr- Adrien, how long did you sleep?" Nadja's tone shifted from warm to stern. "It won't do you any good to start your first day on such little sleep! Are you sure you don't want to cancel to-"

"Nadja, I appreciate your concern, but it is the first day of testing. We cannot cancel just because I'm a little tired. Is she ready?"

Nadja just blinked, but after a few seconds stuttered out, "Y-Yes, Adrien. She's ready." They turned to the screen where Marinette was watching them carefully, and Nadja pressed a button to speak.

"Good morning Marinette, how are you feeling?"

Marinette smiled weakly, and said, "Better than I've ever been in my life, honestly. I've never been fully fed or clean of dirt like I am now."

"That's good, my dear. Are you ready for testing today?"

To this, her smile fell slightly, but she nodded regardless.

Adrien turned to Nadja.

"Send them in."

Nadja pressed another button, and 5 people of varying degrees of illness walked, or were pushed on their wheelchairs, in.

"Marinette, these are the people in your first round. Left to right, is Jagged Stone, or just Stone; Alec Cataldi; Guerrilla, Adrien's bodyguard; Marlena Cesáire, Alya's mother; and Anarka Couffaine, Juleka's mother. Stone is a former musician who performed for the teens and younger children until he couldn't breathe properly, and Alec was announcer each morning for weather, birthdays, and more."

All muttered grateful words and praise for Marinette, though one stepped forward; Marlena.

"Marinette, I know my daughter was a part of the expedition that found you and I wanted to tell you how grateful we are as a family."

As Marinette listened, Nadja noticed she had started to tear up and rushed in with a vial.

"Any fluids you produce needs to be collected, sweetheart. Keep crying!"

Marinette dutifully continued to cry, as she stuttered out, "N-no one has c-cared for me that way in a l-l-long ti-i-ime. Thank you for your k-k-kind words."

Nadja filled vial after vial until there were enough for each participant to test, then stood to face them.

"Marlena and Guerilla, I want you to drink the tears. The rest of you, please rub it over your chest. If it sinks into your skin it could sink into your lungs and have some effect there. Drinking it may spread the possible benefits through the bloodstream in the small intestine. In the meantime, we will keep you here for observation, in Medical Lab 3."

They said their goodbyes to Marinette, then moved to the next chamber.

Adrien was bewildered.

"That's it? That's what I'm observing? What happened to the scheduled testing?"

"Adrien, she involuntarily produced fluids we could use, I-"

"I don't care! That is not what we were testing today, and it was not the proper administration methods!"

"Adrien, please, she was just doing her job."

Adrien turned to Marinette as she piped up, but couldn't hold his rage back to her meek words.

"What would you know, Marinette? You've been here a week after living your life in hiding, and that turned out well didn't it? DIDN'T IT?!"

He didn't notice her tears threatening to spill over her eyes as he left the chamber, slamming the door behind him. He didn't notice he was also crying until he pushed his back against the door and slid down, cradling his head in his lap. I just wish I could do something right, so my father doesn't think I'm a failure. I could've saved Mom. And there Adrien stayed for half an hour, until he pulled himself together enough to head back to his room and take a nap.


At 3:00 PM, Adrien found himself in front of Marinette's lab door, his arm raised to knock. What am I doing here? Why would she want to see me? He almost decided to turn around and leave, but figured it wouldn't change anything between them. He found it refreshing to have a new face around the facility.

Knock, knock.

"Uh, who's there?" Marinette's timid voice called.

"It's, uh, it's Adrien. May I come in?"

"Did you come to yell at me again?" Her tone changed to become slightly accusatory.

Adrien sighed, and let himself in.

"Marinette, I shouldn't have yelled at you. I'm so sorry." He moved from in front of the door to standing at her bedside, not chancing sitting down on the bed. He did, though, reach out to lightly take her hand. "I could not imagine losing my entire family in such a world out there, and being alone for so long. I might've just been sleep deprived but that is not an excuse. Please forgive me, Marinette."

Marinette had remained silent for the duration of his monologue, mouth somewhat hanging open and eyes watering up.

With a giggle, she said, "Do you want to collect these tears before they are wasted?"

"I-" Was all Adrien got out before dissolving into laughter, Marinette quickly following suit. They laughed for a few minutes, relishing in the seeming normality of their situation. A couple of teenagers laughing over a dumb joke.

"Oh- hahaha, okay Adrien, seriously, take the tears."

He quickly grabbed three vials, slightly shaking from remnants of the laughter from moments before, and collected her tears. He stared down at the vials, clear but with the obvious surface level of the fluids bobbing about inside.

"What are you thinking, Adrien?"

"I…" He looked up to see the confused, but concerned look on her face, eyes moving quickly between his face and the vials. "I… kind of want to test the vials myself."

"Yo-"

"I know, I could get into a lot of trouble for it. But I want to feel the effects for myself, you know?"

"I… I guess you're right, Adrien. I won't tell Nadja."

He smiled softly at her. "Thanks, Marinette."

With a soft pop, he removed the stopper from one vial, and quickly poured it into his mouth, disposing of the vial in the nearby waste bin. Immediately, he felt something warm in his chest, spreading to his fingertips. He raised his hands, almost to inspect them, then turned his head to face Marinette, grinning.

"I think it's working."