Day 10. Holding Hands
Of course there would be an akuma crashing Chloé's party. How could Marinette even think otherwise? The heiress of the Bourgeois fortune was probably as close to Hawkmoth's henchwoman as a civilian might be. Now a bear-sized beast with hypnotic emerald eyes was rampaging through the pool and covering everyone in green goo.
She sent Luka to help other people onto evacuation routes. Escaping his protective grasp was more difficult than last time, but finally she was alone and only a hideout away from becoming Ladybug. She congratulated herself on her foresight to keep her pink purse with her. This way she didn't have to lose precious minutes to get to Tikki. Finally she reached the changing rooms and after checking if they're empty, she called on her transformation.
When she burst through the door to the main pool her heart stopped. For there was Adrien standing in front of the beast, waving a pole at it. Why didn't he leave with the rest of the people? She thought she got everyone out.
Ladybug swung her yoyo and set to the rescue. A few benches served as a distraction, discarded ropes as a makeshift trap. It wouldn't hold for long, not against a magical monster, but it was enough to get to Adrien. Soon they were safely hidden behind a row of lockers.
The boy looked around the changing room, and then risked a peek at the main pool. He was clearly worried.
'Ladybug, have you seen Marinette?' he panted.
'M-marinette?' She stuttered cursing herself for not staying professional. Was he looking for her?
'Why?' she winced when she realised she asked the last thing out loud, but now that she did, she was anxious to hear his answer.
'She's my,' he hesitated and her heart skipped a few beats. Their fake relationship status was official. Would he say it? Would she hear it from him that Marinette was his girlfriend?
'She's my friend. I'm worried about her,' he finished not meeting her gaze.
Ladybug did her best to hide the disappointment thankful for the red mask. 'Right, right, I-...' She swallowed the lump in her throat. 'I'm sure she got out with the rest of your group. You need to-'
There was a crash somewhere nearby and the corridor leading outside collapsed, burying them in a cloud of dust.
'Too late,' she muttered. 'Plan B.'
She caught her oblivious fake boyfriend's hand and dragged him to the maintenance area. His touch burned her even through her suit.
'Stay here and keep your head down, please,' she instructed shoving him into the first room she could find. 'The warning was issued a few minutes ago. I'm sure Chat's on his way. We'll end this quickly, I promise.'
She didn't wait for his reply even though she saw he was already opening his mouth. She wasn't sure she would be able to take it.
'Akuma, fight, Chat,' she muttered, cautiously making her way back to the pool.
Her partner arrived soon afterwards. And if she wasn't so focused on stamping down her own dejection, she would probably realize sooner that he wasn't really himself. Half the sass, double the frown. Plus he was constantly checking every corner of the pool, despite her constant assurance that everyone got out.
He didn't even stay for the customary fist-bump, but with a mumbled goodbye he ran for the door. Ladybug waited for a moment before slipping away to the bathrooms to drop her transformation. Marinette managed to crawl outside through the high bathroom window, and joined the rest of the people as they got back to the pool.
She heard him before she saw his blond thatch wading through the crowd.
'Marinette? Have you seen Marinette?' Adrien's voice was frantic, panicky. His earlier words still stung, but here he was, looking for her, worried more than she'd ever seen him. It was making her insides churn.
When his eyes finally found hers the relief that washed over him stunned her into silence. His features relaxed. A gasp escaped his lips. And he all but crashed into her, pulling her flush against him.
Marinette's skin covered in goosebumps at the contact - they were still in their swimsuits after all, but Adrien took no notice of the sensation. He only wrapped his arms tighter around her.
'Thank god' he whispered into her hair. 'I was so worried when I couldn't find you,' he babbled, not even expecting a reply.
She started rubbing soothing circles over his back, trying to ignore the fact that it was his bare skin under her fingertips. He was always very physical and now apparently he needed this kind of comfort.
'Thank god,' he repeated one last time and finally detached himself from her. He took her hand instead. 'Let's go back.'
'Okay,' she breathed, still a bit overwhelmed with this welcome. Her gaze skipped to their entwined fingers. When they went inside, it took more than an hour for Adrien to let go of her hand even for a second.
Author's Note: Alterating POVs is getting more and more difficult, ugh...
Anyway, I appreciate your comments greatly! Let me know, what you think of my take at holding hands.
A bow to Remasa, thank you for your support and great ideas! I strongly recommend you check out her miraculous stories!
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