A/N: Here's the next chapter! Hope you like it.


Chapter 4: Predictable and Unpredictable

Plagg groaned loudly, communicating his displeasure as he yanked down on his lower eyelids. Adrien chose to ignore him, removing his workout pants he had been wearing all night before clumsily dropping back onto the edge of the bed in his boxers. He gradually identified the end of the bloodied bandage dressing his knee and unraveled it gently, revealing an aggravated patch of swollen skin held together with a couple of dark sutures. His kwami and he grimaced in tandem as they noted infection and blood slowly oozing from the injury. Plagg made another exasperated groan.

"When I suggested transforming, I didn't mean you should gallivant about and exert yourself to your absolute limit," he grumbled angrily, decidedly finished being patient. "It was just supposed to be a small break."

Adrien scowled at him before softly poking the site, only to elicit a hiss of pain from himself.

"Yeah, sure, kid. Poke it. You've already opened it up again anyway." Plagg rolled his eyes.

A weak sigh escaped the boy as he pushed himself from his bed. Limping over to the bathroom, pulling a hand towel from a cupboard before propping himself on the edge of the tub. Plagg went instead to the mini fridge and phased through its door, re-phasing into the bathroom to plop onto the counter with a small wheel of Camembert cheese. He hastily unwrapped a section, grumpily stuffing the contents into his mouth as he watched Adrien test the water running from the tap and wetting the edge of the towel.

"Don' ge yours-siches-swet," the cat advised as he stuffed another portion down his throat.

Adrien carefully dabbed the cloth at the edges of the wound, trying to soak up what he could without disturbing the stitches any more than he already had. To say it hurt was an understatement. It hurt. Tremendously. But it was worth it. It was worth the moment of freedom he had experienced tonight. The sensible part of him agreed with Plagg that he should have been more careful, but the more Chat-like side of him was pleased he had gotten out, if only for a couple of hours. He grit his teeth against a flash of pain in an effort to mask what he was really experiencing from Plagg, but the kwami had been watching him closely. Too closely, it seemed, as the cat let out another snort of disapproval.

"Kid," he swallowed the contents in his mouth this time and drifted closer to the tub. He hovered just over its rim to look at Adrien's wound. "I can do a lot of things. A lot. But it's really difficult to extend myself to every point especially when I'm trying to compensate for your delicate mental state right now."

Adrien twitched at the word 'delicate', as he knew exactly what Plagg was getting at.

"Especially when your physical state is already compromised. I'm making up for a lot here, pal, but I can't do everything."

The teen continued dabbing his knee dry only half listening to the cat creature. Plagg stared at him for another moment before drifting out of sight. Adrien didn't know what to say even if he could find it in himself to actually speak, so he pretended he didn't notice the cat departed. He was surprised, however, when the small being returned, hefting a new roll and a couple of gauze pads. Smiling weakly to show his gratitude, Adrien dried his hands on a towel that hung behind him on the wall and took the bandages from his friend. Plagg sat next to him as he proceeded to unwrap the items and carefully dress the injury.

Fatigue had made its presence known as Adrien felt his strength wane when he tried to stand. Plagg cautioned the boy gently, trying not to get worked up again as he flitted about him with concern all while Adrien limped back to his bed. The sun had risen beyond the horizon and a soft morning glow filtered through the window. Gabriel started work early, and ever since the incident he had come to check on Adrien before starting his many tasks of the day so Plagg knew he would arrive soon. The kwami watched the boy before pulling the sheet back a bit. Adrien plopped onto the bed in utter exhaustion, helping his leg up onto the bed by lifting it with the cuff of his pants he had put back on. Footsteps out in the hallway alerted Plagg who darted up to his loft, Adrien dropped his head onto his pillows and re-positioned himself to look at the doorway.

A soft knock sounded, indicating the arrival of his father who opened the door quietly, just enough to let himself in. His eyes immediately met those of his son's who greeted him by sitting up slightly with a hint of a smile. Gabriel looked at him sympathetically. His father had shown more emotion alone in the last few weeks than Adrien could even recall seeing even as a child. The man was unsurprisingly already dressed in his business attire and moved closer to the bed before addressing him.

"Couldn't sleep again?" Gabriel asked with a touch of sadness in his voice.

Adrien shook his head.

"I can imagine," his father replied. "Shall I have Nathalie bring your breakfast up now?"

Adrien shook his head a second time.

"I understand," the man nodded. "I'll inform her to bring it up around ten instead. If you'd like it earlier, just send her a text as you have in the past."

Adrien nodded.

. . .

"Son," Gabriel paused. Adrien looked at him curiously when his father continued the conversation beyond what was typically the end of their recent morning interactions. The white haired man fidgeted uncharacteristically with his fingers before continuing to speak. "Perhaps it would do you some- good, to- begin returning to school."

Adrien looked at him as if he were crazy.

"The therapist said interactions with your friends and family is one of the best ways to overcome what you're struggling through," he explained, starting to doubt the validity of the statement. "Of course," he added, expelling his doubts with a puff of air, "Nathalie will always schedule your pick up well before school lets out. In the case where she can not come, I will come personally in her stead. So. . ." Gabriel's voice trailed off as he felt fury burn anew inside him. "So there won't be a repeat. . ."

He finished his statement sharply as the mere recollection of the event caused him to lose control of his emotions. He didn't want Adrien to see see him crumble. Not after all the teen had been through. The man cleared his throat before speaking again.

"How do you feel about that?" he asked.

Adrien was caught off guard by everything his father had just said. His father had been vehemently against Adrien attending public school for the longest time. And after the kidnapping, the idea that Gabriel Agreste would ever allow him to leave the house again seemed like a fantasy. Now here he was, suggesting Adrien return to a public location he had practically needed to beg permission to attend. The boy stared at him in a stupor as he contemplated the implications of their conversation. He missed his friends terribly. Especially Nino. He missed attending classes. Interacting with his classmates and even his teachers. Even Chloe. And the thought of returning to classes initially made him excited.

But he still couldn't speak.

If he were to return now, it would be obvious he was broken. His friends would question him, and when he couldn't respond they would coddle him to the point of suffocation. Especially his blonde childhood friend. Forget his class, the entire school would know he couldn't make so much as a word. The idea of being treated like the invalid he knew himself to be only made him more anxious. There was nothing good about going back right now. It was a horrible idea. He knew his father meant well, and he knew he should be excited. He should be thrilled to be reunited with his friends. But the truth was, he wasn't. He was completely terrified.

Tears gathered at his eyes and he gripped the blankets tightly in his fists in an attempt to keep himself from shaking. Gabriel's heart sank when Adrien only replied with a slight tremble. He had hoped the suggestion would overjoy him, but the look in the boy's eyes told him otherwise. Walking toward him, Gabriel extended a hand to Adrien's shoulder giving it a small squeeze in an unfamiliar attempt to provide comfort. The teen drooped against Gabriel's side, accepting the man's more frequent display of parental support, to which Gabriel tentatively put his hand on Adrien's other shoulder, pulling him into a half hug.

"You don't have to go. Wait until you're ready, Adrien."

The blonde nodded weakly at the statement, expelling a forlorn sigh as he continued leaning against his father.

"I should probably head to the office now," Gabriel said softly. "Would you like me to come back around lunch?"

It was still odd to have his father opt to spend so much time with him, but Adrien felt more at peace when he was there, even if a majority of their interactions were still in silence. It reminded him of his childhood and the time he used to spend with his father, providing a small degree of comfort against the tide of darkness that sat in his subconscious. Adrien sniffed and nodded affirmatively. Gabriel's natural stony expression softened again at the boy's response. He pulled away allowing Adrien to lay back against his pillows before returning to the door. Adrien's wet eyes blinked heavily as sleep overcame him again. For some reason, he found it was easier to sleep in the day. He only hoped his sleep would be dreamless.

Gabriel looked back at him before pulling the door ajar. Adrien had already closed his eyes, the pale skin of his face nestled in his blankets seemed even paler in the soft sunlight. A rare, small grimace of sadness spread over Gabriel's features before he finally exited the room, shutting the door quietly behind him.


A/N: Next update will probably come next weekend unless I finish it early. We shall see. Thanks for reading and reviewing!