A/N: Inspired by the Adrinette April 2021 prompts, but not exactly a submission, because first, I'm like a week too late on the train and second, Adrien and Marinette don't interact in all the chapters. But I felt like I had to write something. So here it is.

Disclaimer: I don't own Miraculous.

1.

It was raining. Little Hugo liked rain. He liked to wear his bright yellow rain boots. He liked to jump in the puddles. He liked the hot cocoa that was served in his favorite paw-print patterned mug and the pastries their chef heated up for him. So one could say this was the perfect day for him.

Except for a teeny tiny fact. Hugo hated getting his hair wet. That's why usually on rainy days, his father dressed him in a waterproof coat with a cat-eared hood, sent him off with a black cat-eared umbrella and a chocolate medallion in his pocket for good luck. He would pat him on the head and tell him to do his best.

But it wasn't an ordinary day. His father had left for London the night before, leaving little Hugo in the care of Nathalie. Nathalie had been his grandfather's trusted secretary. She had taken care of Hugo's father and now, when Adrien was not there to do it himself, she took care of little Hugo. The four-year old boy didn't hate Nathalie. It wasn't her fault it had turned out like this. It really wasn't.

In fact, it had been sunny in the morning. Not a cloud in sight! Now, Little Hugo stood in front of his preschool, a deep frown on his face and tears threatening to spill. It was raining hard and he didn't have this coats or his bright yellow rain boots or even his super special, super sweet good luck charm.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes."

Hugo knew it was not a good idea to talk to strangers, but the lady in front of her was too pretty to possible be evil. There was a soft smile on her face and worry in her eyes. Hugo had seen this look on many faces before – the mother's of her playmates.

"Aren't you cold?" the woman asked, squatting down in front of him. Hugo couldn't help but notice how her stylish black coat ran through the mud. "You've been standing here for ten minutes!"

"No."

"Are you waiting for your parents?"

"No." Hugo was the master of short answers. His face remained neutral – a perfect imitation of his father's look on all the photos in the newspapers at their home. Hugo thought it looked cool on him, but on his chubby face, the seriousness looked strange and out of place. At home, his father was nothing like the man on the photos, so Hugo too, at home, wore a different face.

"Should I get your teachers?"

"No!" This time, Hugo's eyes widened in fear. That was the last thing he wanted. "I just… don't have my lucky charm." His voice was small and shook a little. "And I forgot my umbrella." The last bit was said even more quietly, but Marinette's keen ears were able to pick it up. She nodded, understanding.

"Well… You can have mine!" She exclaimed cheerfully. Hugo looked at the umbrella. It was red and had black spots like a ladybug. Somehow, even though it was childish, it seemed to suit the young lady.

"Th-thanks." Hugo smiled shyly. He took the umbrella that was being held out for him. As his small fingers curled around the handle, his frown lifted a little.

"And now, for the lucky charm!" The woman pulled something out of her pocket, smiling widely. Hugo couldn't help but smile back at her.

"A cookie!" he cried in joy. He loved cookies. Without thinking, he accepted it and put it in the pocket of his small coat. His tiny heart was going haywire, because the cookie had the shape of a cat.

"I live over there!" Marinette pointed at the bakery across the street. Hugo had never visited it. He was instructed to go straight home after preschool. Little Hugo was proud that he was allowed to do that, even though he didn't live particularly far and was shadowed by a bodyguard at least half the way. But even though he was too scared to ever admit it out loud, he envied the other students who left the school, holding the hands of their mothers.

"Anyway, see you later, okay?" The woman grinned at him, before racing back to the bakery. She waved at him and shyly, Hugo waved back before the door closed behind her. Content with the solution to his problems, he finally moved from his spot. Water splashed on his shoes. It was unpleasant, but he vowed to endure it. After all, he had an umbrella and even a lucky charm, when less than ten minutes ago, he had nothing.

Hugo didn't know it, but when he turned around the corner, a woman sighed in relief. Nathalie Sancoeur had worried immensely about the little lord making it home in the rain. She had even almost rushed to the school herself, but Adrien had forbid her from doing it. She almost regretted asking him.

Meanwhile, the bakery was quiet for a change. As soon as the door had closed behind Marinette, she shook off her coat and walked to the counter, ready to take over from her good friend Tikki.

"How did it go?" the redhead asked with a smile. "I see you lost your umbrella."

"I didn't lose it," huffed the bluenette, as Tikki grabbed a towel and handed it to her to dry her hair. "I gave it to the kid. I don't know who his parents are, but geez, check the forecast in the morning, hey?" She rolled her eyes.

"It's a good thing you're as attentive as you are, Marinette." Tikki squatted at the display case and removed the prices for items they had already sold out for the day. "A kind act can go a long way."

Marinette shrugged indifferently. "It was the right thing to do. Nothing special, really." She tied a white apron over her clothes.

Tikki smiled, but said nothing. She disagreed with Marinette, but it was not a matter worth arguing over. She could never convince her friend about how rare such gestures were and perhaps that was for the better. Imagine, if she realized and then stopped, wanting to blend in. The world would be worse off then.

"I'm going to get started on the tomorrow's batch," the bluenette announced, pushing open the door to the spacious kitchen. "Let me know, when you're going to close up, will you? I'll walk you back to your apartment."

"Sure."