TW: talks of depression
"And that's it for today!" Noémie brightly exclaimed.
"Really? Are you sure?" Marinette asked.
"Mhmm," Adélaïde hummed in agreement. "We finished all that we had to do today, plus, we got a little ahead for next week."
"Oh. Well maybe there's another—," Marinette began.
"Marinette," Noémie interrupted. "It's the weekend. You should be spending your Saturday resting or relaxing with your family. I know that's what I'm gonna do now," the peppy business-like woman said.
"Okaayyy…," Marinette drawled out. She didn't have anymore plans for the day and didn't expect to be finished the work before noon. But, with Adélaïde and Noémie's help, they had managed to breeze through the work plus more.
"What are your plans after this, Addy?" Noémie asked the blonde.
"I want to go home to sleep," she said, stifling a yawn, "but, I have to do some Christmas shopping before. If I don't get it done while I remember, it's never going to get done," she mumbled as she packed up her stuff.
"Lemme guess: you stayed up all night watching cartoons again?" Noémie teased.
"It's called anime," Adélaïde huffed out. "And yes, I did. My siblings and I binged all of Jungle Dreams," she admitted shamelessly. Marinette and Noémie exchanged glances and shrugged.
"You see the manga was popular while I was still in lycée…," she started to explain, while Noémie rolled her eyes and pretended to listen as they all exited the store. Soon the three ladies parted ways at the bus stop.
As soon as she was by herself, Marinette peeked in her purse to check on Tikki and Plagg, the latter who had randomly decided to join her for the day.
"You guys have anything you want to do for today?" she asked. Tikki simply shrugged, whereas Plagg surprisingly gave a non-cheese related suggestion.
"See if you can get your husband out of the house. I don't remember the last time he left for anything other than work, groceries or patrol." Marinette stopped in her tracks to ponder his suggestion.
It's true, that outside of breakfast and dinner she hadn't interacted with him much since her parents returned from their trip. Looking back, part of it could be attributed to the fact that they were both busy with work: Marinette had Christmas orders to fulfill and Adrien had the end of the school semester and finals to deal with. But today Marinette, and the girls (that's what she started to refer to Noémie and Adélaïde in her head) had caught up on their work, and the school semester had ended on Friday. Technically this was the perfect opportunity to spend time together and work on their relationship. Because at this point, they were barely more than legally bound roommates.
"I think that's a great idea, Plagg," she said, giving the black kwami a scratch on the ears.
A few moments later, Marinette was standing in their apartment slightly confused.
"Do you think he went out?" Tikki asked.
"I don't know?" she puzzled. The was no evidence of Adrien in the apartment. Even the kitchen bore no sign that he had been up; the drainboard only contained her dishes from her early breakfast.
"He's probably still in bed," Plagg murmured grumpily. Despite his surly attitude at times, Marinette could tell that he was deeply worried about his holder.
"Adrien," she softly called out while knocking on the master bedroom door. "Are you up?" After a few moments she decided to enter.
She was greeted by a dishevelled Adrien curled up in a ball under the blankets on the large bed, squinting his eyes and slightly frowning at the light that she had let into the room.
"You're still in bed!" Marinette exclaimed in disbelief to which Adrien responded by groaning and turning over to face away from her.
"Are you ill?" she asked, hurrying to kneel by his side. He grunted out what could be interpreted as a negative reply. "Then what is the problem?" she asked, slightly exasperated at this point.
"Don't want to get up," he mumbled. Marinette raised herself to her feet, with effort, then exchanged a look of understanding with Plagg. Walking over to the other side of the room she threw open the curtains to allow the noon sun to stream through. Ignoring the hiss of complaint from Adrien, she marched over to his side and unceremoniously ripped off the layers of blankets he had cocooned himself in.
"Adrien Dupain-Cheng, you get up and get ready," she ordered, trying to ignore the thrill of pleasure that went through her from saying his full name.
"Get ready for what?" he said in what sounded like a cross of a moan and a hiss.
"To go out for food. It's already midday and you haven't eaten as yet."
"Not hungry." Adrien curled himself into a piteous ball again and shut his eyes. Marinette was not having any of it.
Adrien felt his body jolt forward before he even realised that his pregnant wife was trying to bodily pull him out of bed. Before he could protest, he found himself half-dragged, half-carried to the bathroom while she stalked out.
Standing in a daze, he surveyed himself in the mirror. He was slouched over with bags under his eyes, hair that was greasy and outgrown as well as stubble that peppered his jawline.
Ugh. I look and feel like crap, he thought, running his hands over his face and through his oily hair. Suddenly Marinette returned to the bathroom with a change of clothes in her hands.
"If you hurry and wash up, we can still make it in time for lunch," she said. Adrien just stood there staring dumbly at the clothes that she handed him.
"Adrien," she said with warning in her voice, "if I have to bathe you myself it won't be pleasant," she threatened.
"Okay, okay," he sighed while Marinette excused herself from the bathroom.
Twenty minutes later, Marinette finished up blow-drying Adrien's hair (which was quite grown out in her opinion, but she decided not to nag), grabbed her purse and Adrien's murse then stood to admire her work. Her husband almost looked like a hipster with the outfit she chose out for him. His recently dried, shaggy hair was peaking out from a beanie (chosen for practical purposes for the December weather of course) and the exposed skin from his scooped necked top was covered by a stylish scarf. The rest of his ensemble was tied together by jeans and an open sweater with him wearing his glasses (another necessity) to top it all off. It was a shame that his coat would cover most of her masterpiece.
Looping her arm through his, she lead them out of their apartment on the way to a familiar café.
Marinette sighed in exasperation at the familiar sight before her. Adrien was sitting across from her at a table, his cheek resting in one hand while the other picked at his food with the fork.
"Do you need me to feed you too?" she heard herself impatiently ask.
"You're welcome to," he snapped back without thinking. Raising his eyes to meet her hurt expression, he instantly regretted his sharp tone. "Sorry," he mumbled. "I'm just not hungry."
"No, I'm the one who's sorry," Marinette reached for his hand across the table. "I'm the one who forced you out of bed to come here. It's just that I'm really worried about you."
"I'm…," he couldn't even finish the lie for himself.
"We're both know that you're not fine, Adrien. Please," she pleaded, "talk to me."
He looked into her beautiful blue-bell eyes, relieved that the accident didn't change how they quivered a bit when she was concerned for him.
"It's kinda hard to explain. But I—I just feel very apathetic to things these days. The only reason I got up, ate, and all that before was for work and I had to do them. Now, I don't feel motivated to do anything. It's like there's been this big cloud of darkness all around me and I can't see past it. Like there's no hope; no point to anything," he tried to explain.
Marinette's eyes widened in surprise. The several years they had been together had taught Adrien to be able to read her like a book, and right now he could tell that she was hurting for him, and that made him feel worse.
"I'm not sure what to tell you, Adrien. I wish that there was someway for me to soak up all your pain so that you wouldn't have to deal with it anymore," she spoke softly, squeezing his hand for emphasis. Adrien's heart began to sink; he couldn't bear to see her upset, even if it was on his behalf.
"Chaton, even if you can't see it, I know that there is light beyond the darkness. And I want you to know that I'm going to be right by your side until it reaches you," she assured.
For the first time that day, a soft smile found its way on Adrien's lips. At that sight Marinette visibly relaxed, mirroring his smile, and he felt some of the tightness leave his chest. Only then he realised how Marinette must have felt that day, watching helplessly as someone they cared deeply about nearly drown in despair.
"Thank you, Bug," he whispered, softly stroking the back of her hand with his thumb.
Adrien eventually was convinced to eat all of his lunch to the delight of the kwamis and his wife. He had even snuck Plagg the pieces of camembert cheese from his meal in order to show his gratefulness for him suggesting to Marinette to take him out. Soon, the couple found themselves walking hand in hand out of the café to continue the rest of their weekend date, but they stopped in their tracks when they heard their names being called by another couple entering just as they were leaving.
"Marinette! Adrien!"
The duo startled at their names and turned to face the other couple. It was none other than Bridgette who had called out to them. Marinette couldn't help but notice that she was showing more compared to the last time they saw each other in person. She was trailing a few steps behind Félix, who didn't exactly seem pleased to see them. But honestly, when has he ever?
"Hey Brigette, Félix," Adrien greeted as the two women embraced. Félix didn't say anything. He just took in his cousin's appearance, wincing slightly at the latter's grown out hair and beanie, before giving him a cordial nod.
In the meantime, Marinette took the opportunity of the hug to whisper encouraging words to Bridgette.
"I hope it all goes well," she said.
"Me too," Bridgette whispered back. "I'll text you tonight."
At that, the two couples parted ways. The Dupain-Chengs lingered back long enough to see the barista express confusion over how Félix, whom he had obviously mistaken for Adrien, had managed to change outfits and women so quickly. Chuckling to themselves, they decided not to witness Félix's reaction and started to head off.
The two leisurely strolled the Parisian streets taking in the Christmas decorations all around them. For the first time in a while the both of them felt lighthearted and completely relaxed in each other's presence. Marinette was particularly thrilled about the big pick up in Adrien's mood. This is exactly what he needed, she thought to herself. As a young man who'd spent most of his childhood isolated and his teenage years detached from loving familial interactions, the recent distance between the two must have been what was pushing him into further depression. Marinette vowed to herself not to let that happen to him again.
As they continued their outing, they aimlessly wandered in and out of stores, sometimes out of curiosity, sometimes to make a Christmas-themed impulse buy. At one point during their window shopping it had even begun to snow lightly. The pair glanced upward at the sky as the soft flurries landed all around them. Even with the sky mostly grey above them, the sun was still visible, barely peaking out behind a large, dark cloud. Both Adrien and Marinette silently hoped that this was true about their situation, that though it may be grey skies around them, the sun was just peaking around the corner, ready to make itself known.
Shuffling along the sidewalks, they made no attempt at speed despite the cold. It was not so much to avoid slipping on the thin layer of snow that now sat on the ground, but more to enjoy the beauty of the city around them. Paris was extremely beautiful at night, but right then, in that moment in the mid-afternoon, it was breathtaking. The people bustled hurriedly around them in a Christmas panic, but they were almost lost in their own world, drinking in the city scenery that was newly frosted with snow and decorated with the kind of Christmas spirit that made young children believe in miracles.
Soon they found themselves trudging through the park near their parents' bakery. Usually, the ideal date would call for them stopping for a while, but unfortunately, it was too cold to linger there for too long. Instead they decided to spend the rest of the day in the bakery, munching on desserts, and eventually helping out with other customers, before their parents insisted that they stayed for dinner.
Adrien gratefully accepted the invitation. He smiled down at his wife who was already licking her lips in the anticipation of her mother's cooking. He couldn't help but marvel at the stark difference between how his day started and how it ended. That morning, he had woken up as if he were drowning. He couldn't tell how long he lay in bed, all that he knew was that it was almost as if he were stifling in listlessness. Then suddenly Marinette barged in, breaking through the foggy atmosphere that clouded his brain and brought a fresh wind of life to it.
He swore to himself to remember, that even if the next day brought the same feelings of darkness with them, he knew from today's example that there was light waiting to burst in from around the corner.