A/N: You guys! I am soooo sorry for not updating! I honestly thought I had already uploaded this chapter. That's my bad, y'all. :( I am really sorry.
Anyway, I hope you all like this chapter. Drop a comment if you like it! Tips are always welcome. Enjoy!
He slowly released his hold on the girl, and she dropped to the floor on her knees. Her hands covered her face. Adrien stepped back, unsure of what to do.
Her sobs pierced the air; the only sound in the room.
He stood awkwardly for a few moments, waiting for her to stop crying, but she didn't. Finally, when he decided she wouldn't try to run away again; he would hear her anyway, and gave up and went into the kitchen.
Marinette heard him walk away, and relief flooded through her. She wanted to cry in peace. She didn't want to him to see her when she was weak. Marinette hadn't thought there were any more tears left in her. How wrong she was.
Marinette knew it was stupid to try and sneak past Chat-freaking-Noir. Logic had warned her against it, but her stupid confidence got in the way and butted out logic. She was angry at herself. She was angry at Adrien. Couldn't he see she needed to go home? Above all else, she was disheartened. Grief hung over her head like a raincloud.
So she sat, head in her hands, crying softly, trying to remember to breathe normally.
A few minutes later, she heard Adrien in the kitchen rummaging around. What was he doing? Her eyes widened at the morbid thought that ran across her mind, planting seeds of fear in her.
The kitchen was where the knives were.
The fear plants only grew with the new appalling thoughts that watered them. What if he just murdered her now? Her parents would get her mutilated body shipped back to them in a box. Or maybe he would slit her throat quickly and just bury her outside. She could read the headstone now. "Here lies Marinette Dupain-Cheng, murdered by the hands of her kidnapper."
After a heavy mental debate, curiosity finally won out fear, and she stood, breathing steadier now, drying her tears with the edge of her sleeve.
She walked into the kitchen tentatively, hesitating on the threshold. Adrien was poking around in a cabinet with his back turned to Marinette, muttering to himself and looking for something.
After a few minutes of searching, he pulled out two small boxes.
With his back turned to her, he asked, "Do you prefer tea or hot chocolate?"
She jumped, his sudden question startling her.
"What?"
Her voice was small, more like a whimper. He sighed, asking his question slowly this time.
"Do you prefer tea or hot chocolate?"
She stood for a moment, shocked. Why was he making a drink? Shouldn't he be killing her or making evil plans or whatever villains do?
"Tea," she said, her voice still small. She hated herself for being so scared and meek.
With his back still turned, Adrien nodded and moved to the stove. He turned on the burner and moved a kettle on it. While he was waiting for it to heat, he crossed over to a different cabinet beside the refrigerator and pulled out two black mugs. He grabbed the sugar bowl from its respective place, and a spoon.
The kettle was whistling by now, and Adrien moved it off the burner and poured it's contents into the mugs.
All while he made their tea, Marinette watched him with owl eyes. This was wrong. He was Chat Noir. He was a villain. He was a murderer. And yet, here he was, brewing tea like any normal, sane, regular human being. Marinette couldn't wrap her mind around it. To say she was baffled was an understatement.
"Well don't just stand there, sit down," Adrien said, gesturing to one of the black chairs at the table.
Marinette hesitated. She didn't have much time to think about it, because Adrien repeated himself in a more commanding tone.
"Sit down. I'm not going to hurt you."
Should she believe him? Marinette sat reluctantly on the edge of the chair. Adrien brought the mugs over to the table and slid one over to the girl. He sat down and grabbed the sugar bowl, spooning a few scoops into the tea before passing the sugar to her.
The girl just stared at it. She had a far off look in her eyes. Was she still in shock?
Adrien sighed. He gestured to the bowl and said, "Don't you want sugar in that?"
Her eyes flickered up to his, blue irises holding fear and dazedness. Her pink lips turned into a thin line, holding back any answer she might have given him.
Adrien decided for her, and he dumped a little sugar in the amber liquid, stirring it. He slid it back over to her. She didn't make any move to pick it up. She only sat, sightlessly looking at it.
Yep. Definitely shock.
Then it dawned on him.
"I didn't poison it."
The girl's eyes widened, flickering back to life, and Adrien knew he had guessed correctly.
"How do I know you didn't?" She whispered, eyes narrowing with suspicion, but still holding fear in them.
Adrien chuckled. A smug look appeared on his face as he replied, "If I wanted to kill you, I would have done it on that balcony."
Her expression turned thoughtful.
"Why didn't you kill me?" she asked, still slightly whispering. She waited with trepidation for the answer to the question that had baffled her all night.
Now it was Adrien's turn to hesitate. How could he answer that question? Even he didn't know the answer to it. So, he decided to answer cheekily.
"Your beauty astounded me, Princess! I have never looked upon a maiden as fair as you!" he answered with a smirk. He took a smooth sip from his mug.
Marinette scowled. What was he talking about? And why did he keep calling her that?
She voiced her curiosity.
"Why do you keep calling me that?"
"What? You mean Princess?" Adrien replied.
She only nodded.
"Well, I didn't know your name, so I made one for you," Adrien said with a smirk. "I rather like it, Princess."
"Marinette."
The whisper was so quiet that Adrien almost didn't hear it.
"What?" He asked.
"My name," she explained. "Marinette."
Aha.
"Marinette," Adrien said slowly, tasting the name. "I like it, but Princess is easier."
The girl just sat there, looking meek and small in the chair. She seemed to be deep in thought.
She knew it was stupid to tell him her name. Telling him that only made it seem like the whole kidnapping situation was permanent. She most definitely was not going to let it become permanent. But how could she? She had no strength over him physically. But she wouldn't make this easy for him. It might make him angry, but Marinette was ready to do anything to get out. All she had done so far was cry and make a terrible attempt to get out of there. And she wasn't going to just sit and do nothing like a damsel in distress. She was better than that.
"I think "Jerk" is better than Adrien. Or, how about "Murderer?" she retorted, eyes full of hate.
Adrien looked shocked from her sudden change in attitude. Honestly, it was a bad insult, but the way she said it was so full of conviction and malice and fire that had it been real fire, Adrien thought he would have been ashes now.
"Yes. Jerk." Her expression turned thoughtful. Then her eyes narrowed. "You're a jerk for doing this to me. You're a jerk. A psychopath. A murderer. And I hate you."
His emerald eyes flashed. Marinette knew she had crossed a line, but she didn't care. She held her head up defiantly toward him. She wasn't afraid. But there was a small twinge inside her that cursed her flippant attitude.
Adrien rose to his full height from the chair, towering over Marinette even though she was on the other side of the table. Her heart rate picked up a little.
"Listen, you're in my house, and, need I remind you, in no position to talk to me like that. I suggest you watch your pretty little mouth," Adrien growled.
Marinette was mildly intimidated by his threat, but she didn't let it show. She put on her best glower, eyes glinting. She rose out of her seat, leaning toward the lean figure.
"Make me."
