Author's Notes: ~~~
P.S. I don't own Miraculous Ladybug or any of its characters, and if I did I would make myself a character so I can SPOIL THE WHOLE REVEAL for Adrien and Marinette and then get them together.
- Chapter 4 -
Marinette
2 Weeks Later
As I stand in front of the Agreste mansion, I can hardly believe what's happening. I've mostly healed by now, expect for my leg, which I need crutches for if I hope to walk. So, as I deftly swing my crutches forward and move with them, I find myself going through the front gates of a large manor. I've been here before, but this time feels different. After all, this is my new home. Tikki is in my pocket, while all my belongings were already moved in over the time I was recovering in the hospital. I got released a little while ago, but I was reluctant to leave the hospital. It felt like I was making everything too real. Like I was admitting I was an orphan, with no parents, no bakery. I bite back a few tears as I think of Mom and Dad, the wound still fresh. However, I quickly straighten up seeing as I'll be meeting Gabriel for the first time where I'll actually get to know him… I hope.
Adrien walks up behind me, and puts a comforting hand on my shoulder. I smile warmly at him, thinking of all he's done for me. Not only has he given me a new home, he's given me hope. Hope that I can continue at the same school, hope that I can stay in Paris, hope that things will be alright… eventually. Adrien has stayed with me every moment of every day he possibly could while I was still in the hospital, and I feel so grateful. I would have been so much worse off without him. He lessens the pain that comes with my parents deaths, and makes everything better.
"So, Marinette, what do you think?" Adrien asks as we go through the front doors and I truly take in the grandeur of his house for the first time. I'm taken aback by the large staircase because at one point it would have been a piece of cake to walk up, but now I have no clue how I'm going to navigate the mansion.
"It's… bigger than my old home for sure," I say, forcing a smile. "Though I'm not sure how I'll get up and down that many stairs at the moment," I comment, gesturing to my cast.
"Oh, I didn't think about that. Here, just lean on me, I'll help you up," Adrien says, offering a hand to me. I take it, and with his help, I slowly make my way up the stairs. However, about halfway up, I trip on a step and tumble forward. Just inches before disaster, I feel strong arms wrap around me, stopping my fall. I look up, and find Adrien looking back. "Are you alright?" he asks, concern in his gaze.
"Y-yeah. Yeah, I am. Thank you," I reply shakily.
"No problem," he responds. "I'm here to help you out."
We start back up the stairs, making it to the landing. I sigh in relief, and rest against the wall for a moment. This took a lot more out of me than I thought it would. Look at you. You can swing gracefully around Paris, and yet here you are huffing after barely 10 stairs, I think ruefully. I sigh again before carefully pushing myself off of the wall. Adrien is instantly by my side, helping me to resume climbing. I feel my breath come in short bursts, as though I've been running. I stare ahead wearily, my vision blurring slightly. I shake my head to clear it, and look forward again, focusing on each step. Suddenly, I feel as though I can't breath. I let out a small gasp of air, and feel myself falling once more. And, again, Adrien is there to catch me. He looks at me with concern, but my eyes don't focus. "Marinette! Hang in there, I'll get you to your room," Adrien says, panicked.
I feel myself lifted up as Adrien carries me up the stairs, my crutches laying forgotten. I'm fading in and out of reality, my head spinning through some kind of pain. It's awful, like knives stabbing into my stomach where I was hit the hardest by the crash, my head pounding, my body aching. I can faintly hear a door opening, and I'm momentarily blinded by the sunlight before something covers it. I see a faint outline swimming in my vision, before I black out.
I wake with a jolt, feeling panicked. I feel hot tears streaming down my face, before I stumble out of bed on two short legs. Clumsily, I reach up for the door handle, stretching as far as I can before managing to catch it. I pull with all my might, and tumble backwards as it swings open. I blink, surprised, before shakily getting up and wobbling out of the room. I stumble through the hallway, looking around desperately. "Maman! Papa!" I call out. I finally find their door, but I can't reach this handle. It's just ever so slightly to high. "Mama! Papa!" I call out again, feeling the tears return. "H-help!"
The door creaks open, and I see my mom standing above me, looking disheveled. "Sweetie, it's 3:00- oh my god, are you alright?" Maman says.
I sniffle, before shaking my little head. "Oh, honey. Come on, it'll be alright. Was it a nightmare?" I nod quietly, my little fingers clutching her hand tightly, following her into her room. She lifts me onto the bed, careful not to wake Papa, saying, "It's alright. Tell you what, you can sleep in here tonight, ok?"
"T-thank you, Maman," I whisper.
She smiles warmly at me, before climbing in bed and hugging me close. She smells of vanilla, cinnamon, along with a few other spices. I take a deep, shuddering breath, and bury into the covers. I sigh, resting my head against the pillows, and snuggle up to Maman. I let out a small sigh, feeling safe, warm, happy. As I drift off to sleep, I remember feeling Papa's hand reaching over and resting on my back…
I blink slowly, and as my eyes adjust, I'm in an unfamiliar setting. I stifle a yawn before slowly sitting up. As I look around, I see a room with soft pink walls and a white ceiling. I find a white desk against one wall with a cork board above it, pictures of my friends pinned to it. I look to the next wall, and find a full workshop area with different fabrics, my design book, and lock-box holding my diary. The last wall has a walk-in closet, and I'm sitting my same bunk bed. As I look closer, I realize this is all my stuff but… the room is not mine. The wall with the desk has a large window overlooking a garden, and beautifully decorated curtains that are sheer white. I walk over to the window, and when I look past the gardens I can see the eiffel tower in the distance. It's a breathtaking view, and I'm mournful to turn around and start exploring more. I peak open the door, and come to a dead halt. I know where I am now. I'm in Adrien Agreste's house. I cautiously look around, and then sneak over to where I know Adrien's room is. As it turns out, it's directly across from mine. How handy.
I quietly knock on the door. It opens almost immediately, and there he is. "Marinette! You're awake! I was so worried about you… I just wasn't sure what to do so I left you alone, figuring you'd probably need some rest," he says, smiling radiantly at me.
"Y-yeah. About that… what happened? I remember coming in, then trying to go up the stairs but something happened…" I say, still puzzled. Adrien's face pinches up, and he just says, "You… you were going up there stairs when all the sudden you tripped. I caught you, and we started going again but… I don't really know. Something happened, maybe you overexerted yourself after just coming home, but you looked like you were in a lot of pain. I had to carry you up the stairs… and you passed out."
"Y-you did?" Wow, he must be strong, I can't help but think. I mean I know I'm light and all but still to carry someone your size can't be easy.
"Yeah," Adrien says, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
"I… thank you!"
"Of course! I mean, you help people all the time, it's the least I can do."
I smile gratefully at him, before saying, "Ah, I almost forgot… plus I'm a little scared to ask, but what time is it now?"
"It's just around 5:00pm now, so we'll be having dinner soon. You woke up just in time!"
"It's 5:00?!" I say, before remembering something. "Wait, that room I woke up in, was it really mine?" I ask. It was at least two times the size of my original… how could it possibly be?
"Yeah. Do you like it?" Adrien asks, looking hopeful.
"I-I, yes! Yes, I like it. It's just-"
"You don't like it, do you."
"No! No, of course not! It's just that do I really deserve it? I mean… I'm just Marinette, and that room… well it's huge, not to mention filled with expensive decor I could never dream to afford-"
"Marinette," Adrien says, grabbing my hand. "Of course you deserve it. You deserve that, and so much more."
I blush furiously, before looking away. "I-I… thank you," I mumble.
"Of course! Anyways, I'm going to grab dinner and bring it up to you. I'm not risking you passing out again, and it's not like my dad is at dinner anyways," Adrien says bitterly. "I'll be right back."
And with that, he lets go of my hand, and walks off, presumably to the dining room. I just stand there, shocked. His life is so much different than mine. Wealthy family, one distant father… it's a miracle Adrien turned out as kind as he did. I feel my cheeks warm as I think of what he's currently doing for me. He's so sweet, and kind, and caring… I shake my head, clearing my head, clearing my thoughts. I decide, maybe it's time to explore. However, my body has other plans. As I start to sway on my feet, I hurriedly go to my room and sit on the bed, just in time. I feel as though my legs would have given out if I had stayed upright a second longer. Wait. Where's my purse?! WHERE'S TIKKI?!
"Tikki?" I whisper-call, in case Adrien is nearby.
"In here," a muffled voice replies. I look around, and spot my bad lying nearby on a spacious bedside table. I quickly open it, peering inside. "Are you ok? Do you need some cookies?" I whisper.
"Yes, please! I'm starving," Tikki admits.
"Alright, I'll do what I can," I say quietly, before quickly shutting the bag as Adrien enters.
"Here you go, Marinette," Adrien says, offering me a plate heaped full of some of the most delicious looking food I've ever seen. My mouth starts to water, and I take the food gratefully. As I take my first bite, I moan in delight. "This is amazing!" I say around chewing.
Adrien looks sheepish, before saying, "Well… I mean my dad did hire some of the best chefs money could buy… so I mean, I hope it is."
"These chefs certainly live up to expectations!" I say enthusiastically.
Smiling, Adrien starts on his own food.
After dinner, I lay down on my bed, a blissful sigh escaping my lips. I feel content, my stomach full, when I remember Tikki. "Ah! I-I uh… do you think I could get a plate of cookies?" I say sheepishly.
"Can you really eat a full plate?" Adrien asks disbelievingly.
"Well… no. But the smell reminds me of ho-uh… well my old home. Plus, I usually had a plate in my room to snack on…" I say, hoping Adrien will believe me, for Tikki's sake. Well… it's not like I really lied… I did usually have a plate in my room, and the smell of cookies does remind me of my home-I mean… I don't know what I mean. I still think of the bakery as home, but this is where I live now.
"Oh, of course! I'll go get some now," Adrien says, before getting up. I smile gratefully at him, and then close my eyes as he leaves. I can't help but think I'm back in my room, with the feel of my soft bed under me, and then the rest of my bunk above me. The walls are even the same color. I sniffle slightly, remembering how I don't know if I'll ever go their again. Adrien re-enters, carrying a large plate of cookies, some so precariously balanced they look as though they will fall at any second.
"There. Does that work?" Adrien asks, setting the cookies on my desk.
"Yeah, thank you. Uh… d-do you mind if I spend the rest of the night by myself? It's been a long day, and I'm pretty tired," I say, looking down. I really don't want him to go, and being alone right now… well that's not what I really want. But Tikki needs to eat, and she's been starved long enough.
"Sure, Mari. I understand. Goodnight!"
I sigh quietly as Adrien leaves, and Tikki eagerly flies over to the plate of cookies. I change into some PJ's, and slide into bed, not bothering to brush my teeth. As I'm staring at the ceiling, I feel myself drifting off, hopefully into a peaceful slumber…
Chapter 4 End
