Really though, why was he so happy?

The tick of nervousness wasn't fathomable either.

He was only going to a classmate's house, and only with a couple of other classmates. He had simply returned home after school, set his homework aside and packed light for their small adventure.

Yet somehow he couldn't stop the thumping in his chest or the grin on his face. Adrien thought of Marinette; her round bright blues, her small hands, and her perky personality-but only around others. It seemed all of his other classmates were greeted with well respect and smiles from Marinette Dupain, understandably, Chloe was excluded, but so was he, and he never understood it.

Did he do something to put her off, or was he really just that intimidating?

Or maybe she had heard some nasty rumors about his family.

A sour look twisted on his face at the notion. She didn't seem the type to judge by rumors, yet Marinette was the one person he couldn't seem to get close to… He wanted to, especially since her and Félix were always together so many years ago.

Something that remained questionable; since he refused to speak about the matter.

'But they don't talk anymore…' He placed his phone in his zip up bag and paused. 'Maybe they had a falling out, and that's why she won't come near us.'

A smile grew on his lips and a glitter sparked in his eyes. With a fold, a zip, and a sling over his shoulder, Adrien packed small necessities and confidence with him. If it truly was a fight, this was his chance to correct things-maybe even show her there was nothing to be afraid of, if that happened to be the case.

But of course he'd never get close enough to where she'd be in danger. Admittedly, his family kept him from making close friends, but Adrien didn't want his brother and Marinette to end on a sour note.

Maybe Adrien could even get to know her. Something about Marinette just made him feel… Light. Looking at her energetic self made him vitalized, and the display of confidence with her appearance and sense of style added to the charm.

'And her freckles are cute.'

He stopped at his door, putting those thoughts to a halt. Instead, he'd throw his shoulders back in confidence, smile with his eyes and take that first step out his bedroom.

Into a taller and older look-alike of himself.

Félix, with his hands in his pockets, was giving Adrien knowingly merciless eyes. His eyebrows were knit; a look that told the younger Agreste that he had sensed something.

Something very unusual.

"I was just going to knock." He stated, glancing down at the bag strongly gripped in his brother's fingers. "Going somewhere?"

Adrien glided his fingers into his hair, trying to keep his spurt of confidence from breaking down. It was okay. He had prepared excuses just for this occasion.

"Yeah-going to meet some friends."

Félix raised a brow, folding his arms. "Who, and where?"

"Alya and Nino, they're just classmates." Adrien side-stepped him, making his way around and fleeing such scary confrontation. "You should know about them. Sorry, but I'm in a bit of a hurry, we can talk later!"

Just as he started dashing, a single sentence from Félix froze him.

"Alya Césaire. She's Marinette's best friend."

The weight in that mumble struck Adrien in the chest, tightening his grip. He turned, seeing his brother's back-which had been seen it a million times, but this time was different.

There was… A forlorn air radiating from his stance. Félix wheeled around, and the boy pursed his lips at the coldness in his eyes.

"What are you doing? Get going."

He paused, only giving a short nod and continuing on his way. The minute he was out of sight, Félix released a held breath. Something round with sentimental value was being tossed around between his fingers, hand in pocket.

He gripped it, gazing into the empty hallway.

"Can I come in?"

"Oh-sure!"

Biyu Cheng opened the door to Marinette's temporary room, poking in with a smile. She mouthed a greeting and proceeded to quietly shut it behind her. "I'm finally free to talk. Hope I didn't keep you waiting."

The girl sat up from the mattress with a stretch. Truth be told, she hadn't been waiting long, or so it felt to her. The bed was simply so comfortable-perfect for her stress. She might have even dozed off a couple of times during.

"It's okay. You have a shop to run."

"Not anymore," Biyu threw herself face first onto the blanket, yawning loudly into the mushy goodness.

Marinette's brow quirked with a turn of her head to the wall clock. It was only four-thirty. What tattoo shop closed at four-thirty on a weekday?

"But it's so early..."

"I have a meeting in an hour." Biyu rolled over, stretching her arms to the ceiling. "I have to close early sometimes. The guys understand."

Marinette gave an understanding nod. She pulled her legs in. "What about that boy? Hei'an?"

"Interested?"

Her voice was dripping with sly intentions. Marinette shook it off, getting a strong Alya vibe. "No, just curious. Thought maybe he was… related?"

There was silence behind her, where Biyu lay. She sat up and started wrapping her ponytail into a bun. "Yes and no, but he's not important right now." The woman looked to her niece, seriousness in her dark eyes. "You have questions, right? I can answer some before I have to leave."

She inhaled. Despite desperately trying, Marinette couldn't seem to pull all of her concerns into order. She took a minute to herself, and decided to ask the first concern which popped into her mind with parting lips-

Buzz, buzz.

And then she clamped them shut. Biyu jumped and reached into her back pocket for her phone, an apologetic look on her face. "Sorry, it's important."

Perfect timing. Marinette let out a sigh and waited for her aunt to finish the text, close the phone, and then stuff it away.. "Sorry again. Go ahead?"

"Why were you, uh..." Marinette bit her lip, but she needed to know and persisted. "Why were you arguing with mom the other night?"

Biyu's eyes widened, then lowered. It seemed she was trying to collect her thoughts as well, and there was plenty to talk about. She gave herself a prepared inhale and exhale.

"Your mom, aunt and I have a rocky relationship. We always had, since as long as I could remember." Biyu rolled her eyes, "Sabine was always the nice kid who wanted a safe life, while your aunt Violeta and I… Weren't. We were warned by your mom a lot, but we ended up making some mistakes that we can never take back."

She sighed stressfully, not looking Marinette in the eye-possibly over the shame of their past. "Violeta and I thought what we were doing was a game, like it didn't have any consequences. We were young, rebellious, and stupid, with no one to raise us. In fact, the people who did raise us, other than Sabine, told us what we were doing was totally plausible and a natural way of living. It wasn't until me and your aunt almost got kidnapped and sold off as sex slaves that we realized the consequences of our actions."

Marinette breathed in, unsure of how to absorb what she had just heard. She paused before trying to dig deeper. "You were almost sold off…?"

"Escaped by a thin thread." She smiled, as if what had happened was nothing. "But I always knew in the back of my mind what we were doing was wrong. I'm sure Violeta did too, but I didn't care; neither did she. In fact, because we were so broken, your mother took us in after we got away, and we lived with you when you were thiiis small." She lowered her hand to her side, exaggerating Marinette's childhood height with a giggle.

"... But we caused some trouble, and inevitably, got the boot not only from her, but from your father. I think he dislikes us the most-and understandably, won't tolerate our presence. So when I showed up at the house that night, he was more than unhappy to see me, especially since I, y'know, broke in."

Ah, another question she needed answered. Marinette played with her fingers; hesitant. "Why did you break in?"

Biyu paused, eyes suddenly growing ominous with an invisible weight. "...I had to tell your mother something. It was too important to-"

Buzz, buzz.

"-Pass up."

They both looked to the stray phone buzzing on the blanket. Biyu gave a sheepish smile, and mouthed another apology, responding to the new text as quickly as possible.

She closed the phone with another smile. Marinette awkwardly returned it.

"So… What was the urgency?"

Another pause. How much her aunt was stopping to think was concerning, but Marinette somewhat knew she wouldn't get every detail she wanted. The girl looked at the clock. Her friends should have been getting off of school by now…

… It made her wonder how long she'd really be confined to this apartment.

"... Mari,"

She popped up her head in response.

"how much do you know about your mother's family? About the Cheng's."

She thought, shuffling her shoulders. "Not much, but I would like to know…"

Biyu sat up, positioning herself next to Marinette. The tension built as she wrapped her hands around her niece's, staring at it with hidden distraught, like it would break if she squeezed any tighter. Seeing this tightened Marinette's insides, and she pursed her lips.

"Marinette, actually… The reason we-"

Knock, knock.

Buzz, buzz.

The two groaned simultaneously, Biyu releasing her hands and piercing a glare towards the bedroom door. "Who is it?"

"Hei'an."

Biyu clicked her tongue. "Shouldn't you be closing the shop?"

"I already did that."

"-And who gave you permission to come into an all girl's apartment?"

"That's why I knocked."

Marinette stared nervously at the door. This had been the boy; the one at the counter, the one who was somehow related but not at the same time.

Biyu finally got up, but with much attitude and reluctance for someone simply opening a door, and only a crack, too.

"Was wondering when you'd open it."

Only half of his face could be seen. Marinette practically craned her neck in different directions to get a good look at him. Whatever the other half was, he had a straight expression on his face-a personality that was usually dry and sarcastic.

"It was a two second wait."

"Really?" He suddenly reached out and pinched her cheek. Marinette cringed. "But you look like you aged a few years."

Her mouth gaped. Marinette felt that one. And was it just the angle she was looking at him with, or was there a small smile after that remark?

Biyu grabbed his hand, yanked him in and put him into a wrist lock. He groaned, taking a knee and submitting.

"[Sorry, sorry, sorry. You're beautiful, and very young.]" He groaned out in his native tongue, hissing at the pain and scrunching his nose.

Biyu snarled and released him. "[You better mean that. I can snap your other wrist if you want.]"

"That won't be necessary…" He chuckled, then looked up. Hei'an and Marinette's eyes met, and this time she got a good look at him. His eyes were a bright silver, almost glittering within a narrow shape of relaxation and satire. It was almost unfair how due to his dark and long lashes, it looked as if he had applied makeup.

And then there was his hair-it was short, but thick, and slightly wavy with bangs hanging over his forehead. It was slightly unruly, but in a way that looked nice. Another thing to be jealous about if that's just bedhead.

He was wearing a black tank top with a leather vest over it. Blue skinny jeans, rips on them and a 'do-not-cross' tape tied to the side of his left thigh with regular black converse. Casual, but stylish when you include the hidden piercings under the mop on his head and the silver rings on his fingers. He smiled upon eye contact, extending his hand.

"Hei'an. You must be the niece I heard about."

Biyu crossed her arms, looking away in displeasure. That comment must have angered her pride greatly.

"Marinette." She shook it with a returned smile. "The niece, that's me."

"I'm sorry."

They both paused, turning to look.

"For what?" Marinette chuckled in puzzlement.

"Having insane aunts." He placed his hands together before his face. "May you rest in peace. Cause of death: lack of sanity-"

Biyu kicked his back. His face thrusted into the bed post.

"[Don't test me, mut. I'll throw you under the bus.]"

He pulled back, rubbing his nose. "[Ow… You sure are a pack of fire, huh?]"

She couldn't quite understand, but the air wasn't hostile enough to be not comical. Marinette chuckled. The dynamic of her temper and his dry tone of voice made it too unique not to giggle. Hei'an looked up, blowing out some air.

"[Well, you don't seem in danger]..." He mumbled. Marinette blinked, unable to understand.

"Hei'an."

He turned at the sharp tone, returning Biyu's impatient look and tapping finger. He stood while rubbing his face. "I came to deliver a message, miss Cheng."

"Well hurry up and get out. Me and my niece were having an important conversation-"

"[The Dragon Lady.]"

She drew in a sharp breath, all superiority imploding. Marinette raised a brow. She didn't understand what he said, but for Biyu Cheng to suddenly look so pale in the face and frozen like a statue, what Hei'an said must have been… Grave.

It only made her wish she had learned Chinese.

Biyu bit her bottom lip, visibly thinking hard with her fingers balled up so hard her nails were puncturing her skin. But she didn't feel the pain. Only fear swallowed her whole and knocked the rest of her senses out.

"... [Where is she?]"

"[Waiting for you downtown. You know where.]"

"[And you're sure she wants me?]"

Hei'an gave her a look. She gulped.

Biyu breathed in, then out. When Marinette was hit with yet another apologetic look, she knew their conversation would have to be postponed. Again. It was a little frustrating, but more stressful, and now concerning, since Biyu couldn't even seem to form words.

Her lips opened, then closed. Her eyes met Marinette's, then hit the floor, and finally squeezed shut.

"I'm sorry. I'll be back soon, I promise, just..." She said through gritted teeth, spinning around and leaving the two alone, door left wide open.

"It's fine…" Marinette's words were left suspended. She hadn't even lived two seconds with these people, and yet seeing them in pain rose something… Terrifying in her. There was guilt, and she didn't know why. There was concern, but the reason was unknown. It was all of the unknowing. Not knowing everything was starting to rack her brain and leave marks.

A pressure on the mattress snapped her out of it. She turned to see a mess of black hair-three centimeters from her face.

She jumped.

"Your aunt was going to say 'don't leave the apartment'." Hei'an turned to her, "In case you were wondering."

"Um…" Marinette scratched the side of her face. "Is everything okay?"

He blinked, then his expression softened, hands folded between his legs. A warm sensation placed itself with care upon her hair, rubbing gently through her locks. His hand was comforting, and shocking. She met his eyes, not sure how to respond, or why he was doing it.

"You should unpack and get comfortable."

That was it. It was a deliberate dodge, and Marinette had nothing to counter it with. The more she spent time with these people, the more clear it became that they were very talented.

In the art of swindling.

And yet there wasn't a single complaint in her mouth, because despite their hustling-like front, they were still… Honest and caring in a way. Not dangerous feeling at all. Biyu had an authoritative air, but nothing close to an evil criminal. Maybe it was the sentiment of the word 'family' that made her feel safe around them.

Marinette nodded with a small brush of a smile, standing and grabbing her suitcase. She mostly had paraphernalia in front of her clothes, so she'd want to make some discussion while getting herself settled in.

"So… Are you a Cheng too?"

"Sorta'." The same answer, just different. He leaned forward. "In name, I am, and legally, your aunt is my mom, so that would make me your cousin on paper."

Paper? Her son? He continued before she could wire it together.

"B-I mean Jaspé hauled me off of the street. It was a game of cat and mouse, but she offered me money and a place to live, so I couldn't say no. She legally adopted me, but we don't have a mother-son relationship. It's more of a master-apprentice thing, and she's my boss, so."

Marinette nodded, taking it all in. There was so much she didn't know. She continued packing, and pulled out the last non-clothing object. The minute Hei'an saw it, he threw his back onto the mattress and glued his eyes above.

"Not looking, promise."

Marinette chuckled, then stopped. Something was missing. She shuffled through the extra items. Not there. A panic slowly built it's way into her chest, then turning into a full fledged pulling and searching expedite through her suitcase.

Hei'an took note of the lack of conversation, and decided to ask when a shirt fell on his face. He paused, lifting himself and peeling it off.

At least the fabric softener smelled nice. He tossed the shirt between his palms. "Something wrong?"

"-Not here."

"What's not?"

She grabbed the sides of her head, running stressed fingers through her bangs in nervous routine with a bitten lip and widened eyes. She forgot it. She actually forgot her scrapbook.

Could she go back for it? But her aunt said absolutely no. But what happened if her parents got to it when they returned before her? She didn't lock the drawer out of lack of concern for that. The chances were slim, but…

Her vision got dark. Something with a nice smell fell over her face.

And then she heard his footsteps walk around her. "I can take you back if you lead the way."

Marinette let the shirt drop into the pile; turning. "What? But you said aunt Jaspé-"

"It'll be fine if I take you." He pulled a pair of keys from his vest pocket, tossing them with a small grin of confidence. "I have my license, and I'm pretty good at bodyguarding. She trusts me after all of this time. Hopefully."

"Hopefully?"

He looked at her hesitancy, then crouched down in front of her, pulling on her cheek. She made many displeased noises. "Don't worry-I'm not interested in girls three years younger than me."

Three years? That would make him seventeen. Seventeen and…

… Just as old as Félix.

She blinked. He took her hand and pulled her up.

"Want your lost thing or no?"

She furrowed her brows. Biyu didn't seem the type to hire or put trust in bad people… Well, bad aside from their shadiness. And when she ran out, she didn't think twice about leaving them alone.

Marinette took this as a big fact to notice. She nodded, her blues meeting his silvers. "Okay. Let's go."

Alya did not believe it. She refused to accept her accepted defeat as reality.

Even as Nino and Adrien were walking side by side with her.

She was inwardly smacking herself, but outwardly scowling, this very expression plastered on her face the whole walk from Adrien's gargantuan mansion to Marinette's cute little bakery-home. Truly, the boys were only following her, since she was the only one who knew the way.

And she still hadn't tried to ditch them already. She could only keep thinking about how much of a low blow this could have been to her and Marinette's friendship. She was clenching her teeth behind her glued lips, feelings of confliction blocking out the lively conversation bouncing around on both sides of her.

But in the end, she allowed it, because at the same time Alya believed this might have been a good thing. Maybe Marinette could settle her problem with the Agreste's once and for all. Maybe this was a chance for her and Adrien to get close.

There were a lot of maybe's. No certainties. She would keep telling herself that this was a positive thing-that being accompanied to check on a friend was good for her health.

They cut a corner. "The bakery is right there-" she paused right at the turn. There was Marinette, getting out of a Mercedes.

With another Asian looking male.

Adrien peered over her shoulder, curious. "What's wrong?"

His eyes locked on the two. Alya placed a hand on his chest, trying to scoot him out of sight, and he was sure she was trying to talk him into obeying, but for some unearthly reason, his eyes stayed locked.

What was this poking in his chest? It wasn't any form of sadness or loneliness-no. It was something a bit more… Irrational.

Alya peered up at him, shocked, but even more shocked over the look in his eyes. Adrien's lips were pressed together, his eyes were a bit widened with eyebrows narrowed down a smidge. That was a look she knew on anyone. A nervous but drama enjoying feeling caused her to smile unconsciously.

'He's jealous.' She thought. 'From the looks of it this might be a family member but…'

She gave him one more glance, then shrugged. 'I'll let it simmer a bit.' No way she was leaving now. What if this was one of the dangerous family members she quietly mentioned before? Alya wasn't going to leave her alone with him.

That was when Marinette glanced at them, face suddenly shifting from laughter, to surprise, to all around blood draining. She stopped in her movements, and Hei'an raised a brow, looking ahead. "What's wrong?"

And then their eyes met. Adrien and Hei'an locked a minute stare. Alya was sensing a silent battlefield between the two. Did they possibly know each other? Or was there just a battle of jealousy and possessiveness?

Marinette hid her eyes in her bangs, quickly walking towards them. Hei'an followed, a sly smirk on his face. They never looked away from one another.

"Marinette, I can explain," her arm was suddenly grabbed and pulled towards the bakery front door. "I'm sorry about Adrien-"

"What are they doing here with you?" Marinette gripped the ends of her shirt, body shaking instinctively just from seeing him. He was so close to her, in an environment and situation where he couldn't just be fled from before he even has a chance to say something. Her heart was a flutter, but her mind swirled with the resentment of her parents. "What were you thinking, Alya?"

"I wasn't." She admitted, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Look, I was totally wigging out after that text you sent me, and they had me cornered, so I gave up and let them come with to come check on you."

"Text?" Marinette blinked, remembered, and then facepalmed. "... I forgot about it. I was going to respond as soon as I had time, but I was just so tired… I'm sorry."

Alya tapped a finger on her forearm with a defeated eyeroll. "Yeah, I'm sorry, too. I know-" She paused, looking over her shoulder. Hei'an was starting to approach Adrien, and they were a distance off, but she still brought her tone to a whisper. "I know you're scared to approach Adrien, but I also know how crazy you are about him, and he seemed to be worried about you."

Her blue eyes widened. "What-me?"

Alya gave a confirming nod. "Totally. I tried to get them to go away, but then I thought this would be good for you, and your parents are in Italy so you don't have to worry about them knowing, right?"

Marinette took a minute to process this. Alya was right, but Marinette didn't want to disobey her mother-not after that whole emotional fiasco that past couple of days. Sabine looked her in the eye and didn't lie. Marinette would feel horrible if she started doing that now. She peered over her friend's shoulder, but Alya's finger brought touched her face back to the front.

"By the way, who's that hottie you're with?" She said with a lean in and grin. The suggestive look on her face forced a cringe on Marinette's face. She placed a hand on Alya's cheek and turned her away.

"He's nobody; just my cousin."

"Do I know you?"

The two turned back to the boys. Hei'an had approached Adrien; walking casually and friendly, but with a simple glance the Agreste could tell something was off. After all, Hei'an had a painfully familiar smirk on his face that was properly labelled the 'criminal's smile'. The moment he saw Hei'an put him off, but now that he had gotten closer, the feeling got sour.

"No, but I know you."

The ominous tone was quiet, but audible enough to set Adrian on edge. Chills went up his spine when Hei'an began walking around him; thoroughly profiling Adrien. The blonde let him look, listening to his every shuffle out of sight and hand gripping a black switchblade deep within his pocket. Hei'an came full circle, stretching his hand out.

"I never thought I'd see you in person! My mom's a fan of yours."

But Adrien didn't shake it. He learned enough growing up and from a dislocated to shoulder to never shake hands with someone who he didn't trust. Nino was looking between the two, unsure of what to say or think.

"Why are you with Marinette?" He ended up asking. Adrien wasn't sure of himself why he was feeling this way, or why those words fell out. He only kept going back to the same thoughts.

'How am I different from him?' and 'Why is she willing to ditch school with this guy, but avoid me?' were the main ones. His personal concerns aside, his eyes were sharpened enough to spot someone you couldn't trust-and he was looking one of them right in the face.

"I'm her cousin." was a simple answer for said personal concerns. "I was escorting her back home to pick something up."

That answered a few questions, but didn't lift the vibe Adrien was getting. Maybe it was his inner bias, or the fact he had encountered plenty of danger prone convicts before. Either way, his eyes stayed narrowed, another staring contest beginning.

Marinette panicked the longer they talked. "Hei'an,"

He turned. She nodded her head towards the door and he smiled with a nod, looking back down at the Agreste. "Nice meeting you, Adrien."

"Who says we're leaving?"

"Yeah, we just got here." Nino finally found a will to speak in the tension. Marinette was fumbling for the house keys and sloppily unlocked it.

Hei'an looked back at her. She traded glances with him to Alya and gave apologetic eyes. "I'm sorry, Alya-but I have to make this quick and hurry back."

"Wait, wait." She placed her hand on the door, preventing it from opening. Marinette swallowed. "Hurry back where?"

The oriental beauty was hesitant. "I'm staying at my aunt's place while my parents are in Italy."

Alya's eyes widened.

"It's nothing bad!" Marinette put up defensive hands. Everyone was now looking at her, so she hushed herself. "... I'm just staying there for a few days-it's fine. Plus, I get to spend time with my family."

The reasoning was sound, but Alya was taking Marinette's previous fears over this aunt as not sound. She looked at her, obviously unsure of approving these circumstances. Marinette touched the hand she used to hold the door, ushering her to pull away.

"I want to do this, Alya. I promise I won't send no - context texts anymore."

She scrunched her lips to the side and finally conceded defeat. "Alright, but if you have another hot cousin, you owe me an introduction."

Marinette giggle at Alya's winking. She watched her turn her heel and grabbed the arms of both of her escorts with a satisfied smile. "Come on, boys. We got what we came here for."

The words in Adrien's mouth caught as he was suddenly being dragged, and he looked at Hei'an, who was waving with a victorious smile.

"Don't worry your blonde head." His eyes narrowed through that smile, sending threatening signals. "[Marinette is in good hands.]"

He flinched at the sudden language change. Now he knew for sure-this guy didn't just know him for being 'famous'. He knew him for other reasons.

Reasons that required him to understand Chinese-

And then his stomach dropped. What reason did he need to know Chinese? There had only been one.

Adrien looked at Marinette with rounded eyes. Her innocent face disappearing behind the street corner while being dragged away.

'Marinette Cheng.'

It echoed in his soul.

N/A: EXTRA LONG CHAPTER YEEAAAAH. I hope you guys enjoy this one and don't become overwhelmed by the word dump! I tried to stay as fluid in my writing as usual.

Also, before anyone asks or freaks-no, Hei'an is not a love interest. Just putting that out there. Sorry to anyone who may have started shipping her with him, if there was any :'D, but if you must, ship them anyway! I'll probably draw any shippers (if they exist) a drawing of the two as an apology. Tbh I just don't need him for that kind of plot device and would find it useless;;.

[Hei'an is offended from being called a plot device.] I'm sorry kid, but that's what you are.

Hope you all have a great day! See you soon!