Thankfully Adrien had asked Marinette for her address before she fell asleep. They found a parking place near the building. He slowly shook her out of her sleeping state, knowing she would be much better in her own, safe home, sleeping in a real bed than in a leather car seat. She woke up with a start, a whimper excaping her lips. She looked around rapidly as if she was scared someone was attacking her. The moment she saw him she visibly relaxed.

Adrien didn´t leave her side as they made their way up to her apartment. After opening the door and letting him in, she threw herself on the couch, while Adrien went to the kitchen. He came back a few minutes later with a steaming cup of tea. She accepted it with a small exhausted smile and he sat down at the level of her knees. She had forced this smile out, he was being so nice tho help her and to save her in the first place, wthout him she didn´t even knew in which state she would be now. She shuddered at the idea of Dr. Mal doing worse thing to her, which earned her a concerned look from Adrien. He rubbed her back, while she clutched her hot cup of tea. She was still shaking a bit, even if she was safe now and far away from the hospital, and with someone she knew wouldn´t hurt a fly.

After finishing the cup, she leaned back into the pillows on the couch, closing her exhausted eyes. Adrien slightly shook her before she fell asleep, telling her she would be more comfortable in her own bed. Mari shook her head, feeling too exhausted to move, needless to say she was surprised when he picked her up and took her to her room.

After placing her on the bed, he threw her sheets over her. He wished her good night and stood up to leave. Already half-asleep, Marinette took his hand.

"C-can you stay p-please?" He nodded and made his way to the other side of the bed sitting comfortably his back against the headboard. She took his hand and he rubbed soothing circles into her palm. She fell asleep as she concentrated only on his hand and his steady breathing.

Adrien stayed even after she fell asleep. It had been a pure coincidence that this particular morning his alarm hadn´t ringed, resulting in him arriving late to work. It had never happened to him before, in 26 years. As he arrived he found it bizarre that the door to the women´s locker room was open, the door was always closed, like the dorr of the men´s locker room was. He hadn´t paid it further attention, going into the men´s locker room to change imto a fresh pair of scrubs. As he passed by again did he hear a distinct sound, like a foot slamming against the lockers to attract attention. A t first he had thought he had been imagining it, but then the sound repeated a few times. The faint cry for help focused his attention solely on what was going on in he locker room´s and not him being late anymore.

The scene before his own eyes shocked him profoundly. Before his brain had actually made a decision, his body had already started acting. Pushing him away from her and throwing his fist against his nose. He couldn´t bare the way Marinette looked. She looked drained and empty, like he had taken something away from her. He didn´t feel sorry at all for breaking his co-worker´s nose. Her face was covered in tears, eyes red from crying. He had slammed him multiple times against the metallic lockers, leaving a dent on a few lockers. He had managed to punch his chest a few times, but Adrien had barely registered it. Now he would admit his chest felt a little sore for the couple of hits he took. After he had knead Dr-Mal in the family jewels did he stop from punshing Adrien. Adrien had never been more grateful for going to gym often.

She was now sleeping peacefully clutching his hand like it was a lifeline. His right hand was a little sore and hurt a bit as he flexed it, it was already bruising around his knucles, leaving a blue and purple trace, but he didn´t regret any of the punches he had thrown at Dr. Mal. A single thought about this man made his anger rise, and he just wanted to punch him again.

His phone vibrated in his pocket, clearing his angered mind. He took it out, only to see his superior calling. He had forgotten to call he wouldn´t come in today. He didn´t know what was worse: answering or not.

"Hello?" He said the most quietly possible hoping it wouldn´t wake her up. He couldn´t go anywhere, since she was clutching his hand like a lifeline, even in her sleep.

"Dr. Agreste? Where are you? We´ve been looking for you in the whole hospital!" the Chief exclaimed. Adrien looked down at Marinette who hadn´t flinched.

"Em, yes. I´m not coming in today Pr. Kelt."

"Are you sick?"

"Nono, I´m not. I just-... I don´t know if it´s my place to tell sir." He answered truthfully. He couldn´t be the one telling him what Dr. Mal did, but on the other hand it appeared like he didn´t have any excuse not to go to work.

"Did something happen? ... Well make sure to take care of it."

"Yes, Pr. Kelt. I´ll come back as soon as I can." They ended the call and Adrien sighed in relief that he didn´t push the conversation further. He had truly no idea what he could tell him or not.

Soon, his eyes started to close, the events having him worn out as well. Without even registering it, he fell asleep.

He still woke up before her. His back hurt from being in an uncomfortabke position against the hard headboard. He looked at his phone only to see it was nearly 7 pm.

He looked down at his hand only to see that Mari was now clutching at his entire arm and had scooted closer to him. A small smile grazed his lips as he pushed a few strands of dark hair out of her face. Even if he barely touched her cheeks in the process, she stirred and slowly opened her eyes. Her room was dark only illuminated by the street lamps. She excused herself as she saw she had been clutching at his arm and let him go. She wondered why he was still there, she thought he would have left by now.

"I´m sorry, I fell asleep." She smiled and shook her head.

"Don´t worry. I won´t hold it against you." He chuckled. "Well I should probably go." She grabbed his wrist stopping him before he could go anywhere.

"You can stay for dinner if you want… that´s the least I can do…" She said as she looked out of the window.

"If you want to, I don´t want to impose myself." She let his wrist go and scratched her arm.

"Well then I hope you have nothing against home-made quiche." He perked up and accepted her kind offer. They made their way to the kitchen and Mari heated the quiche up and set the table, not allowing Adrien to do anything. She made him sit down and placed the quiche on the table between them. She served him a big portion. He hummed as he took his first bite, clearly not regretting staying a little longer. Marinette appeared to be lost in thoughts. Adrien shot her a worried look.

"No, I was just thinking…" He looked at her, wanting to know what was troubling her. "I mean… I know you want me to fill in a report, but…" She bit her lip worriedly. "I-I don´t know if I can do this…" She said honestly, her voice quivering on the end, like her force was leaving her again.

"I can come with you, I won´t leave you on your own." She looked at him and tried to find something in his eyes that would make her think otherwise, but she could only see worry and honesty grazing his expression. She sighed and thanked him.

"Do you want me to call the hospital and tell them you won´t come the next few days?" She shook her head.

"No… thank you, but I think I´ll go tomorrow and get this done with… I´ll see what they´ll tell me."

"Alright. Do you want me to pick you up tomorrow so we both can go?" She looked at him hesitantly and nodded as she saw his genuine want to help her.

They finished eating in silence and before Adrien could open the door, she hugged him tightly. Surprised it took him some time to hug back. He let her take her time. The hug made him feel better as well. He felt responsible for not coming in sooner as he saw the open door, he could have stopped it sooner. After letting him go, he left. Still feeling exhausted, Marinette went straight to bed.

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