Paris' New Hope
Chapter 25: Marcus' Lament
On Monday morning, Marinette woke up to her alarm clock blaring, when she stopped the alarm and made a yawn before sitting up on the side of her bed, letting loose her muscles. She then got up and woke up Tikki, who was on a spare Pincushion on the bedside table near the Alarm Clock. Tikki opened her eyes drowsily and said "Morning, Marinette… Did you have a good sleep?" Marinette nodded her head before Tikki stretched her arms and yawned before adding "So did I. I was dreaming quite contently, actually."
Marinette made a small smile before saying "Come on, Tikki. Let's get ready for school…" Tikki nodded before helping Marinette pack her school stuff; as Tikki grabbed Marinette's phone, Tikki asked "You think Marcus would come to school? He looked rather distraught yesterday…" Marinette replied as she packed her books in her bag "I hope so… I really hope he does."
Tikki nodded in concern before she flew into Marinette's purse and the latter went down the stairs, seeing her parents sitting at the table, talking about something when they just noticed their daughter and Tom asked "Hey Marinette… Your mother and I saw the news coverage yesterday at the airport… We're just glad that you didn't get hurt from the fight." Marinette then replied "I'm glad too, dad."
Tom nodded contently, when Sabine asked "Sweetie, don't you and Tikki want some breakfast before you go to school?" Tikki popped her head out of Marinette's purse and said "You don't happen to have biscuits, would you Mr and Mrs Dupeng-Cheng?" Tom gave it a thought and went to the pantry before coming out with a box of choc-chip biscuits and gave Tikki a couple of them on a saucer, before Tikki flew out of the purse and nibbled contently on a choc-chip biscuit, which Sabine thinks is cute.
Tikki chewed on the biscuit contently with her eyes closed and swallowed it before saying "Ohh, that is a good biscuit… Oh I wish I could bake, but because of my size, I only just read baking books." Sabine sympathetically stroked Tikki's head with a gentle smile, which Tikki is grateful for and smiled at Sabine before Marinette checked her watch and exclaimed "Sorry, mom and dad, but me and Tikki should really get going!" She then hastily hugged and kissed her parents before grabbing Tikki, who was about to have another bite of her choc-chip biscuit, and ran out the front door.
Meanwhile, at the Agreste Mansion, Adrien is waken up by his mother, who brought him Pancakes, Syrup and a glass of OJ. Adrien opened his eyes drowsily and smiled when he saw his mother holding his breakfast on a tray, before she puts it down on Adrien's lap and gave him a heartfelt hug, which he hugged her back and said "I'm so glad you're back, mom." Beatrice then replied back as she rubbed Adrien's head "I'm glad too, kitty." Adrien is still stunned that his own mother knows his alter-ego, but has a distinct feeling that she won't speak of it to anyone else.
Beatrice then kissed Adrien on the forehead before facing him properly and said "Now, I'll be driving you to school, but after it ends, please bring Marinette along." Adrien raised his brow in question, before Beatrice replied "I'll explain after school; believe me, she'll understand." Adrien nodded and went to have his breakfast, before Beatrice stood up and exited Adrien's bedroom before sighing and went to the dining room, where she saw her meal has been prepared already, along with a cup of herbal tea with a lemon wedge.
Beatrice sat at her seat, when Nathalie came into the room and said "Morning, Mrs. Agreste. I trust you didn't have any trouble sleeping?" Beatrice shook her head in puzzlement before asking "Nathalie… why did you ask if I slept well?" Nathalie sighed as she sat on a chair opposite of Beatrice and replied "Well, Gabriel told me he didn't get a good enough sleep last night; I saw him with his head on his desk in the Atelier, snoring like he hasn't slept for a few days. I also saw his Miraculous on the desk and Nooroo blocking the snoring with her hands."
Beatrice rolled her eyes, still not forgotten yesterday's events and asked Nathalie "Nat, what was YOUR opinion of Gabriel's decision to be Hawkmoth?" Nathalie squeezed her nose-bridge and replied "I didn't stop him, but I NEVER agreed to it. Honestly, he's pretty stubborn." Beatrice tilted her head back and sighed before noting "Tell me about it… He's also stubborn about Adrien becoming a model. Honestly, it's Adrien's decision on what to do in HIS life, not Gabriel." Nathalie made a shrug before tilting her head up too.
At 8:45 at the front gates to the school, Marinette had just arrived at school, when he heard a car horn blaring and turned to see Mrs. Agreste driving Adrien in her yellow '60s VW Beetle. She then stopped the car in front of Marinette and Adrien got out with his bag on his back, when Marinette bended down a little and waved at Mrs. Agreste, who waved back at her with a calming smile before saying to Adrien "Have a good time, sweetie!" Adrien waved at his mother who waved back and closed the door before driving away.
Adrien then turned to Marinette and asked "Any word from Marcus or Tekla?" Marinette shook her head and replied "Not a word…" Adrien puts his hands in his pockets and looked down sombrely before saying "I hope he is okay… Aside from Nino and Alya, Marcus is a good friend for us both." Marinette nodded in agreement, before she held hands with Adrien and went in the school with him, thinking "What is Marcus doing, anyway?"
Meanwhile, at Warehouse D, Marcus is on his bed with bloodshot eyes and tear marks on his face, having cried all night after losing his mother. Tekla is in the kitchen, fixing up Marcus some brekkie and just got it on a tray before transforming into a human and carried it over to Marcus, who hasn't change his expression at all. Tekla then heaved a sigh and carried the tray over to the coffee table before transforming back into a Kwami and flew over to Marcus in deep concern.
She then said softly "Marky? You want to talk?" Marcus shook his head in response, still not changing his expression. Tekla then asked "You want your brekkie?" Marcus shook his head again, his expression haven't changed in the slightest. Tekla then asked "You want a hug at least?" Marcus paused a moment, before closing his eyes abruptly and stifled a hard sob before nodding a little and Tekla transformed into a human before she hugged him on the chest, her head rubbing against his upper chest before being hugged back by Marcus, who cannot hold on stifling his hard sobs any longer.
He began to cry again, saying with difficulty "It's… It's just… It's so hard… My mom… Dead…" Tekla softly shushed Marcus while stroking his cheek and replied softly "It's okay, Marky… I'm here for you… I'm here for you…" Marcus sniffed hard a few times before looking at Tekla's reproachful eyes, before calming down a little and said softly "Tekla…" Tekla replied softly still "Marcus…" They slowly leaned their heads closer, hesitating for a moment before closing their eyes and kissed passionately.
Marcus fell back onto his pillow as they kissed deeply, before Tekla broke off the kiss and stroked Marcus' cheek; Marcus opened his eyes a little before saying "I'm sorry Techie… It's just, my mom's been there for me 24/7 while my dad is mostly away from home all my life. He wasn't even there when my mom was hospitalised…" Tekla frowned and replied "Well, he's certainly rude, not being there for his own wife and son." Marcus nodded before sighing and said "Well… I should have my brekkie. Can't let it go to waste for nothing, really."
Tekla shrugged before getting off Marcus and went over to grab his brekkie and carried it in the tray back to the bed and placed it on Marcus' lap. Marcus turned his head up to Tekla's concerning face and said softly "Thanks, sweet pea." Tekla smiled sweetly and kissed Marcus softly on the forehead before replying "It's no problem, my angel. I'm here for you, Marky, don't fret."
Marcus smiled a little before noting "I know you will, cutie." Tekla felt flattered from that remark, before she leaved Marcus to eat his brekkie: Eggs and Bacon, with OJ and French Toast. Tekla turned her head as she grasped the bathroom door handle and saw Marcus eating his breakfast sombrely, which she sighed sympathetically before entering the bathroom.
At the school at lunchtime, Marinette, Adrien, Alya and Nino were sitting together at a table, looking concerned. Alya then asked "Hey guys, do you know where Marcus is? He didn't appear in class today and I don't see him in the cafeteria anywhere." Marinette then cleared her throat and explained to Alya and Nino what happened yesterday, naturally leaving out her, Adrien's and Marcus' secret, before Alya clapsed her hands together in shock and responded "Oh my… poor Marcus. He must be still at his place in such a saddened state…"
Marinette sighed with a nod, before a familiar voice rang from behind "Hey Marinette…" Marinette and Adrien turned around to see, much to their disgust, Chloe; they then saw she had an awkward expression and Chloe said "I… I just want to apologise for my actions as of late. It's just… I know Adrien before he came to this school and I wanted him all to myself, not caring who I hurt in the process. After that fight though, I began to think it over and I realised I was so absorbed of being with Adrien that I didn't notice he was more fond of you. I was so selfish about it, that I felt really bad of my actions."
Marinette and Adrien looked at each other in puzzlement, before Chloe said "I just want to say, I'm so sorry for my attitude towards you and I'll make sure I'll be more polite to you." Marinette bored into Chloe's eyes to make sure she wasn't full of it, when she smiled a little and replied "Chloe, despite your attitude towards me before, you really put Adrien's needs over your own. I admit, I was furious every time you tried to make a move on him, but I somehow felt you have his feelings ahead over yours."
Chloe made a smile at Marinette and they shook hands in mutual respect, before Chloe inquired "By the way, where's Marcus?" Adrien rubbed the back of his neck and looked down towards the floor as Marinette rubbed her mouth in discomfort before Adrien finally replied "He's… at home. He recently heard his mother… Chloe his mother is deceased. I'm certain he's too saddened to even come to school today."
Chloe is taken aback and said "Oh… I… I didn't know… I should leave you guys alone." Chloe left them with a stunned expression, before Alya asked "You know… Marcus is such a reasonable guy, I'm sure he wouldn't do something drastic." Adrien then muttered "Unlike my dad, though…"
Near the end of school, at the Agreste Mansion, Gabriel is mulling over apologising to his wife for his own selfish actions, when his phone rang. He picked it up to see the Post Office is calling and answered it, when the scene shifts to Beatrice Agreste packing her purse with her car keys. As she held the purse strap on her shoulder, Gabriel came down into the kitchen and asked "Hey Beatrice… I've got a call from the Post Office." Beatrice made a sigh and inquired "Is it an order of fabric?" Gabriel then replied, with a look of concern on his face "Actually, it's a parcel and letter… to Marcus."
Beatrice slowly looked at Gabriel's face in the same tone of concern and repeated "To Marcus? If that's the case, why did the Post office call you?" Gabriel then noted "Well, his residence isn't registered in the Post Office, so they instead contact me for his mail for the time being." Beatrice then closed her purse and replied "Alright then… I'm just going to pick up Adrien and his girlfriend from school, then I'll stop by the Post Office to pick up Marcus' mail before I get over to—"
Beatrice stopped at that point, which Gabriel saw her nervous expression and asked "You have something important to do after the Post Office?" Beatrice then nodded slowly, before Gabriel smiled and noted "Don't worry, sweetie. I won't question what you plan to do next." Beatrice then smiled back and said "Well, I'd better get going. Later, my sweet." Beatrice then pecked Gabriel on the cheek, before departing.
After picking up Adrien and Marinette from school, Beatrice drove to the Post Office and picked up a parcel and letter meant for Marcus, before placing it on the passenger's seat and drove, with help from Marinette, to Master Wu's residence. When they got out the car, Mrs. Agreste pressed the doorbell and no sooner than 5 seconds, the door opened and Master Wu was standing there and inquired "Marinette? Why did you bring—"Marinette jerked her thumb towards Mrs. Agreste, who Master Wu briefly staggered in shock before saying "Oh, my apologies, I didn't realise… please, come in."
Master Wu then led them up to his meditation room and no sooner when Mrs. Agreste entered it, Duusu exited the Miraculous Box and flew to her like a jet and hugged her in a mix of sadness and happiness. Beatrice then hugged Duusu back and said "I missed you so much, Duusu. I'm so sorry I left…"
Duusu then sniffed twice before replying "I wept SO hard when you left… I was beginning to think you'd never return until yesterday." Beatrice then scratched Duusu affectionately under her chin, before saying "Well, I'm back now. I won't leave you ever again, I promise." Duusu smiled happily, before Master Wu gave Mrs. Agreste Duusu's Miraculous and the latter (Mrs. Agreste) thanked Master Wu before apologising for leaving so abruptly, which Master Wu doesn't mind in the slightest.
Meanwhile, at Warehouse D, Marcus is holding his knees close to his chest, tearing up again, when the door knocked and Marinette's voice rang "Marcus? Are you in there?" There was a few moments of silence, before the door handle opened and Tekla, in her human form, looked sombrely at the trio. Marinette then inquired in concern "Tekla? Where's Marcus?" Tekla rubbed the back of her neck before pointing to the bed, where Adrien, Marinette and Mrs. Agreste saw Marcus sobbing with his knees tucked close to his chest.
They then hurried over to Marcus in deep concern and Mrs. Agreste sat closest to Marcus before rubbing his back gently, making Marcus choke hard. Tekla then went over to Marcus and gave him a heartfelt hug, who hugged her back while sobbing hard. It took a few minutes before Marcus calmed down a bit and apologised before saying "Anyway, can I inquire why you came, Mrs. Agreste?" Beatrice then gave Marcus the parcel and letter, who widened his eyes in surprise and opened the letter, before looking up in utter shock and said softly "It's from mom…"
Marinette and Adrien looked at each other in surprise before Marcus read aloud "Dear Marcus, I'm writing this letter to you because, by the time I send you this letter and the parcel, I'd be already deceased. As a mother, it was my duty to take care for you when your father wasn't around; when I was paralysed, however, it was I who needed the caring instead. Every waking moment that I spent with you, I see a strong willed, kind hearted, good natured boy who will grow up into a fine, young man. Ever since you left for Paris, I was proud of you for making your own life without your dear mother, yet I was saddened to see you go. You might have your father's looks, but you have my personality as well. Wishing you a happy life… Your mother."
Marcus lowered the letter before closing his eyes and tearing up, clenching the letter in his hand. Mrs. Agreste, Adrien and Marinette comforted him to the best of their ability, before Tekla placed her hand on his cheek and looked at him reproachfully. Marcus sniffed a few times, before smiling at Tekla, before saying "Thank you Mrs. Agreste for giving me my mail. Thank you as well, Adrien and Marinette, for trying to comfort me." The trio smiled at him before Marcus unwrapped the parcel to see a weathered shoebox. He opened the lid to see the blanket that his mom wrapped around him when he was just a new-born and underneath it was the family photo album.
He then calmly held the album in his hands and turned it over to his mother holding him when he was born; she was happily in tears in the photo, making Marcus well with tears, with his mouth trembling happily. Mrs. Agreste looked at the photos and rubbed his side gently, which Duusu popped out of the pocket and looked at the photos. They then flipped over to the next page and saw Marcus' Mom and Dad looking down at a sleeping New-Born Marcus. Adrien then looked over Marcus' shoulder and said "Huh. So that's what your dad looks like."
Marcus nodded as he looked at the picture: His father has the same physical features as him, yet he looked so exhausted. Marinette then squeezed her head between Adrien's and Marcus' and is adored to see baby photos of Marcus. As they flipped over each page and witnessed each photo, Plagg, Tikki and Tekla looked at the photos, which Marcus subtly noticed but decided not to speak up. When they reached the end of the photo album, Marcus closed it and made a silent smile before standing up and leaned against the window, looking back at what he had managed to do in his life.
He then said to Mrs. Agreste without turning his head "By the way, Mrs. Agreste, your Kwami is out of your pocket." Mrs. Agreste raised her brow, before she, along with Adrien and Marinette, looked up to Duusu and the latter said "Oops…" Mrs. Agreste opened her mouth to say something at Duusu, when she suddenly noticed Tekla in her Kwami form, who waved at her with a sweet smile. Mrs. Agreste waved back with her mouth still open and widened eyes, before turning to Marcus and asked "How on earth did you notice Duusu? And why do YOU have a Kwami? And why are you calm about it?" Marcus replied "1) I'm quite perceptive, 2) Because I'm Guardian and 3) I know better than to spill out secrets."
Mrs. Agreste looked bewildered, before turning to Adrien and Marinette, who looked awkward and Adrien said "It's true, he found out who Marinette and I are, yet he stuck on with that promise. Don't worry Mom, he's someone who can be trusted." Mrs. Agreste then slowly expressed calm and nodded at Adrien, trusting his judgement, before turning to Marcus, who looked back and asked "So, um… What happened at school?"